Grief can be profoundly isolating, and LGBTQ+ widowed people often face an additional challenge: finding support where their relationships, identities, and experiences are fully understood and affirmed. Traditional bereavement groups may not reflect the realities of queer partnerships, chosen family, disenfranchised grief, or the complicated relationships some have with family and community.

This interactive session will explore how to assess and strengthen your existing support system while also creating new sources of connection. Presenters will share examples from an established New York City LGBTQ+ widowed group, an online peer-support community, and Soaring Spirits’ LGBTQ+ programs to demonstrate that meaningful support can take many forms—from informal friendships and local gatherings to virtual groups and larger networks.

Participants will consider what they need from a support community, where gaps may exist, and practical ways to find—or help create—the spaces they need. We will also explore how offering support to others can deepen our own healing, help us feel understood, and create meaning from the losses we have experienced. Whether you are seeking your tribe or considering becoming a connector for others, this session will offer ideas, encouragement, and a reminder that none of us should have to navigate widowhood alone.