RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A man who found solace in the Black Hills of South Dakota when he came out as gay while in college plans to move back to the region to open a counseling and retreat center for other LGBTQ families.
Joe Barb is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit LGBTQ+ Family Connections Center, which he hopes to locate near Custer or Keystone. He’s currently trying to raise money for the center.
His desire to aid other families stems partly from his experiences with his 12-year-old son.
Barb says his son didn't know how to respond to a society that wasn't inclusive and was helped by counseling.