Appalachia is home to all kinds of people. We must unite to fight for all of us. | Opinion
Admittedly, I haven’t always been proud to be from Appalachia. For much of my life, it was instilled in me to get out of Eastern Kentucky and never look back. With little to no career and economic prospects, the idea of escaping from here seemed like the best opportunity to “make something” of myself. Further complicating my feelings was my own struggle with my sexual identity in an area that lacked LGBTQ+ acceptance, let alone representation. It wasn’t until I moved to other areas of the country at different points in my adult life that I came to appreciate my hometown.
For all its beauty, there is also heartache being from here. Marginalized community members, including those like me, have a complicated relationship with the region. For myself, it’s been difficult to love something that hasn’t always reciprocated the same love back. As president of Pikeville Pride, I have been ostracized from my community for being a proud gay Appalachian. I won’t lie, it hurts; especially because I am still much the same person I was before I came out. However, other marginalized individuals have faced much worse, including direct harm and/or violence for being different than the perceived norm.
Nevertheless, many who are affiliated with marginalized groups have stuck around. We have attempted to carve out our own community in Appalachia and we’ve had a lot of success in this endeavor. Since its founding, Pikeville Pride has grown from a dedicated group of 10 volunteers into a bigger organization that is currently planning to host its fourth Pride event later this month in downtown Pikeville. Other organizations have invested time and resources into cultivating lasting relationships in Appalachia, including the STAY Project. This regional organization seeks to connect young people (ages 14-30) together to retain our youth and make them proud to call Appalachia home. It’s the work of many that pave the path forward in Appalachia — one that is actively redefining the narrative of rural America from hostile to hospitable.
The consequences of promoting an inaccurate narrative about Appalachia are vast. It has shaped rhetoric that far-right political groups have adopted to recruit members from our community, attempting to further create divisions based on race, class, religion, gender, and sexual identity. This is evident in a lot of ways — from the slew of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has been passed into law by state legislatures across the country (including Kentucky), to the distribution of anti-Semitic literature in neighborhoods across Kentucky, West Virginia, and beyond. Recently, a group of advocates, artists, and creators known as the Waymakers Collective had their annual gathering at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan county disrupted by angry protesters in the community. These trespassers, leaning into this narrative and their Christian identity, forced this diverse group to flee from the site in fear of their safety and well-being. Unfortunately, due to political dog-whistles and fearmongering, more attacks like these will be present in our region if we don’t speak up and denounce them.
Rural areas, much like Appalachia, are not monoliths. In fact, according to the Center on Rural Innovation, more than 22% of people living in rural America are people of color. Likewise, it is reported that nearly 3 million people identify as LGBTQ+. Yet, the narrative is much the same that rural America is predominantly occupied by white people, lacks diversity, and is unable to coexist with people from different backgrounds. The intentional erasure of marginalized communities within Appalachia is harmful to all and excludes some of the most vulnerable from important conversations about policies that directly impact their daily lives.
As proud Appalachians, we must act now. To remain silent is to be complicit, and we owe it to ourselves to unite to fight for all of us. Harking back to the rallying cries of our ancestors, many of whom fought oppressive coal companies that exploited their labor, land, and dignity, we must commit ourselves to standing in solidarity with one. Our literal lives depend on it.
Cara Ellis is a regional activist and organizer in Appalachia currently serving as President of Pikeville Pride, a non-profit dedicated to highlighting the visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in eastern Kentucky.
This story was originally published September 7, 2023 at 9:15 AM.