Very insightful, VC984! <3 Wish I knew your name so I could thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experience!

1. I love honesty as well. It is better to be grounded in truth in a relationship.

2. No one is owed a relationship. A good perspective to remember on both sides of conflicts.

2. 'Canceling' versus maintaining a full relationship are just different ends of a spectrum of engagement.

I do think I'm someone who has a hard time putting my foot down. So I love your example of just deciding anti-LGBTQ family was not worth it, and disconnecting from them emotionally. They might feel hurt or not understand (well, just like you probably felt hurt and not understood if you are queer or trans!), but it's everyone's right to choose. Choose our kin, choose our words and actions, and reap people's responses as long as we stay peaceful with each other.

Maybe as I keep grappling with these ideas, I'll eventually get better at saying yes to the most rewarding relationships. Wishing you tons of joy in yours! :)