Families and kinship

Click Me

Abstract:

Queer kinships, communities and social supports are instrumental to queer individuals, as many such individuals are not accepted by their biological family. Focusing on queer (i.e., LGBTQ+) kinship, this entry draws attention to pivotal moments that have revised and shaped the field of queer kinship and the meaning of family (e.g., chosen families, stretched kinship). Kate Weston’s work with chosen families pushes the boundaries of conjugal and consanguine families and emphasizes relationships and families through communities, trust, love and support. The influence of chosen family and recent research contributions are discussed, along with alternative relationships and parenting methods. This entry concludes with an intersectional approach by highlighting diverse queer communities and subcultures such as House and Ball within queer Black and Latinx communities, queer Indigenous, disability, online communities and kink and non-monogamous relationships. Research shows that queer kinships and communities provide resilience, a sense of belonging and assurance of one’s identity.