Growing up in Ohio as well, I was fortunate to encounter in high school Ursula Le Guin's short story "Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight" which helped me

Growing up in Ohio as well, I was fortunate to encounter in high school Ursula Le Guin's short story "Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight" which helped me feel like I understood it better. After spending more time in the West and Southwest, those feelings were confirmed.