What Pride Teaches Us About Belonging – and Why It Matters in Recovery

Pride Month is a celebration of resilience, identity, and chosen family. The main theme here is showing up, unapologetically, as yourself. 

But Pride, contrary to what some may think, isn’t just a party or a parade. It’s a powerful reminder of what happens when people refuse to be erased. 

When they reclaim their story, their worth, and their right to belong. And that’s what recovery in addiction and substance abuse is, too. 

Recovery is about living in truth after silence. About finding your people when the old ones let you down. And most importantly, about connection after isolation.

Today, we’ll look at how Pride and recovery share the same roots: chosen family, self-acceptance, and the need to belong. We’ll also honor the LGBTQ+ people who’ve shaped recovery spaces so that more of us can heal, together.

A Brief History of Queer People in Recovery Spaces

Addiction recovery spaces didn’t always feel safe for LGBTQ+ folks. But that didn’t stop them from showing up. 

Starting in the 1970s, queer Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous members began forming their own meetings in major cities.

And they were right to seek that out. Studies show LGBTQ+ individuals face higher risks of substance use, often beginning in adolescence. One large national survey found that queer youth reported substance use at nearly twice the rate of their straight peers.

Groups like “Living Clean” and national roundups like the Western Roundup and the Gay & Sober Men conference grew out of this need. Even today, queer people continue to be a big part of recovery spaces.

More than sobriety, these gatherings also meant survival for them.

For many LGBTQ+ people, recovery meant facing two kinds of stigma: the kind that comes with substance use, and the kind that comes with identity. That double weight made safe, affirming spaces even more important. 

So LGBTQ+ folks built them. And because of them, more people are alive today.

Belonging Matters More Than People Think

Everyone wants to feel like they belong. But for queer folks and people in recovery, that’s not always easy. Many of us know what it’s like to be pushed out, misunderstood, or made to feel ashamed of who we are.

Belonging isn’t about changing yourself to fit in. It’s about being seen for who you really are – and still being welcomed. That kind of connection can be life-saving. Pride creates it. So does recovery. When people come together with honesty, without fear of rejection, healing happens.

Chosen Family Can Be the Start of Healing

Some of us lose people when we come out. Others lose them when we get sober. And some lose them for both.

That’s where chosen family comes in. It’s the people who show up when things get hard. The ones who stay. In LGBTQ+ and recovery communities, chosen family often becomes the foundation.

At Companion Recovery, we see this all the time. Our team provides coaching, peer support, and compassionate travel – tools that help people rebuild trust and connection. We help clients move safely from one place to another, not just physically, but emotionally, too.

Because real support doesn’t just get you there. It stays with you.

The concept of "chosen family" is deeply rooted in both queer culture and recovery communities. Multiple studies have discussed how many LGBTQ+ individuals are forced to form alternate social networks due to rejection by their families of origin. 

These support systems – built on trust, shared experiences, and care – often serve as the backbone of successful recovery for LGBTQ+ people.

Radical Self-Acceptance Takes Courage

The Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet on self-acceptance says: “We are learning to replace old feelings with new beliefs.”

That’s not easy. It means unlearning shame. It means seeing your story as one worth telling. For queer people, it can mean coming out. For people in recovery, it might mean saying, “I need help.”

According to Haeder et al. (2021), LGBT people are not only less likely to blame others for addiction but also more likely to experience social judgment themselves when seeking help. 

High levels of social stress, discrimination, and internalized shame are key factors increasing vulnerability to substance use among LGBT individuals.

Meanwhile, a 2009 NIH-funded research found that psychiatric disorders, including substance use, were more prevalent in LGB populations living in states with fewer legal protections. They concluded that structural stigma had measurable negative effects on mental health outcomes.

That’s why accepting there’s a problem and reaching out for help can be so difficult. Both take guts. Both take honesty. But self-acceptance for the LGBTQ+ opens the door to freedom. You stop performing and start living. 

Of course, it doesn’t happen overnight. But every time you choose yourself, you move forward.

Visibility and Allyship Matter

Being visible means taking up space. It means saying, "I'm here. This is me."

Pride does that for LGBTQ+ people. Open recovery does the same for folks who are sober. Both challenge shame and stigma. Both help others see that healing is possible.

And allies? They make that safer. Whether you’re a friend, a parent, or a professional, your support matters. At Companion Recovery, we work with families to help them show up better. We coach, we educate, we listen.

Because nobody heals alone. And no one should have to.

Recovery and Pride Are Both Works in Progress

You don’t need to get it all right. You just need to keep going. Pride reminds us that things can change. That we can change.

Recovery says the same. You celebrate the small wins. You show up, even when it’s hard. And you keep showing up.

We see that every day. In our clients. In their families. In ourselves.

Let’s Stay Connected

If you’re LGBTQ+ and in recovery, or thinking about it, we see you. If you're a parent, clinician, or loved one, we can help you show up with more care.

Because Pride isn’t just about being out. Recovery isn’t just about quitting. Both are about living fully. Both are about finding your people.

And at Companion Recovery, we believe you deserve that. So, reach out to us today, and get the help, the healing, and the family you deserve.