Guest Author - L. Drea Strasser

The drama of coming out is finally starting to pass. What do you do now? Where do you find people who are like you?

If you belong to any groups or organizations, you may not have to look very far for allies and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) friends. Open your ears. Chances are that there are like-minded friends within earshot. The same goes at work, although people may be more closeted there. Find a reason to have a conversation, and go from there.

To increase your chances of finding someone who is “family” (LGBT), find a group catering to us. Political action groups for equality are springing up in every state. Some cities have an LGBT community center with loads of activities and group listings. Check the phone book, internet, and local newspapers for this information.

Cultural events are a great place to meet people also. Really anywhere of interest to you can be a place to make connections. If you’re an art lover, go to a gallery and say hello to that cute girl admiring the sculptures. Or whatever. Coffee shops and libraries are also good spots.

If you’re on the shy side, you may want to try the online world before having to start an actual conversation. There are several dozen personals sites nowadays. Simply create a profile (usually for free) and wait for someone to find you. Or give fate a nudge and search the site for someone who piques your interest.

On Yahoo! Personals (my favorite), the creation of your profile is no charge, and you can send “icebreaker” messages as well. To send actual email messages, you must sign up for a month for a fee. Most sites I’ve seen are similar to this setup.

Two notes about choosing sites: First, walk through the site before your shell out any money. Make sure you feel comfortable with how the site is run and the goals of the participants. You don’t want to join a site for swingers only looking for fun if you’re looking for something more serious. No offense to the swinging crowd, but maybe that’s not your thing. Secondly, Eharmony, a popular site for our hetero brethren, does not cater to homosexual relationships. Maybe someday.

I hope this gives your some ideas. Just remember that you are not alone. Keep digging and you’re find the treasure.