Gallery exhibit explores LGBTQ+ support networks

Exhibit features art from two organizations supporting LGBTQ+ youth

MVR 1250 Gallery will host an art exhibit honoring the “found” family of LGBTQ+ youth from across New York State. The exhibit, titled “Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family”, runs through Dec. 1 and is part of a larger community-based participatory research project led by Adam Hoffman, assistant professor of psychology.

The art, created by youth from The Ali Forney Center in New York City and The Q Center in Syracuse, pays homage to their chosen families — people not related to them biologically but who offer support and guidance they may not receive from their family of origin.

Art representing chosen families created by youth at The Ali Forney Center in New York City

Various artwork by youth from The Ali Forney Center in New York City, which will be on display for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery through Dec. 1, 2025. (Photo credit: Isabel Epstein)

Art from youth at the Q Center in Syracuse

Part of the art from the Q Center in Syracuse which will be on display for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" art exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo Credit: Julian Iwasko)

One of the artists from The Ali Forney Center in New York City looks at artwork on display.

A youth artist from The Ali Forney Center in New York City looks at some of the other art pieces created for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" art exhibit. (Photo credit: Isabel Epstein)

A photo of a sample of the art created for the Chosen Families art exhibit.

Some of the art focused on chosen families that was created by youth at the Q Center in Syracuse (Photo Credit: Julian Iwasko)

Art created by Naz Sowell at the Ali Forney Center in New York City which represents chosen families.

A closeup of the art created by Naz Sowell for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Isabel Epstein)

Uncovering the impact that chosen families have on youth is part of a longitudinal study Hoffman is leading. Preliminary evidence from the study has revealed that LGBTQ+ youth report receiving more support from their chosen family than their family of origin , and that greater support is related to fewer depressive symptoms and greater psychological well-being.

He and the two organizations wanted to dive deeper into how meaningful these chosen families are for youth.

“We came up with this art event and also a storytelling event so they could express, in an artistic way, the importance of these people as a social support for their lives,” said Hoffman. “We wanted to engage the youth in a way that would be meaningful for them, especially around this topic that is important to them.”

A sample of the art created by youth at the Q Center in Syracuse.

Some of the art pieces created at the Q Center in Syracuse for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery (Photo credit: Julian Iwasko)

An art piece representing chosen families, displayed letter by letter to read "To choose our family is an honor."

Letter by letter, this artwork, created at The Ali Forney Center in New York City, conveys thoughts about chosen family. (Photo credit: Isabel Espstein)

Three pieces of art created by youth at the Q Center in Syracuse for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Vicki Baum)

An art piece that is an outline of a hand, colored in yellow, with the words "Take my hand" written inside the hand.

A piece, created at the Q Center in Syracuse, will be on display as part of the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Vicki Baum)

An intertwined piece of art, which is blue and yellow, representing chosen famliies on display.

This piece of art, representing chosen family, was created at The Ali Forney Center in New York City and is on display in the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Margaret Tsai)

A collaborative research project explores the power of community

Some of the art pieces poignantly reveal the difficulties some of the youths have experienced with their family of origin, including rejection. Both The Ali Forney Center and The Q Center support youth who have been dismissed or devalued by their families and may have trouble accessing health care, housing or food. This is where a chosen family can be a lifeline.

“Chosen family quite literally saved my life,” said Franz Krueger, one of the artists who appears in a video that accompanies the exhibit. “My family of origin didn’t believe how sick I was and now I’ve finally got some diagnosis. My chosen family believed me and empowered me to get more answers, take care of my health, and show me that my life mattered and it was worth fighting for.”

“Some don’t necessarily know there’s a name for this kind of support, and it was helpful for them to conceptualize these people as family members when they may not have before,” said Hoffman.

Some LGBTQ+ youth do have supportive families of origin but also have a chosen family for additional support.

“The chosen family is a very important concept for LGBTQ+ youth, but it is actually a concept that can be applied to anyone,” said Hoffman, who is researching how chosen families predict developmental changes in teenage youth in partnership with both centers.

“Both organizations helped construct this research project from conceptualization to the questions, the implementation, and carrying out the survey, which we’re doing over three years,” said Hoffman. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with these incredible organizations. There’s a lot of respect and reciprocity between our community organization partners and my research lab.”

An art piece created with multi-colored beads on paper to represent chosen family.

Buttons and beads accent this piece of art representing chosen family which is on display in the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhbit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Margaret Tsai)

A multi-colored painting that encourages LGBTQ+ youth to find their chosen family.

A painting with a poigniant message is on display in the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Margaret Tsai)

This collage is one of many art pieces created by LGBTQ+ youth on display in the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Margaret Tsai)

a painting that is surrounded by words on display in the MVR 1250 Gallery.

A painting by Franz Krueger is on display for the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" exhibit in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Margaret Tsai)

Adam Hoffman applauds during a presentation at The Ali Forney Center in New York City.

Adam Hoffman, assistant professor of psychology, leads applause while at The Ali Forney Center in New York City. Hoffman helped curate the "Our People, Our Stories: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Chosen Family" art exhibit, featuring art by LGBTQ+ youth, in MVR 1250 Gallery. (Photo credit: Isabel Epstein)