It Takes More than a Village: Involvement in Positive LGBTQIA+ Socialization from Origin Family, Chosen Family, Community, and Parasocial Relationships

Abstract

Parents remain the focus of LGBTQIA+ socialization, and contributions of other family and non-family relationships remain unknown. We identified who contributes to positive LGBTQIA+ socialization using a broad, queered definition of family. Data from the Queer Joy Project (New Zealand and United States, 2023–2024) included LGBTQIA+ adolescents and adults (ages 16–71; n = 490). Using repeated measures ANOVA, frequency of positive LGBTQIA-related messages while growing up were compared across origin family, chosen family, community, and media. Qualitative content analysis of brief narratives identified who positively influenced participants’ sense of LGBTQIA+ self. Positive messages were most frequent from chosen family, then media, origin family, and community (F = 280.03, p <.001). Transgender and nonbinary participants received positive messages from origin family less frequently than cisgender participants (t = 2.27; p = 0.03). Generation Z participants received positive messages more frequently in all relationship domains compared to older participants (Fs = 19.61–55.14; ps <.001). In narratives, participants most frequently identified chosen family (48.3%), community (22.8%), origin family (18.3%), and parasocial relationships (16.3%). Many participants (69.6%) identified someone who was LGBTQIA+. LGBTQIA+ socialization could be enhanced by improving origin family participation and increasing youth access to LGBTQIA+ peers, community, and media. Future positive socialization research and practice should broaden and diversify conceptualization of family.