Finding a home within the LGBTQ+ community

By Gal Sadeh from London Business School

As the plane touched down, I waited for the other passengers to disembark before rising and heading down the aisle towards the exit. The flight attendant smiled warmly and said, "Welcome to London". In the airport, I patiently watched the baggage carousel until my four large suitcases finally appeared. Struggling under their weight, I relied on the kindness of strangers to help me haul them to the Uber station. The driver arrived promptly, loading my luggage into the car before whisking me away to my new address.

At my destination, the real estate agent welcomed me with a smile, helping to carry my bags up to my new home. She showed me around, ensured everything was in working order, and said, "Welcome to your new home". Then she left, and a wave of profound loneliness settled in. I had built a network of friends in Israel over many years, from schoolmates to colleagues, and now they were all far away. The city seemed enormous, I wanted to find new friends but I didn't know where to begin.

Desperate to find companionship, I reached out to an old friend, hoping to grab a drink and ease my lonliness. He mentioned a new LGBTQ+ community meeting to celebrate Hanukkah and asked if I'd like to join. I eagerly agreed. As soon as I stepped into the venue, I felt a sense of homecoming. Everyone was warm and welcoming, expressing genuine interest and offering assistance to help me adjust to my new life. Over the next few months, I attended more events and found myself surrounded by friends who shared my journey.

It was then I realized the profound strength of community. While building deep friendships can take years, belonging to a community can happen in a matter of hours. The LGBTQ+ network I found in London is a melting pot of people from different countries, most of whom moved here alone, like me. This shared experience has created an openness that fosters quick, authentic connections. Today, the friends I've made within this group feel like lifelong companions. We talk about everything and share many affinities.

The LGBTQ+ community in London provided me with a strong sense of belonging, and it helped me realize that community is one of the most powerful forces for connection.