I had a similar experience a couple weeks ago, though not probably quite as significant. I had driven to the nearest town to me in very rural western Michigan and stopped to get my oil changed. Absently looking out the bay door of the shop, I happened to see a progress Pride flag waving. I did a double take, because to see something like that around here is more than unusual.

After finishing up, I drove out and saw that the flag was flying from a United Church of Christ church, and the outdoor bulletin board was advertising an upcoming Pride service.

That's not surprising for the UCC. Depending on how you look at it, they were the first fully affirming mainline Protestant denomination in the U.S. But such public affirmation is more than unusual in this part of the state, where one nearby town de-funded the municipal library over books with queer content.

Thanks for writing about that museum. It's as encouraging in its way as the church I spotted.