For LGBTQIA+ people in the US, family often looks different from the picture-perfect version on TV. Chosen families — those built from friendships, mentorships, and community — have been the backbone of queer life for decades. They’re the ones who show up, stand up, and hold us up.
Rooted in History
The US has a long history of chosen families: from Harlem’s ballroom houses, where drag mothers and fathers mentored young queer people, to networks of care during the AIDS epidemic. These chosen kinship systems weren’t just about surviving — they were about creating joy, beauty, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Today’s Chosen Families
Now, chosen families show up in countless ways:
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Housemates who become siblings.
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Pride crews who travel together every summer.
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Friends who gather for “Friendsgiving” when going home isn’t safe.
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Queer collectives who raise each other up through transitions, celebrations, and setbacks.
Why Chosen Family Endures
In a country as vast and diverse as the US, chosen families remind LGBTQIA+ people that we are never truly alone. They give us the freedom to create love, home, and belonging on our own terms.
Closing Thought
In the US, chosen families aren’t just support systems — they’re communities of resistance and joy, redefining what family can mean.
