Finding Community IRL, by Ann McMonigal

When I was first coming out, the most accessible source of queer community occurred online. I read Autostraddle obsessively for its celesbian gossip and dating advice, followed lesbian meme accounts on Instagram, and watched various queer web series on YouTube. Perhaps most embarrassingly, my former Tinder account stated that I was in search of a significant other with whom I could exchange memes with. Although I often had LGBTQ+ friends, I turned to the Internet when I was looking to experience a sense of community. 

After moving to Seattle in fall of 2020 and spending my first year or so here barely leaving my apartment, I decided to join Seattle Frontrunners in early 2022. I knew nothing about Frontrunners, other than it was the first result that popped up after googling 'seattle lgbt running club.' I had never been in a running club before and wasn't sure what to expect. I had always been a casual runner, and done more and more of it during lockdown. Most importantly, though, I was ready to meet people face to face. After months of social distancing and no social gatherings, I realized that socializing online does not substitute for face to face interactions. The hangouts and happy hours via Zoom just never compared to spending time together in the 'real world.' I began to suspect that perhaps the same applied to my approach in which I primarily sought out LGBTQ+ community online. 

Frontrunners ended up being exactly what I needed. On a very basic level, it got me out of the house and interacting with new people. Additionally, it keeps me active, motivates me to run often, and pushes me to run harder. I am thankful for the resources and community I found via the Internet. However, none of that compares to the sense of belonging and community I feel from face to face interactions from Frontrunners, bonding over running (an activity that feels very grounded in the real world), as well as meeting people outside of my typical social circle and building friendships. Outside of official Frontrunner events, there have been times in which I encountered a fellow Seattle Frontrunner hanging out in Cal Anderson Park, walking down Broadway, or on my way to the Fremont Winter Market. Running into a familiar face in a big city gives me a feeling of belonging and a sense that Seattle has become not just a place that I live, but a wonderful gay home. No amount of online interaction compares to that.

Ann McMonigal

She/Her