No family is perfect. The chosen family is based on a simple idea: family is more than just biology. It’s about the people who always show up for you. Care, shared experiences, and genuine emotional support help to strengthen these relationships. There is no chosen family v/s biological family instead what we wish is for both of them to coexist. Not to take away from the fact that some folks might not have support from their biological family and that is why they choose to find support outside their blood relations. Their proximity may allow you to rely on them when your biological family is not close by. A chosen family can be a part of a person’s expanding network, helping to lay the groundwork for a broad base of support that grows over time.
Many folks spend closeted years imagining two possible outcomes: complete rejection or perfect celebration. No one warns us about the vast, complicated territory between, where families remain physically present while emotionally evacuating the relationship entirely. The mechanical exchange of life updates that grew increasingly superficial as my actual life became unspeakable territory. Returning home from these interactions felt hollow.
In our collectivistic society, the idea about cutting ties is highly stigmatised and not talked about. Being queer is considered a sin in many cultures and religions , which adds a new layer to the conflict. India decriminalised homosexuality on September 6, 2018. Currently, the community is fighting for marriage equality. Sexual minorities in India, particularly those from rural and lower-caste origins, experience extreme prejudice and violence, according to a number of human rights organisations. Sometimes parents do not know enough about the LGBT community and hence the idea of not knowing leads to more homophobia.When these ideas are introduced they are either considered as too western or just a phase. There is a sense of ambiguous loss wherein the individual is left with no sense of closure. The conflict is looked up as if the person has died or likewise which leads to a grief and guilt which aren’t talked about enough.
