Tiz Giordano walked through hell to get to Carrboro. From the age of 13, Giordano battled hunger, housing insecurity and substance abuse. At 21, they found Carrboro, a progressive town west of Chapel Hill. Every time they moved away, they came back.

At 26, they were ready to put down roots. They got married and found a job that paid a living wage. But the past six years in Carrboro have felt like living in a fragile bubble for Giordano, a gender non-conforming worker at a grocery co-op.

"If I were to leave my job that is super queer-affirming, I don't really know of any other businesses in the area that I would feel this affirmed," they said. "That would scare me. I feel like I would have to go back into the closet in order to make money and pay my rent."

To read more, head to the 19th.