BY: DM
Published 2 days ago
Love makes a family, and LGBTQ Families Day is here to remind the world of that. Every June 1, queer families and their allies gather across the U.S. to celebrate visibility, joy, and the ways families are formed. Organizers hold the day on the first weekday of June to uplift all kinds of parents and family structures.
Over the past two decades, LGBTQ Families Day has grown from a one-woman blog initiative into a powerful nationwide movement. Here’s how LGBTQIA+ communities celebrate it today.
LGBTQ Families Day is a day to honor all families.
Mombian creator Dana Rudolph founded LGBTQ Families Day as “Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day” in 2006. According to a press release, Rudolph wanted to designate a day for queer parents, children, and allies could share stories of love and resilience. “LGBTQ Families Day has broadened in scope over the years to include the vast number of families that include LGBTQ people,” Rudolph said. “It is a day to celebrate all our families and show our mutual commitment to learn from and support each other as we work towards a shared vision of inclusion and equality for all.”
LGBTQ Families Day falls right between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day because not every family fits that mold. Some children have two moms. Others have a queer single dad or are raised by their aunties or godparents. And while the celebration is beautiful, the message runs deep. It’s about affirming that queer and trans people are raising kids, building homes, and showing up for each other every day.
Rudolph knew that queer families needed space to share their truth online — and they showed up. Over time, big orgs like Family Equality, GLAAD, PFLAG, the Human Rights Campaign, and COLAGE joined the wave.
Organizations across America are celebrating LGBTQ Families Day.
Each year, LGBTQ Families Day is marked by coordinated statements from community leaders and organizations. Advocates stress that the celebration is especially urgent amid rising political attacks. The holiday also serves as a platform for policy advocacy. In June 2023, five leading LGBTQIA+ family organizations – Family Equality, GLAD, COLAGE, and NCLR – released a report urging states to update outdated parentage laws. The report notes that “nearly 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ adults in the U.S. are raising children under the age of 18” and many still lack legal protection.
And, of course, the day is marked by festive fun. Mombian is hosting a slate of events for attendees to learn and engage with other LGBTQIA+ families. The org is offering a free webinar titled “To Have and to Hold: How LGBTQ+ Families Shaped the Movement for Marriage Equality,” featuring Jim Obergefell. Obergefell served as the lead plaintiff in the landmark case that secured nationwide marriage equality.
Meanwhile, The Queer Family Podcast kicks off its Pride Extravaganza with a brand-new episode featuring Brian Rosenberg, founder of Gays With Kids and GWK Academy. You can tune in at the link or wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.
