- There are really few straight stretches of road here in Eureka Springs, and that's one of the things that the locals say a lot is, “in Eureka "even the roads aren't straight.

You think small town Arkansas and it's like, oh, cool, conservative, hateful, you know.

And which, granted, that's not to say that I didn't go through some hateful things, but it's also not to say that I would feel uncomfortable walking the streets of my hometown.

(airy instrumental music) I grew up in a small town called Marked Tree, Arkansas.

It's a population of about 2500 people.

It was a farming community.

As a kid growing up, my mom would take me to Eureka Springs and we'd vacation here.

It's such a cute, quirky, quaint little town.

Growing up, I always knew that I was different.

I didn't become aware of it, though, until I was in school.

I started to realize I'm different different, you know?

And so that always kind of caused me to feel like I never really fit in.

I left the state, went to college in Maryland.

And that was when I actually met the first trans person and learned what it is to even be trans.

Once I left college, I came back home to Arkansas and I thought, you know, someday, I think I might transition.

I wrote my mom a long letter and she took it really well, actually.

It's like it took a weight off of my spirit to not have to hide behind a mask.

My partner and I have been in Eureka Springs since 2017.

Eureka Springs spoke to us.

It's a haven for LGBT people.

And honestly, all people.

Where we were supposed to live very much picked and drew us to it.

I was immediately accepted in the music scene.

We have a very close-knit community, of musicians especially.

one of my favorite things to do is to jam with my friends.

(guitar, banjo, and harmonica playing) Music is about connecting people and having that exchange of energy.

It's a great way to work through issues together.

Music has a way of superseding words and cutting through to our deepest emotions.

Music is the great equalizer and the great healer.

(audience cheers) (somber instrumental music) Eureka Springs is a melting pot.

We have, you know, a large community of hippies, artists, musicians.

Some people would say that Eureka is full of magic.

There's folklore.

For a long time, Eureka Springs was revered for its healing properties and its magical waters.

So if you're looking for a spot where you can come and be authentically you safely and not only be welcome, but be celebrated, this is the place.

Hey, buddy.

What are y'all doing tonight?

- (Skye VO) You know, that's kind of a tough question.

Love you, bub.

To think about how Arkansas affects who I am.

Kind of an emotional one honestly.

It is impacted so much of who I am as far as being, you know, what you think of when you think of a polite Southerner: wearing cowboy boots, listening to country music, liking trucks, having a garden.

It's taught me a lot of core values that I appreciate and that I carry with me always.

At the same time, just like the state of a lot of our states, there█s a large demographic of our people literally having their basic rights and freedoms threatened.

If I wanted to ruminate on it and dwell on it, then yeah, I would be extremely sad about the state of affairs in Arkansas right now.

All right.

(solo guitar) (Lyrics) Oh every day is a masquerade... (VO) I think the the only way that we can erase that division is by instead of getting angry or hateful, I think that's the best we can do.

(Lyrics) That comes from covering up your broken heart no, no.

Broken heart, no broken heart, no...