When I first came out, holidays were hard. I reached a point where I didn't go home anymore. I constructed my own, kind of like, family group around Christmas.

In this heartfelt quote, Dee Rees reflects on the challenges of navigating holidays after coming out, particularly during Christmas, a time often associated with family gatherings and traditional celebrations. Rees reveals that the experience of being LGBTQ+ sometimes involves a painful disconnection from one's family, especially if they are unsupportive or unaccepting. For her, the holidays became difficult because they highlighted this estrangement. Instead of feeling connected to her biological family, Rees had to find a way to create a sense of belonging.

The decision to stop going home for the holidays and instead construct her own chosen family is a powerful act of self-care and resilience. Rees speaks to the idea that families are not just biological but can be chosen, built on mutual love, support, and acceptance. By creating her own family group, she was able to celebrate Christmas in a way that aligned with her identity and provided the emotional fulfillment that her original family could not. This choice highlights the importance of creating your own support system, especially when traditional family structures may not be supportive.

Rees’s words also emphasize the theme of self-empowerment. In the face of hardship, she found a way to reclaim the holiday experience and redefine it on her own terms. The act of forming a new family during the holidays symbolizes the power of building relationships that are authentic and nurturing. It suggests that when traditional families fail to provide the emotional support needed, we have the ability to form our own networks of care and love.

The origin of this quote comes from Rees’s own experiences as a director and writer in the LGBTQ+ community, where she has been a vocal advocate for representation and the complexities of identity. As someone who has openly spoken about her journey, Rees’s reflection on the difficulties of celebrating the holidays without family support offers a glimpse into the emotional challenges many face. This quote is both a personal reflection and a larger commentary on the importance of creating spaces of acceptance and love for those who may feel marginalized or disconnected from their families.