Friendsgiving
Truth be told, holidays can be hard for many LGBTQIA+ people, especially Thanksgiving. Many of us have difficult relationships with the families we were born into and would rather spend the day/season by ourselves or somewhere far away from the drama of it all!
But that is why so many of us have fallen in love with the idea of Friendsgiving. 7 in 10 Americans between the ages of 18 and 38 prefer Friendsgiving to a traditional Thanksgiving, according to new research conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Sabra. We get good food in the company of our friends who have become family. And did we mention good food?
Friendsgiving can be a lifeline for LGBTQ people. Many community members that identify as LGBTQIA+ do not have a biological sense of community – this is a privilege allotted to some. Friendsgiving is a time that we can celebrate with our ‘chosen’ family. A group of individuals who love us no matter what. That is all that family is.
Frankly speaking, Friendsgiving demonstrates the magic of queer folks to create meaningful moments and connections out of hardship and rejection. Instead of making the trek to sit with people who demand that we show up as anything less than our full selves, many queer folks gather with loved ones to make their own splash! So, in that way, it is celebration as protest. It is reimaging the boundaries of family. It is radical self-love! And we are here for it all! Did we already mention good food?
This year, if the idea of traveling home to see family makes you more than a little uneasy, think about calling up the ones you love the most, make a menu and make a big deal of Friendsgiving. Or, even if you have a great time at home, consider how you might also celebrate the friends who are family too.
As we think about the holidays, spending time with loved ones, and our families, our prayer is that we create tables where all are welcome and that we gave the strength and courage to make new tables so we never have to sit at tables at which we are not welcome!
Happy Friendsgiving!