5 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays if You're Queer

3. Lay down boundaries  

if you're going into a heteronormative environment for the holidays, think about what physical and emotional boundaries you need to put in place that will allow you to feel safe enough to show up with an open heart? Staying in a hotel? Steering clear of politics? Try to communicate your boundaries in a loving way, and remove yourself if they're not respected. 

4. Take your queer community with you

Wherever you're going for the holidays, stay connected to your chosen family. Text right before you enter a cis-het holiday situation, tell close friends you might need to call them. Create a game plan with your partner(s) on how to manage stressful situations. Revive the queer group chat to vent or laugh together. 

5. Protect against loneliness

If you don't have any plans, do yourself a favor and make at least one nice plan for yourself, however small. Don't feel pressure to make those plans align with some mainstream idea of what the holidays should be. Make a sex date, or have a drink with a friend. Strengthen your chosen family bonds, or simply have some fun. 

Read our blog post on Navigating Holiday Stress to learn more tips.