Amid anti-LGBTQ efforts, transgender community finds joy in 'chosen families'
ABC News
The LGBTQ community finds support and joy in chosen families amid onslaught of political attacks.
Jessica Parker, 40, didn't transition until she was in her 30s.
She suppressed her identity in her conservative, central Texas town out of fear of rejection or violence. But as more and more LGBTQ people came into her life, she finally felt safe enough to come out, identifying publicly as a woman.
"I feel more myself than ever," Parker told ABC News in an interview. "I've been happier than ever. It's been a struggle, certainly, but it's been great and I have a good trans community now."
Her "chosen family" -- the close circle of LGBTQ friends and allies she has cultivated -- understands the beauty and power of the LGBTQ community and they've become a lifeline for her.
