Family of One #LGBTQFamiliesDay 2026

LGBTQ Families Day aims to raise awareness of the diversity, joys, and challenges of all LGBTQ families—found, formed, and chosen—and to show their strength, elevate their collective stories, and reaffirm allies’ support. The event is held on the first weekday of June, between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, in order to honor all parents but also to highlight that not all families fit into the traditional structure of one mother and one father. Additionally, June is LGBTQ Pride Month.

The premise of this awareness day is to honor parents and families.

Do you consider one person a family? Not a person with their pets or plants or their work. One person as a complete family structure.

To be honest, I don’t feel like I have any family. Both my father and mother have died. I do not have a relationship with my brother, beyond texting. I don’t see my cousins. I spend holidays on my own. My ex-laws despise me. It breaks my heart that I won’t see my mother-in-law again (she’s 88) before she passes. But even if I could, it would probably confuse or upset her. I don’t want that.

People without family is a realistic family structure. Sometimes it is by choice, sometimes by necessity.

I’m still part of the community. I have friends. My six niblings will always be family even if they don’t acknowledge me. And while this isn’t a choice I made, it is something I have to work with.

I do value solitary time, but not being isolated.

I do believe being a family of one as a queer woman is not much different than as a heterosexual woman, especially over 50. We are mostly invisible, taken for granted, and pitied. Particularly so when you do not have much money. Being included is considered appropriate, being centered or included in the planning is rarely the case.

I can’t remember what I envisioned for my 50+ years when I was younger, but for the past 20 – we had a plan. Now there is no “we” just me, myself, and I.

Life can turn on a dime, so I’m not ruling anything completely out. Perhaps I will cherish my family of one, perhaps someone will begin to include me in a weekly dinner. Perhaps my second cousins will roar back into my life. Or my niblings when they are adults.

If you know someone who is a family of one, what does it look like through that lens versus “alone” or “single”?

If you would like to read our previous years’ contributions to #LGBTQfamiliesDay:

2024 – The folx who showed up are the people I choose #LGBTQFamiliesDay

2023 – The Niblings Call It Quits on #LGBTQFamiliesDay 2023

2022 – #LGBTQFamiliesDay – Being the Adult I Needed in My Own Childhood

2021 – Remember the Aunties on #LGBTQFamiliesDay

2020 – #MasQUeUp to protect your family on this 15th Annual #LGBTQFamiliesDay

2019 – We #AMPLIFY Stories from 50+ LGBTQ Parents in Western Pennsylvania on #LGBTQFamiliesDay

2018 – 50 LGBTQ Parents #AMPLIFY Their Experiences for #LGBTQFamiliesDay 2018

2017 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 40 Parents Share Their Experiences

2016 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 29 Parents Share Their Experiences

2014 – Summertime Traditions For Our LGBTQ Family