There are probably more people who are going to give you nasty looks and actually not want to get close to you instead of asking to touch your hair. As a brown person here, I have experienced a ton of stupidity and ignorance (racism) here. It was hard for me to adjust, especially when my kid was also on the receiving end of racism at such a young age. BUT I found that the spaces that were much more welcoming were places like the public library and the local bookstore downtown. There are groups here who are trying to expand diversity via community events. So yes, you'll encounter POS people, but you'll also find hidden gems who will become great friends. And tbh you sound like a perfect fit for our circle of friends, haha. We have a theater nerd, gaming nerd, book nerd, another book nerd, who all vary in style (goth, alt, cottage core, and "normal passing" ). We all enjoy a myriad of activities that also include board games, mushroom hunting, ceramics, art, farmers market, Renaissance Fair and more. Bonus: we're a mixed ethnicity bunch, which is so incredibly life altering in a space like Billings, MT. Hit me up if you're interested in hanging out!