For many LGBTQ+ people, coming out can mean losing biological family support. In response, they often form “chosen families” — close-knit networks of friends and allies who offer unconditional love, care, and support.
Chosen families play an essential role in emotional survival and celebration. They show up when it matters — at hospital bedsides, on birthdays, at Pride events, and during everyday life. These bonds are not defined by blood but by love and resilience.
Pride Month is a time to honor the concept of chosen family. It reminds us that family is not always given — sometimes, it’s created with intention and deep trust. For many queer people, these connections are not second best — they’re the best.
In a world that sometimes shuts doors, chosen families keep building homes. This Pride, let’s celebrate all the ways we love and care — and the people who become our sanctuary.
Kanishka