LGBT people in regional Western Australia say a lack of visible queer communities in country towns and cities makes people feel isolated and less likely to access support services. Geraldton-based Samantha Bentink says she was surprised to find that there was no public LGBT presence when she moved to the city four years ago. “One of the first things I did when I got here was to look for anything that was visible,” Ms Bentnik said. “I did eventually run into someone who introduced me to other people who are LGBTQIA, but it’s not a massive scene. Ms Bentink said that while she had discovered an active, inclusive, private community in Geraldton, she was worried about how the lack of a visible presence affected LGBT residents. “If you’re coming into a community, you want to find people who are like you,” she said.