Hi.. (m26), I just moved to a rather smallish rural area in South Mississippi. It’s my dads hometown and I have family in the area. So I’m not alone or anything like that. But, I got a job working for the school district and I’m one of the few black people within the school system and the only black male…and I’m gay. I knew going into this move that I could potentially come across a few who disagree with me as a person and I’ve tried to prepare myself for that. We’ve just made it past the first nine weeks and I think I’ve adjusted well enough. I get along well my kiddos and have good laughs with a few colleagues. However I feel like there a few teachers and administrators who either haven’t warmed up to me yet or just don’t like having me around. They seem pleasant when we are in a group, but are very rigid in one on one situations or even passing in the hallways. I know this town and state is pretty conservative but I can’t figure out if they act this way with me because I’m gay, black, male or a combination of the three. I don’t know, this may read like a trivial situation but I have felt unwanted at times and it really beginning to get to me. I don’t want to have my own negative feels to get in the way this job, because I really like helping the kids I work.