As a result, those who live in rural areas without conforming to these narratives may be overlooked within broader societal frameworks, including media, academic, and legal representations.
According to Herring, integration into urban LGBTQ society often involves accepting the metronormative narrative, achieving financial means to participate in consumer culture, adhering to specific fashion and appearance standards, and conforming to whiteness.
[1] One example is the establishment of rural lesbian separatist communities, which intentionally distanced themselves from urban areas and rejected the dominance of white, male-centric, upper-class gay culture.
These publications provided guidance on rural self-sufficiency and DIY skills while also fostering a sense of community among geographically isolated individuals.
[5] More recently, scholars Julie A. Podmore and Alison L. Bain have critiqued the urban-rural binary in these discussions, highlighting how suburban queer experiences are often overlooked in this framework.