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Let’s be real: making friends as an adult is harder than finding a well-written enemies to lovers gay romance novel where the characters actually communicate their feelings in the first three chapters. We’ve all been there: standing at a bar, nursing a drink, wondering if that guy across the room is looking at us or just checking the score of the game.
In 2026, the queer community is moving beyond the dance floor and into the craft room, the community garden, and the tabletop gaming session. Building a "chosen family" isn't just a sentimental phrase we put on Instagram captions; it’s a survival strategy. And what better way to find your people than through a shared obsession?
Whether you’re a fan of MM romance books or you’re looking for a little real-life forced proximity to spark a new friendship, here are 25 creative queer hobbies to help you build your tribe.
1. Festive Candle Painting
Forget the "sip and paint" classes where you try to recreate a generic sunset. Grab some plain taper candles and acrylic paint. It’s a low-stakes, high-reward activity that allows for plenty of gossip. If your life were a gay romance book, this is where the slow burn would begin.
2. Queer Zine Making
Grassroots organizing meets high-school art class. Zines are the ultimate way to share queer stories, political manifestos, or just your favorite tropes in MM romance. It’s authentic, raw, and a great way to find the people who share your specific brand of weird.
3. Dungeons & Drag-ons
Tabletop RPGs are the original forced proximity trope. Nothing builds a bond faster than trying to slay a beholder while staying in character as a high-elf rogue. It’s the perfect setting to live out your own MM fantasy adventures.
4. Community Gardening
There is something deeply queer about reclaiming a patch of earth and making something beautiful grow. Plus, the metaphors for "tending to your roots" are endless. It’s the ultimate slow burn hobby.
5. Retro Game Nights
Dust off the N64 or the old Sega. Playing Mario Kart or Street Fighter with a group of friends is a great way to break the ice. It’s nostalgic, it’s competitive, and it’s a great way to vet potential dates based on how they handle losing.
6. Ugly Sweater DIY Night
Why buy one when you can glue-gun your way into a masterpiece? This is a staple for building community during the holidays. It’s messy, it’s hilarious, and it’s a great way to show off your personality.
7. Queer Hiking Clubs
If you’ve ever read a gay adventure romance and thought, "I could do that," this is for you. Nature is the best backdrop for deep conversations that go beyond "What do you do for work?"
8. Bread Baking Circles
Sourdough might have been a 2020 trend, but communal baking is forever. Sharing a starter is basically the queer version of a blood oath. If you’re looking for a "kneady" partner, start here.
9. Handmade White Elephant Swaps
Instead of buying a $20 candle from a big-box store, exchange things you actually made. Whether it's a knitted scarf or a short story, it's about the effort and the authenticity.
10. Podcast Clubs
Like a book club, but for those of us with short attention spans. Pick a queer history or gay fiction podcast and meet up once a week to dissect it.
11. Bingo Prediction Nights
Host a dinner party where the main event is making a bingo card for the evening. "Someone spills wine," "Someone mentions their ex," "Someone quotes a popular gay book." It’s self-aware and hysterical.
12. Queer Dodgeball
Sometimes you just need to throw things at people you like. It’s a great way to let off steam and find the "jock" to your "nerd" in a classic opposites attract scenario.
13. Holiday Light Commentaries
Drive or walk around the neighborhood and provide over-the-top, snarky commentary on the decorations. It’s like Mystery Science Theater 3000, but with more tinsel.
14. Open Mic Poetry & Storytelling
Share your truth. Whether it's a poem about your first pride or a dramatic reading of a steamy MM romance snippet, vulnerability is the fastest way to build a connection.
15. Clothing Swaps
Clean out your closet and find some new "chosen family" heirlooms. It’s sustainable, it’s fashion-forward, and it’s a great way to see your friends in a whole new light.
16. Plant Propagation Groups
Trade clippings of your monsteras and pothos. It’s a low-cost way to fill your home with life and keep in touch with your plant-parent friends.
17. Trivia Teams (The Niched-Down Version)
Don't just go to general trivia. Find a night dedicated to "90s Queer Icons" or "MM Romance Tropes." Use your niche knowledge to win a round of drinks and some bragging rights.
18. Collaborative Mural Painting
Organize a grassroots project to beautify a local queer-owned space. It’s a tangible way to give back to the community and create something lasting.
19. Board Game Prototype Testing
Are you a rules lawyer? Find a local game designer and help them test their new project. It’s brainy, it’s collaborative, and it’s a great way to meet fellow geeks.
20. Tarot and Tea
Host a low-key evening of card readings and herbal tea. Even if you don’t believe in the cards, the conversations that arise from them are often deeply revealing.
21. Queer Volunteer Squads
Nothing builds a bond like working toward a common goal. Whether it's at a local LGBTQ+ youth center or an animal shelter, grassroots organizing is the heartbeat of the community.
22. Pet Playdates
If you have a dog (or a very brave cat), get together at the park. It’s the easiest icebreaker in the world. "My dog likes your dog, so we have to be friends now." It’s the law.
23. Wine (or Kombucha) Tasting
Learn the difference between a Pinot and a Merlot: or a Ginger and a Hibiscus. It’s a sophisticated way to spend an afternoon and a great excuse to dress up.
24. Gingerbread House Competitions (Extreme Edition)
We’re talking multi-story Victorian mansions made of gingerbread. Use a 30-minute "flip" format for extra chaos. It’s high-stress, high-sugar, and high-fun.
25. The Ultimate Gay Book Club
Of course, we had to save the best for last. Reading MM romance books or queer fiction and then getting together to argue about whether the enemies to lovers arc was earned is the peak of queer community. Check out our latest releases at Read with Pride to find your next group read.
Why Hobbies Matter for the Queer Community
In a world that can often feel isolating, having a "thing" you do with your people is vital. These hobbies provide a structure for interaction that takes the pressure off. You don't have to be "on" or "performing"; you can just be a person who is really into painting candles or playing D&D.
Building a chosen family is about more than just showing up to the same bar every Friday. It’s about the small, consistent acts of showing up for each other. It’s the text message asking how your sourdough starter is doing, or the friend who remembers your favorite trope in gay romance novels.
At Read with Pride, we believe in the power of storytelling to bring people together. Whether it’s through the pages of our MM historical romance or a rowdy night of karaoke, your community is out there waiting for you.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick a hobby, find a group (or start one!), and start building that chosen family.
For more inspiration on queer life, culture, and the best 2026 gay books, stay tuned to our blog!
Check out our latest queer reads:
- The Canvas and the Closet – For the art lovers.
- On Thin Ice – For the sports romance fans.
- The Swordsman’s Compass – For the fantasy adventurers.
Follow us for more queer joy:
- Facebook: Read with Pride
- X (Twitter): @Read_With_Pride
- Instagram: @read.withpride
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