Family runs thicker than blood.
In 1993, the United Nations declared May 15 the International Day of Families to highlight the importance of family to the fabric of society. Today, we’re emphasizing the many forms that family can take, especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) folks. For the LGBTQ community, chosen families are often bound by something other than blood or biology.
Youth experiencing homelessness are extremely resilient and resourceful, and this is embodied in the way they create families that meet their unique needs. For many LGBTQ young people, chosen families provide the love, support, security, and joy they never experienced with their biological families. In many ways, chosen families are a direct response to family rejection and homelessness.