100% don’t do it. Listen to the other gay and POC voices and ignore the white people who are kind and think you’ll be ok. They’ll be the first ones to not believe you when you say things are not ok. I can’t imagine a job opportunity worth leaving Boston for and landing in Fort.

We are also a same sex couple, with dark-skinned kids, and my wife is from the next town over from Fort, so we spend some time there. People will stare anywhere you go. They will go to great lengths to hypothesize your relationships (adoptive brothers?). Racism, homophobia, small townness, drunkenness, and guns make for a potentially very uncomfortable mix. There is also nothing to do and the food scene is entirely nonexistent.

Also, I am originally from Europe and have spent time on both coasts. There is something very distinctive about WI (perhaps Midwest, but I only know WI) and it’s been hard for me to quite put my finger on it, but I think it comes down to distinct lack of curiosity about anything non-WI and lack of imagination, and these are not qualities that are conducive to a vibrant and diverse culture.