In the absence of a space for queer women to comfortably gather in Arkansas, my fiancée and I started Hairpins: a pop-up event for lesbians, queer women, transgender and non-binary individuals.

The first event, marketed solely by my partner and I, hosted more than 200 eager queer women and allies at Little Rock’s famous White Water Tavern. The owner of the venue was speechless at the end of the successful night, claiming his bar had never hosted a feminine presence like that before.