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As soon as I came out as queer my father cut me off from that side of the family, including my, then young, half-sisters. A few years back my mother died and left me with only a brother as blood family. My brother lives in another state and travels a lot and neither of us have kids.

In the LGBT community we are familiar with building and celebrating chosen family. This year my partner and I celebrated Hannukah with the people in our life that we consider chosen family. For Christmas we will be celebrating with our Christian chosen family as well.

Though being cut out of my father and my sister's lives hurt, I've found more joy in the people who have gathered around me than I ever could have with most of my blood family.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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Not all who are childless are happy with the "choice."  There are many who "choose" to be childless after struggling with infertility or have the choice made for them because of medical issues. Even though some people come to the child-free life by way of infertility, they are often lumped in with those who happily choose not to have kids. 

I've been struggling with unexplained infertility for three years. My partner and I are currently facing the questions of continuing to try, move to adoption (if we would be allowed to) or live without children. If we chose to live childless it will not be a happy choice for us.

Yona 

posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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