“Every worthwhile endeavor carries its hurdles — and parenthood is no exception,” says Hike Chahinian, a Los Angeles-based dad, career counselor, and now, solo performer. Hike and his husband Peter are preparing to celebrate 30 years together this year, and among their greatest accomplishments is becoming fathers to their teenage daughter through domestic adoption.
Their journey began in Manhattan, where they lived at the time, and where a visit to the “Wannabe Parents” group at the LGBTQ+ Center changed everything. The head of a local adoption agency was there to speak — warm, welcoming, and affirming that two men could indeed build a family. That moment of validation set Hike and Peter on a life-changing path.
For Hike, becoming a dad was a lifelong dream. “I always wanted to be a dad, ever since I was 10,” he says. But like so many LGBTQ+ parents, he encountered plenty of awkward moments and sideways glances along the way — from a preschooler claiming his daughter had five dads, to moments in public where their family structure was met with confusion or bias. But Hike’s sense of humor, compassion, and deep love for his family have always carried him through.
Now, Hike is sharing his story with the world in a whole new way — through his one-man show, Best. Dad. NEVER., debuting at the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June. Drawing from his published essays in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and O, The Oprah Magazine, Hike’s show is a funny, honest, and moving portrayal of fatherhood as a gay Armenian-American dad raising a biracial daughter in a world that still doesn’t always “get it.”
As part of this show, Hike is also inviting audience members to support queer families by making a donation to GWK Academy when purchasing their tickets for the June 14th show. It’s a beautiful full-circle moment: a dad once searching for answers now helping others find their way.
🎭 Best. Dad. NEVER. runs throughout June at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
🎟️ Tickets available now: HollywoodFringe.org/projects/11548
💖 June 14th show: Add a donation to GWK Academy at checkout to support more LGBTQ+ families on their journey to fatherhood.
