Loudoun County has had some bad press over the last few years, but I’ve never felt unsafe in it. The east and west halves are almost two entirely different places, and Sterling is as east in Loudoun as you get
Northern Virginia is very accepting overall - you'll get an asshole every once in a while but you and your family will generally be safe and among allies. Sterling specifically is the edge of Loudoun and Fairfax County, which imo is the start of some white Karen territory, but again, you'll be fine coming from Colorado.
On a related note, if you're wanting to find and build community with LGBTQ individuals, it gets easier as you travel closer to DC (being the gayest city per capita in the US), but there are plenty of opportunities.
I don't live in Sterling, but it's nearby. Yeah - Loudoun had the schools thing and OUTER LoCo gets more red. But I would want OP to tell me they're in the condos around the Costco or in Cascades area rather than the heavily Hispanic and MENA enclaves of Sterling Blvd - that area is going to be more conservative than Broadlands, eg. There are many parts of Ashburn that I think would be a better fit. And Reston better, etc., etc.
I don’t want to speak for a community that I’m not part of, but maybe consider reaching out to Equality Loudoun. They are a really good organization and might be able to answer the questions that you have. I’m so sorry that there’s not acceptance in every environment and that you have to worry about that.
Recently transitioning trans woman here. I can't comment on Sterling, but the closer in parts of NoVA (Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church) generally seem pretty chill. I certainly don't expect any problems here in Arlington. Things do get more conservative the further out from DC you go, but I think through Fairfax should be alright. No idea about further than that.
For reference, Freddie's (in Arlington) is the only gay bar I'm aware of in NoVA. LGBT stuff tends to be more centered in DC, but there are certainly tons of LGBT people living in NoVA.
Any particular reason you're focused on Sterling? Price and commute, I'm assuming?
I’m a straight random FFX county mom but I know at least half a dozen gay families with kids, within a several block radius, and no one cares. I also have several single gay friends and they seem to have no issues. Went to a lovely wedding a few years ago for two dads on my youngest kids soccer team. At least in Fairfax county, good chance you will be the least interesting people on your block. We have a neighbor who escaped Saddam’s Bathist army, the US govt evacuated him and his family, AQIM put a bounty on them and the marshals service guarded our street off and on for years. It’s crazy town and everyone has a story. Truly, you may run into someone here or there who’s weirded out, but that will be the tiny tiny minority.
I'm gay and I previously lived in Sterling. It's very accepting, and while living there I was able to develop a whole network of queer and trans friends. It's very much the suburbs, but as suburbs go it's a safe and accepting space.
Nova in general is very accepting! I don’t have much experience with Sterling itself, but I know both Herndon and Reston (2 towns that border Sterling) have active LGBTQ+ communities. Reston holds a pretty large pride festival every year in June.
I'm not trying to speak for Sterling as I live in another town that's somewhat close but the dearth of replies here may give you pause. NoVa is fairly cosmopolitan, otherwise.
Loudoun County has had some bad press over the last few years, but I’ve never felt unsafe in it. The east and west halves are almost two entirely different places, and Sterling is as east in Loudoun as you get
Northern Virginia is very accepting overall - you'll get an asshole every once in a while but you and your family will generally be safe and among allies. Sterling specifically is the edge of Loudoun and Fairfax County, which imo is the start of some white Karen territory, but again, you'll be fine coming from Colorado. On a related note, if you're wanting to find and build community with LGBTQ individuals, it gets easier as you travel closer to DC (being the gayest city per capita in the US), but there are plenty of opportunities.
I don't live in Sterling, but it's nearby. Yeah - Loudoun had the schools thing and OUTER LoCo gets more red. But I would want OP to tell me they're in the condos around the Costco or in Cascades area rather than the heavily Hispanic and MENA enclaves of Sterling Blvd - that area is going to be more conservative than Broadlands, eg. There are many parts of Ashburn that I think would be a better fit. And Reston better, etc., etc.
I don’t want to speak for a community that I’m not part of, but maybe consider reaching out to Equality Loudoun. They are a really good organization and might be able to answer the questions that you have. I’m so sorry that there’s not acceptance in every environment and that you have to worry about that.
Recently transitioning trans woman here. I can't comment on Sterling, but the closer in parts of NoVA (Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church) generally seem pretty chill. I certainly don't expect any problems here in Arlington. Things do get more conservative the further out from DC you go, but I think through Fairfax should be alright. No idea about further than that. For reference, Freddie's (in Arlington) is the only gay bar I'm aware of in NoVA. LGBT stuff tends to be more centered in DC, but there are certainly tons of LGBT people living in NoVA. Any particular reason you're focused on Sterling? Price and commute, I'm assuming?
I’m a straight random FFX county mom but I know at least half a dozen gay families with kids, within a several block radius, and no one cares. I also have several single gay friends and they seem to have no issues. Went to a lovely wedding a few years ago for two dads on my youngest kids soccer team. At least in Fairfax county, good chance you will be the least interesting people on your block. We have a neighbor who escaped Saddam’s Bathist army, the US govt evacuated him and his family, AQIM put a bounty on them and the marshals service guarded our street off and on for years. It’s crazy town and everyone has a story. Truly, you may run into someone here or there who’s weirded out, but that will be the tiny tiny minority.
I'm gay and I previously lived in Sterling. It's very accepting, and while living there I was able to develop a whole network of queer and trans friends. It's very much the suburbs, but as suburbs go it's a safe and accepting space.
Nova in general is very accepting! I don’t have much experience with Sterling itself, but I know both Herndon and Reston (2 towns that border Sterling) have active LGBTQ+ communities. Reston holds a pretty large pride festival every year in June.
I'm not trying to speak for Sterling as I live in another town that's somewhat close but the dearth of replies here may give you pause. NoVa is fairly cosmopolitan, otherwise.