(Photo Credits: Alexander Raths from Shutterstock)
Thanksgiving has always been a moment to hit pause and reflect, but for many LGBTQ+ people, gratitude carries a deeper, more personal weight. It’s not just about the big celebrations or well-decorated dinner tables—it’s about acknowledging the victories, the quiet moments of self-acceptance, and the people who helped light the path when things felt dark. Whether you’re celebrating with your biological family, your chosen family, or simply taking the day for yourself, this season invites a beautiful chance to reflect on how far you’ve come and what keeps you moving forward.
For many gay folks, gratitude is intertwined with growth. The journey of understanding oneself, coming out, loving openly, and finding community often comes with challenges that shape resilience. And yet, year after year, LGBTQ+ people continue to rise, thrive, and discover moments of joy that deserve to be honored.
Across conversations in the community, people shared the things they feel most thankful for—things big and small, simple and profound. For example, many LGBTQ+ individuals say they’re thankful for self-acceptance, a milestone that often took years to reach. For some gay men, this meant finally seeing themselves in the mirror and feeling at peace. For others, it was the relief of dropping old fears and embracing their identity without apology. That feeling of “I’m finally me” is powerful and it’s worth celebrating.
Others expressed gratitude for their chosen family. These are the friends, partners, and loved ones who stepped in when their biological family fell short or simply couldn’t understand. Chosen family often becomes the heart of joy—holiday dinners, unexpected support, laughter, healing conversations, and the kind of love that feels like home.
A lot of people said they’re thankful for gay spaces and community, whether online or in person. Bars, clubs, community centers, dating apps like Adam4Adam, Pride events, and even casual spaces like group chats provide LGBTQ+ individuals with places where they feel seen, where they don’t have to explain themselves or hide any part of who they are.
Meanwhile, some gay men shared gratitude for the progress in LGBTQ+ rights, acknowledging that while there’s still a long way to go, each step forward makes life a little safer and a little freer. Marriage equality, anti-discrimination protections, and more representation in media all matter deeply. These wins aren’t just legal, they’re emotional victories for people who spent years feeling erased.
Others are thankful for love and connection, from long-term partners to exciting new romances to that one magical date that reminded them that love is still possible.
And of course, many gay men said they’re grateful for the growth that came from struggle. Breakups, job losses, family conflict, health challenges, and moments of heartbreak often led to greater clarity, stronger boundaries, and deeper self-love. Gratitude sometimes grows in unexpected soil.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, these reflections remind us that queer gratitude is its own kind of strength shaped by chosen family, self-acceptance, resilience, and the joy of living authentically in a world that hasn’t always made space for us. And it deserves to be honored out loud.
Having said all that, what about you, Adam4Adam blog readers?
What are YOU most thankful for this year? Did you grow in ways you didn’t expect? Did someone show up for you when you needed it? Did you finally embrace something about yourself that you used to hide? Who or what helped you feel seen, loved, or stronger?
Share your thoughts, stories, and reflections in the comments section below. Your voice might be the reminder someone else needs today.
Happy Thanksgiving 2025!
I am here, bi-pedal, ambulatory, self-sufficient, financially decent, still relatively young, cognizant; sleep well, good, long showers, and can still travel to the local cemetery to visit the family! And, a good memory of my friends who are long, long gone!
I haven’t lost many friends, thank God. I have lost my mother and father so I can attest. I noticed you and I are so aligned when it comes to personal hygiene and that’s a good thing.
Matt, I am what is known as a “Change-Of-Life-Baby” and so I was born in 1964. My parents were born in 1915 as my parents were just about to turn 49 when I was born. My siblings were born in 1940/’42 and ’45. So, I came quite late in my parents’ marriage and all physicians told my mother to abort because of her age of 48 when daddy drove his bone-on-home! Glady, my parents felt that God has blessed them with a child so late in their marriage.
I would say good health, family, friends and being financially stable.
I stopped with the “Thanksgiving” thing (03′), personally, as the holiday is a complete farce in terms of the actual history of what really happened.
Everyday though, I’m quite thankful for very good health, financially stable, everything is paid for, no debt at all! All of my siblings are alive and well, as we’re all in our mid and later 60’s. I have too much to be thankful for; for one day only; celebrating by eating way too much, nahhhh, a hard pass. But hey, knock yourselves out by all means.
yo, fabulous!
Zebra seems to be your biggest fan. Lol
we do have about a 50% commonality. I am part black; the rest is white. It’s the Black that provides the “Simpatico” between Lamar & Zebra! However, Zebra is a bit more of a “Refined Thread”; whereas, Lamar is bit “Rougher Around-The-Collar.
Lmao, yeah, “straight from the hip” kinda bro, older more experienced, don’t forget that. “Refined” hmm, no, not really, as I understand refined; see, some see formally educated/worldly as such.
I’m self-educated, and down to earth, grounded, free spirited, divergent, even. I’m true to myself, if that is rough around the collar, wait, maybe “street smart” is what you mean, yeah, guilty as charged, lmao.
Lamar and zebra. Has a nice ring to it. Nice seeing kindness on here.
yo, the perfect black & white Treat
I don’t know what to say, man.
Embrace it bruh!!!
I am thankful for God’s love, my health, family, friends and financial security.
I am most thankful for hooking up this past spring with The Most Gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen/felt/experienced ever. After pursuing him since the late 2010s unsuccessfully due to our geographic distances, I drove some 2 hours to his place for incredibly hot sex, during which time I couldn’t stop stroking his cheeks with my hand and repeatedly saying “OMG you are so beautiful.” Sadly, he didn’t want to continue things after that day because he struggled with me being married, but that’s OK – I’ll never forget him or the experience.
True Confessions! Glad you could turn the other cheek!
Did a whole lotta turning!
tossin’ too?
Every which way…
I am most thankful for time. It’s the most precious commodity we have. We can lose our health, money, relationships – but as long as we have time, we’re good. In 1996 and 1999, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia; four months from onset to death if it’s undiagnosed and untreated. I was raising my Preciouses alone as a divorced, custodial parent; they were ten and four years old. A bone marrow transplant in 2000 cured my cancer. I have been totally healthy for the past 25.5 years. I thank my heavenly Father first thing EVERY morning for the… Read more »
Added a new and generous sub to the stable. Put a turkey leg up his ass for Turkey Day, which the gimp ate to the bone after pulled out. Good times
a Drumstick?
With Gravy.. hehe
mushroom?
I’m thankful for the family, friends and Friends With Benefits I can support and who support me.
Especially thankful for being able to seamlessly live in both the Straight and Gay segments of society.