Fit Out
When the biggest social network asks you to create their social content, it’s a compliment. When the opportunity is to shine a light on the platform’s LGBTQIA+ communities, it’s an honor. And a challenge.
We created a social campaign for Facebook Groups called “Fit Out” that showcases how members too often marginalized can express their many different layers while discovering not only new friends, but new family.
The top (3) pieces of content are unique, :30 second docu-style episodes called “Me And Also Me” featuring the multi-dimensional layers of non-binary folx.
The lower (3) are heartfelt stories about how members of the community found their chosen fam on FB groups.
There's the family you're BORN into and then there's the family you CHOOSE along the way. Hi, I’m Espé, the one in the front with the fabulous feathered shoulder pads. My pronouns are they/them and she/her. This is my chosen family: Qweerty Gamers. When I grew up, the kids in my grade were pointing out my differences and calling me gay which, at the time, I didn’t know what gay was. I just knew it was bad to them. There was some backlash from my family after I came out. Sometimes I’d try to talk myself out of being queer. Other times, I played video games to escape. I spend most of my time gaming nowadays, too. I was gaming when I met Ray—the ray of light you see here in the yellow shirt. Ray told me he ran a group on Facebook called “Qweerty Gamers.” When I heard the name, I instantly wanted to join. That’s why he started the group. To create a space where we wouldn't be judged for who we are, what we love, who we love. To give us the freedom to #FitOut. It’s grown into a nonprofit that Ray runs with Erin—the girl in the button-down shirt with the sweetest smile. Ray and I have been virtually gaming together with Sky, the stellar human wearing the furry ears. And we’re all planning on going to conventions together in the future. The family that games together, stays together. And of course, as you can see here, slays together.
There's the family you're BORN into and then there's the family you CHOOSE along the way. I’m Marti (he/him), the guy in the green shirt. And my chosen family is We are transman bodybuilders. I’m a trans man who grew up with a family that expects women to “act like women” and men to “act like men.” It was always hard knowing I’d never meet my parents’ expectations. My mother and I just spoke and she told me she’ll never see me as her son because she had a daughter. I found the family and support I never had in this Facebook group. I feel like family with these other trans men because the group is such a safe place where I can be myself, ask questions and #FitOut with people like me. Alex L., the guy in the red tank top, really inspired me to live a healthy lifestyle and work out. The support I get from the other guys like Alex R. in the zipped down hoodie and Jack flexing in the blue shirt keeps me motivated. I ended up losing 200 lbs over the past two years. We share our stories and progress in this group. Everyone genuinely encourages each other. It’s still tough when my mother says she’ll never see me as a son, but I have a chosen family of other guys who see me as their brother. They’ll always have a brother in me for that.
There's the family you're BORN into and then there's the family you CHOOSE along the way. My name is Jonah. I’m the one in the colorful, furry, striped sweater. My pronouns are he/him and they/them. My chosen family is LGBTQ Los Angeles. I grew up in a religious household and I had to figure out my queer identity in secret. I never had access to safe queer spaces in my community. My only option was to look online for ways to meet other queer people. I met Shove–the one with the yellow hair as vibrant as their personality–through a group on Facebook called “LGBTQ Los Angeles.” Shove posted that they were looking for someone to work at the coffee shop they managed and we started working together. That’s where we met Rebel. She’s the one dressed all in red going off (as usual). We formed an entire family through that one interaction in groups. They got me out to my first pride parade when I was 24 and made me feel accepted, safe and free to #FitOut. Even now, we’re still each other’s support system. When we hang out, it feels like the world stops and nothing matters but how much fun we’re having and how much we love each other. Ready for the bonus content? Rebel and Shove just got engaged. If it weren’t for my chosen family, I don’t think I’d be able to accept myself the way I do now. Meeting them saved my life.