Finding Home in the City: Place Attachment and Person-Environment Fit among Queer Migrants in Poland

Queer people often migrate from smaller towns to larger cities, which are perceived as more welcoming and inclusive. However, little is known about the role that relationships with places play in this process. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of how queer-identifying individuals who migrated from rural areas and smaller towns to Poland's largest cities experience a connection to place and sense of fitting in. Based on twelve individual interviews, five main themes were identified through thematic analysis: 1) negotiating attachment to place, 2) place identity as earned, not given 3) experiencing fit, misfit and trying to fit, 4) personal vs. impersonal perception of minority stress, and 5) place as foundation of well-being. Most participants perceived large cities as better places to live, formed deeper emotional connections with them than with their hometowns, and experienced greater sense of authenticity and safety as minority members. Social fit, the perceived place values, and privacy emerged as central to participants' accounts of deciding where to live. The findings indicate that large cities support queer well-being not only through increased anonymity and safety, but also by enabling the formation of positive person-place relationships and access to affirming communities.