Fearing and fighting for space in the Bible Belt

Purpose The author of Fearing and Fighting for Space in the Bible Belt shares the emotional and psychological turmoil of growing up in a conservative, Christian family in Oklahoma, where societal and familial expectations clashed with their developing sense of self. Design/methodology/approach Navigating the constraints of gender and sexuality, the author uses reflexive autoethnographic narrative to explore the fear and shame they experienced around their emerging queer identity, compounded by the rigid views on womanhood and sexuality within their family. Findings Their journey toward self-acceptance was fraught with heartache, trauma, and the painful realization that to live authentically meant risking familial love. Through perseverance, they learned to embrace their true self, finding strength in their independence and the love they now have for themselves. Originality/value This autoethnographic narrative highlights the ways in which the researcher can provide a thick intersectional narrative of life as a queer woman in Oklahoma.