When the Holidays Hurt: Navigating Loss & Family Disowning as an LGBTQ+ Person

The holidays are painted as a season of warmth, family, and togetherness, but for many LGBTQ+ individuals, this time of year can bring up grief, loneliness, or the painful reminder of family rejection. Whether you’re mourning the loss of someone you loved, the end of a relationship, or the ache of being disowned for who you are, the holidays can intensify wounds that never fully healed.

This blog explores compassionate, affirming ways to care for yourself during a season that isn’t always kind, like building chosen-family traditions, setting boundaries that protect your peace, rewriting the stories you were given, and staying connected to people who truly see and love you.

If the holidays feel heavy this year, please know you’re not alone, and there is room for comfort, meaning, and healing right here in the holler.