Finding Community and Connection Amid Fear

Tess Job, MA, LCMHC

Psychotherapist

In the wake of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, I recognize that this day is just as important as it has been in years past. While the Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage in all 50 states, ten years later, the same court has legalized conversion therapy in all 50 states. The conflicting messages and whiplash for the queer community cannot be understated.

These drastic anti-LGBTQ+ measures are not limited to the United States. According to the Human Rights Watch, as of early 2026, “at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. In addition, at least nine countries have national laws criminalizing forms of gender expression that target transgender and gender nonconforming people.” 

As we all know, queer people have existed throughout history and have created communities for themselves wherever they were, and we will continue to exist and create communities. We, as a community, continue to find joy in each other, lift up each other, and support each other. We celebrate each other's wins and losses, and we've learned that community is resistance.

My move from Charlotte to Winston-Salem in 2023 illustrates this need for community. Winston-Salem has a thriving queer community and also has an organization that helps create a landing spot for the intersecting identities within the local queer community. North Star LGBTQ+ Community Center is a wonderful organization that supports the Winston-Salem community’s queer folk, and it offers several different types of groups and events that cater to different parts of the queer community, as well as the varied interests in the queer community. North Star is very dear to my heart, and as a therapist, I encourage my queer clients who are seeking a community to start there! Part of creating a community is being able to connect with people who have shared interests, identities, and even struggles. At North Star, I felt connection and acceptance in a way I hadn’t before.

When we give people the space and opportunity to be authentically themselves, it encourages others to do the same. I know it did for me!

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Tess Job

Author Tess Job is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who provides compassionate, evidence-based therapy for children age 4+, teens, and adults.

With training in trauma-informed care, art-based therapy, and somatic techniques, Tess creates a supportive space for healing and growth. She integrates CBT and person-centered approaches, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ care, BIPOC communities, women’s issues, and trauma recovery.