Dear Beautiful Community,

On this upcoming Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to speak directly to you — the dreamers, the fighters, the creators, the chosen family members, the quiet healers, the loud advocates, and every soul who makes this community vibrant, powerful, and endlessly inspiring.

Before anything else, it’s important to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples whose land we stand on, and the deep injustices, displacement, and harm they have faced for generations. Today is not a simple celebration for everyone, and we honor the resilience, history, and continued presence of Indigenous communities. Their stories deserve recognition, respect, and our ongoing commitment to justice.

Soon, many of you will gather around tables filled with food, laughter, or sometimes a little chaos, I know that not everyone has a place that feels safe or welcoming. If your Thanksgiving looks different this year — if you're celebrating with friends instead of family, if you're navigating complicated relationships, or if you're simply spending the day with yourself — I want you to know this:

• You are not alone.
• You matter.
• You are loved.
• And you belong — exactly as you are.

Thanksgiving is a moment to reflect on the things that anchor us, shape us, and give us hope. And the truth is, this community is one of those things. I’m grateful for every queer story, every act of courage, every step forward, and every person who continues to show up as their authentic self, even in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.

• I’m thankful for the brilliance you bring to the world.
• I’m thankful for the joy you create out of resilience.
• I’m thankful for the kindness you offer to each other when the world gets heavy.
• I’m thankful for the pride you carry — in big ways and small.

Whether your day is full of celebration, quiet reflection, chosen family dinners, volunteer work, long shifts, or simply rest, please take a moment to feel proud of who you are and how far you’ve come.

And if no one has said this to you yet today, let me be the one:

I’m grateful for you. Truly. Deeply. Unconditionally.

Wishing you warmth, safety, hope, and love this Thanksgiving — and every day after.

With all my heart,