foreword

The concept of “Chosen Families” has been historically affiliated with queer communities and was first coined by anthropologist Kath Weston in her 1991 book “Families We Choose: Lesbians, Gays, Kinship.” However, it is an idea that remains pertinent across all identities, and one that has been a guiding pillar in my life story.

At risk of sounding melodramatic, for a long time I misunderstood by place in the world as a perpetual migrant, cursed to be rootless, both misunderstood by my parents as well as my American peers. It is that classic second gen immigrant sob story: born in Asia, split between two cultures, all that stuff. But really, I thought my upbringing meant that I would forever lack that sense of belonging I had always wanted, as well as substance to my personhood, because what good am I if I can’t even provide a solid answer as to where I am from?

What lay at the resolution of my growing pains was a realization that home is rarely signified by bloodlines of built space. Rather, home is a malleable thing that reflects our selves. I have always known this, but it was truly easier to say than to internalize. My idea of home has drastically altered as I have grown out of my teenage angst and worked to heal my relationships with my loved ones as well as myself. This can still be a struggle sometimes, especially as I continue to age, move, and refamiliarize myself with new surroundings. I have never been good with change. But I am grateful to have found pockets of familiarity even in the most daunting places.

This is only my side of it. In creating this issue, I demanded that each contribution come from the heart, as a genuine offering of vulnerability regarding family. It is perhaps the touchiest subject of them all, revealing the reasons behind one’s behavior, while also cultivating an understanding of the humanity within a person. The House is a visualization of all aspects of home life distinguished through rooms, each one representing a different theme, such as complicated family dynamics, feelings of nostalgia, as well as the very objects one can find decorating the walls of a stairway. I hope that as you dive into each page, you are reminded of where you came from, and the things that have made you.

Best,

Audrey Creative Director