Prioritizing Evidence Over Expectation: Researching LGBTQ+ Ancestors
As family historians, our mission is to tell the full, true stories of the people who came before us. We gather birth certificates, trace migration routes across prairies and oceans, and map out the plots of land our ancestors called home. But when we look at our family trees, it’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming every branch follows a traditional, heteronormative path.
In celebration of Pride Month, let’s talk about a beautiful, deeply rewarding aspect of family history: researching LGBTQ+ ancestors. You might recall I recently covered this topic in an article for the Irish Genealogical Society International’s The Septs journal, but I wanted to make some of the most important tips for researching LGBTQ+ ancestors more accessible for free here.
According to modern demographic data, between 4% and 10% of the population identifies as LGBTQ+. If we look at the math of our family trees—where the number of ancestors doubles with every generation even before we consider the extended family of cousins beyond our direct ancestors—it is highly likely that queer history is woven directly into your own heritage.
But how do we find individuals who lived during eras when being open about their identity carried immense social, financial, or legal risk? The answers rarely sit on the surface of a document. Instead, we have to learn how to read between the lines.
If you are just learning how to start with genealogy, or if you're trying to break through a stubborn brick wall, here are a few ways to expand your research perspective and uncover these hidden histories.
1. Look for "Archival Desire Paths"
In landscape architecture, a "desire path" is the eroded trail created by erosion and human footsteps where people naturally prefer to walk, rather than following a paved sidewalk.
Historically, LGBTQ+ individuals had to carve out their own desire paths through life, navigating a society that didn’t officially recognize their relationships or identities. Adding into that the risk to these individuals if they lived publicly queer or trans lives, and it’s no surprise there’s a lack of official documentation for many. Because of this, mainstream historical records often only captured queer lives through a lens of surveillance, legal trouble, or medical categorization.
To find the truth of their lives, we have to look at the subtext of everyday legal and domestic records. We have to look for the trails they left behind in the quiet spaces of the archive.
2. Spot the Power of "Clustering"
When you are learning how to analyze historical records, one of the best strategies is to look at an ancestor’s immediate network—also known as their FAN (Friends, Associates, and Neighbors) club—aka their friends, neighbors, and business partners. For LGBTQ+ ancestors, this network was often a vital protective strategy.
Because many individuals faced the reality or fear of family rejection, they chose to protect their chosen families using standard legal tools. When reviewing your records, look for distinct clustering patterns:
Property Records: Do you see lifelong "companions" or "bachelors" purchasing and/or sharing land together?
Probate and Wills: Did an ancestor leave their entire estate, family heirlooms, or land to a non-relative roommate, bypassing traditional family lines?
Witnesses and Bondsmen: Who signs as a witness on their naturalization papers, land deeds, or pension files? If the same name keeps appearing over decades without an obvious biological connection, pay attention.
By mapping out these connections, we can see how ancestors built supportive, enduring communities, even when society incentivized their official silence or the destruction of their private letters and diaries.
3. Embrace the "Archival Silence" and Pivot
Sometimes, a mystery in your tree isn't a mistake, it’s a clue. For example, a child assigned female at birth might seemingly "vanish" from the census records altogether. While a beginner might assume they passed away young, an experienced researcher knows to look closer.
Take the famous Civil War history of Albert Cashier. Born in Ireland, Albert immigrated to the United States, assumed a male identity, and fought bravely in the Union Army. For decades, Albert lived, worked, and eventually received a pension under his male identity. If researchers only looked for the female name given at birth, Albert’s incredible story would be completely lost to history.
Similarly, you might find a woman listed as married in one census, but a decade later, she appears in a long-term domestic partnership with another woman, perhaps listed under the ambiguous label of "boarder" or "partner."
When you encounter a sudden name change, an unexplained relocation, or an ancestor who completely drops off the grid, don't give up. It might be time to broaden your research strategies and consider that they were navigating life on their own terms.
Prioritize Evidence Over Expectation
The ultimate rule of professional genealogy is simple: prioritize evidence over expectation.
When we assume that every ancestor was heterosexual or cisgender, we unintentionally close the door on the truth. Documented LGBTQ+ individuals have always been a vibrant part of human history—from the poetry of Sappho to the literary circles of Oscar Wilde's Dublin to the quiet farming communities of the Midwest.
As family historians, our commitment to evidence-based research naturally extends to encompassing the full, beautiful range of the human experience. This Pride Month, take a closer look at those mysterious branches of your tree. You might just find a story of resilience, community, and love waiting to be told.
Have you ever discovered a unique living arrangement or a "bachelor uncle/spinster aunt" story in their tree that you managed to solve using FAN club research or any of these other tips?
