Sam Wise

To celebrate Pride month, I set up an ancestor altar to honor the beloved dead of the LGBTQ+ community!

Ancestor worship has always been something that I was interested in, but hesitant to engage with. Like many queer folks, I don’t feel a strong connection to my biological ancestors, and in fact many of them were people I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing into a sacred space. 

However, I realized that as a queer person I have a whole new set of chosen ancestors — the people who paved the way for our community. This altar is a special space to honor those activists, artists, and everyday folks who went before, and whose lives and actions culminated in a world where I can safely be out and proud. 

For a more in-depth look at my altar and its symbolism, check out my YouTube video!