Gay uncle

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Wally asks to come along and meet Frank’s family, but Frank refuses, not yet ready to reveal the truth to them. The idea was simple yet profound: to celebrate the role LGBTQ+ aunts and uncles play in the lives of young people, especially as examples of living authentically and lovingly.

The second Sunday of August was chosen as a symbolic time — falling in the heart of summer, it’s a season associated with warmth, fun, and family gatherings.

It was first celebrated in the US on a wide scale Sunday August 14, 2016.

The holiday was conceived and first promoted by Facebook user CJ Hatter, but received visual attention online when former rugby player Simon Dunn posted on his Instagram asking people if they wanted to celebrate "Gay Uncles Day" on Sunday, August 14.

Dunn remarked that everyone had someone in their family who was always the voluntary bachelor, but that visibility could help celebrate those people and allow them the comfort to come out.

The holiday is mostly celebrated online with gay aunts, uncles, and other LGBTQ relatives, posting pictures of themselves with their nieces and nephews, and other close, young relatives.

He showed me that love was bigger than religious differences. It tells young people:

Your LGBTQIA+ relatives matter.
Queer identities are a source of pride, not shame.
Family love transcends labels.

This visibility has ripple effects. Guncle Day has the power to become a cultural staple — one rooted in love, authenticity, and visibility.

A Day of Joy and Affirmation

At its core, Gay Uncle Day is about more than gifts or hashtags.

For nieces and nephews, this often means:

A safe space: Kids know they can come as they are without fear of judgment.
Role modeling authenticity: Living openly and proudly becomes a quiet lesson in courage and self-acceptance.
Joy and fun: Many guncles and gaunties lean into the “fun relative” role, making memories through laughter, shared adventures, and sometimes a little bit of sparkle.

Celebrating Gay Uncle Day

There’s no one right way to celebrate Guncle Day, which is part of what makes it so special.

They help to break down stereotypes and build bridges of understanding between different generations.

Supportive and Loving Presence: Often, gay uncles form strong bonds with their nieces and nephews, providing a supportive and loving presence. Let's not forget the fun lesbian sister or sister-in-law that takes her niece or nephew on wild adventures.

That’s when I discovered the new term “Guncle," short for “Gay Uncle.” Both of my sisters had started to raise their own children and invited both Blake and me to be extremely involved in their lives. Be aware and attuned. It was released in November 2020, by Amazon Studios.

In 1973, 18-year-old Beth Bledsoe moves from her home in Creekville, South Carolina, to attend college in New York City.

Families and communities mark the occasion in ways that reflect their own bonds. It is prudent to take a couple of things into account as one moves forward in a relationship with the next generation:

Openness to Guncles

How old are your nieces or nephews? And this feeling of being significant (and embraced for everything you have been through and learned along the way) will be a boost to your spirit in a thousand ways.

Why We Love Our Guncles
Absolutely Fabulous Guncle Photos

Uncle Frank on YouTube

In Praise of Gay Uncles and Lesbian Aunts

Today: Being a Guncle Changed My Life

Info: LGBTQ Siblings

GLAAD Interview: Cast of Uncle Frank

Guncle Gifts on Facebook

Psychology Today: Being a Good Guncle

Amazon Film: Uncle Frank

Being a Guncle and Setting a Good Example

Guncle Gifts on Esty

The Guncle Guide to Being Everyone's Favorite Family Member

Advocate: Gay-Themed Film, Uncle Frank

The Guncle Book on Amazon

Perfectly Normal

One particular couple were proud "guncles" to a 4-year-old nephew and a 2-year-old niece.

The idea emerged from the desire to recognize and celebrate the unique role that gay uncles play in their families and the broader LGBTQ+ community. They see two boyfriends, two fiancés, two husbands as part of everyday life and it’s as normal as my husband and me to them. For too long, LGBTQIA+ identities were hidden or erased within family structures.

We’d be able to travel the world!