27% of LGBTIQ+ people in Spain have experienced discrimination or rejection from their families during Christmas
La Christmas It is a time of gathering and celebration for many families, although for many people LGTBIQ +, can also be a time of tension and pain. Traditional expectations about what the holidays should be like, centered on heteronormative family models, can create a space of rejection for those who do not fit those stereotypes. According to a study by FELGTBI+ (2020), 27% of people LGTBIQ + In Spain, they have experienced discrimination or rejection from their families during the Christmas holidays, which highlights how a lack of acceptance can mark these very significant dates.
Family rejection towards people LGTBIQ + It does not only occur in the intimacy of everyday conversations, but is intensified during celebrations, when expectations about the "Perfect family» and conformity to traditions become more evident. Family dinners can become awkward moments, where questions about singlehood or sexual orientation are intertwined with disparaging comments. According to a report by Triangle Foundation (2021), 35% of people LGTBIQ + have experienced difficulties in bringing their partners to Christmas celebrations, this being a time of open rejection or lack of validation.
Chosen family
Six out of ten people from the LGTBIQ+ community go back into the closet to go home for Christmas, a moment that for many is an experience of fear, rejection and hiding, so the FELGTBI+ has launched a campaign to defend that "In the lottery of hate, the best prize is not to experience it«.
Rejection is not limited to sexual orientation, but also gender identities. Trans people often face a double burden: the constant denial of their chosen pronouns and names. A study by Transgender Europe (TGEU) (2021) revealed that many trans people experience this type of discrimination during Christmas dinners, which creates an atmosphere of discomfort and emotional pain.
Despite this painful reality, many people LGTBIQ + choose to create their own holiday traditions, surrounded by friends and communities that support and celebrate them as they are. Creating these alternative spaces offers a sense of belonging and visibility that is often missing in traditional family settings. That is why chosen family It is so important for people LGTBIQ +.
