Reimagining Family: Narrative Explorations of Hmong Lgbtqia+ Identities and Family Formation

Background and Purpose:
The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) cluster calls for research that advances understanding of LGBTQIA+ lives while promoting equity and affirming practice. Hmong LGBTQIA+ individuals remain underrepresented in social work research, particularly in relation to intersectionality, cultural practices, and family formation. Dominant heteronormative expectations within Hmong cultural contexts, which are shaped by kinship structures, clan systems, and intergenerational obligations, often constrain how LGBTQIA+ individuals envision and construct family. At the same time, Hmong LGBTQIA+ individuals actively reimagine family beyond biological and marital norms, creating spaces of care, belonging, and resilience. This study examines: (1) How do Hmong LGBTQIA+ individuals narrate family formation and belonging? and (2) How do they navigate cultural expectations, stigma, and possibilities for alternative kinship structures?

Methods:
This qualitative study uses a narrative inquiry approach to center the lived experiences of 10 Hmong LGBTQIA+ individuals across the United States. Participants were recruited through community organizations, LGBTQIA+ networks, and snowball sampling. In-depth, semi-structured interviews explored experiences with family expectations, identity disclosure, intimate relationships, parenting aspirations, and chosen family. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using narrative thematic analysis, with attention to relational dynamics and meaning-making. The study draws on two newly developed, culturally grounded frameworks, Hmong Critical Race Theory and Queer Hmong Epistemology, to contextualize participants’ narratives within a Hmong lens and to critically examine how systems of power, migration, and cultural continuity shape their lived experiences.

Findings:
Findings highlight three central themes: (1) Negotiating Cultural Expectations of Family: Participants described tensions between traditional expectations of heterosexual marriage, procreation, and clan continuation, and their own identities and desires; (2) Expanding Definitions of Family: Participants redefined family through chosen kinship networks, partnerships, and nontraditional parenting pathways, including co-parenting, fostering, and community-based caregiving; and (3) Resilience and Reconciliation: While some experienced rejection or strained familial ties, others described gradual processes of negotiation, partial acceptance, and relational repair. Across narratives, participants demonstrated agency in constructing meaningful family lives despite structural and cultural constraints.

Conclusions and Implications:
This study contributes to SOGI-focused research by centering the intersection of ethnicity, sexuality, and family formation among Hmong LGBTQIA+ individuals. Findings underscore the importance of moving beyond deficit-based frameworks to recognize culturally grounded resilience and innovation in family-making practices. Implications for social work include the need for culturally and structurally competent services that affirm diverse family forms, support intergenerational dialogue, and address barriers to inclusive reproductive and family policies. By elevating the voices of Hmong LGBTQIA+ individuals, this research advances social justice and informs practice and policy aimed at fostering equitable, affirming environments where diverse families can thrive.