By Pastor Aaron Lauer

Did you know that one of the busiest days of the year for a gay bar is Christmas Day? And I have to admit, it makes a lot of sense! We spend the whole day with our biological families; eating, watching TV, listening to all of our straight relatives tell us the same old stories and giving us updates on their lives…and we are just begging to get out of the house and be with our chosen family! 

There is something special about the holidays with our queer family; the ones that we aren’t related to by blood but that we’ve chosen to build our lives around in love, care, and support. Chosen families are the ones that understand us because we share the same struggles and we stand shoulder to shoulder with one another when the world is against us.

Chosen family are the ones who get our campy humor, who dance beside us to our favorite pop divas, who we have no shame in sharing a hug or a kiss with when we are feeling overwhelmed with joy. Chosen family are the ones we can be honest and real with, because we know that we will never be met with judgment from them, only love, understanding, and a companion as we move forward in life.  

The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity for us to re-connect with our chosen family. Who are the “family” members who have been a part of your journey that you haven’t seen in a while? Who is a face that you haven’t seen because life has gotten too busy? Who are the people that you need a night out with to let loose and to remember that life is short and needs to be celebrated?

As they say, there’s no place like home for the holidays. And our home is with the LGBTQ+ family that we’ve chosen; the ones that love us for who we are! 

Blessings and peace,

Pastor Aaron