Beyond the basic biological definition, the word family means something a little different to each of us. There are likely people out there that you don’t share DNA with but are like family to you. Your best friend since childhood who feels like a sister: that’s family. A mentor or teacher or sponsor who plays the role of a parent at times: they’re family. Your college roommate who helps watch your kids when you’re working late: again, family. Queer people especially have long been forming their own families, often called chosen families, as a way of taking care of each other and healing old wounds. 

Following in that vein, over time and with a lot of trust building, the three of us have intentionally chosen to become family. We share resources like homes, money, and household labor. We spend holidays together and are each other’s emergency contacts. And let’s not forget pets: Jenn now has three cats instead of just one. And now we’re hoping to have a kid together.

As we embark on this new chapter, we want to take a moment to celebrate with you all, our beloved biological families and a few members of our Portland chosen family. We want our families to get to know each other and share in the joy that we feel in choosing to do life with each other. 

Jenn, Elley and Stephanie