'Although I know she’s their daughter, they are so kind to me. My family just isn’t like hers at all.'
When Maria Paula, who goes by @thelesbianlatina on Instagram, visited her girlfriend, Brooke Lalley's (@brooke_lalley) family, she was surprised to notice something so beautiful that she instantly questioned whether ''this is what family support feels like." The heartfelt video has received over a million views since it was shared on January 19, 2025.
Maria was invited to a Christmas get-together by her girlfriend's family, where she saw a beautiful picture put on the fridge. Well, it was her and Brooke's photo that the family had placed as a quiet but powerful declaration of pride. It was this small yet profound gesture that convinced Maria that her partner's family had accepted her with their whole heart. While everyone was busy helping each other out in the kitchen, Maria paused for a moment to capture this beautiful testament to their family's love. "Showing me what love is supposed to look like," she wrote in the caption.
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Unlike Maria and Brooke, many same-sex couples don't get their families' support. In fact, an appalling study by the Pew Research Center found that 39% of American adults confessed to being rejected by a family member or friend because of their sexual orientation. Moreover, the report discovered that 30% said that they have been physically attacked or threatened because of the same reason.
Meanwhile, when Maria shared the wholesome incident online, the post received an overwhelming response on social media, especially from people with similar experiences. For instance, @die_luuuu shared, "My grandma has a photo of us on her closet. At first, I was confused until she explained to me that she could see us there the best from her chair." Similarly, another user, @grape.sofa, wrote, "Yes, omg I love this; living in a rural area with family, including my queer partner, feels amazing. We are invited as a couple to everything on both sides of our family, and I feel so incredibly fortunate to be so loved and accepted. We all deserve this." @kpollinger said, "That's how you would appear at my house. I'm proud of my family and the partners they choose."
A user who goes by @steven.etx on Instagram shared, "The first time I met my husband’s parents, we had only been dating for about 3 months, and they hugged me immediately and acted like we’d known each other forever. I almost cried because the adults in my family always made me uncomfortable, and I just didn’t know what to expect." @joelambert_91 wrote, "This happened to me last year. My boyfriend’s parents and some of his friends have our picture on their wall and fridge. That feeling of belonging and support is unimaginable." @diva said, "I literally cried when I saw a picture of my gf and me on her parents' fridge. They printed out one she had posted. They are so kind to us, and although I know she’s their daughter, they are so kind to me. My family just isn’t like hers at all. I cry over their kindness all the time; they don’t even know because I keep it private between me and my girlfriend. They mean a lot to me."
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You can follow Maria Paula (@thelesbianlatina) on Instagram for more relationship-related content.
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