‘Tis the season to be merry and gay. Very gay. If youโve got queer friends, kids, relatives, etc., youโve probably been looking for gifts to give to queer folksโฆexcept you keep running into merchandise splashed with Pride flag patterns and colors. While Pride flag merchandise can be cool for, like, the first couple of times, they get tired fast. At this point, it would be like getting a mug or a picture frame for Christmas to whichever queer teen youโre giving it to.
So Iโve put together a list of cool Christmas gifts for your queer friends that theyโll find cool or, at the very least, interestingโฆby asking my own queer friends what theyโd be interested in getting this Christmas.
Or in one of my budsโ words, โWhat gift would I like if I were gay? Oh wait, I am.โ
The Star Spinner Tarot Deck
GET THE STAR SPINNER TAROT DECK
The Star Spinner deck by Trungles is an 81 card tarot deck that comes with a guidebook and the coolest box art and design ever. And yes, I did mean 81 because, unlike the standard tarot deck, this one comes with 4 copies of the Lovers card from the Major Arcana.
The cards feature inclusive pairings which is why there are so many extra copies. Itโs for this reason that itโs my personal favorite deck. If youโre queer, it lets you choose to include the Lovers card that reflects your life best and if youโre not, you now have 4 Lovers cards to remind you of all the wonderful people in your life. Either way, itโs a win-win.
The deck has some of the most beautiful and unique card art Iโve seen in tarot decks but they manage to keep the essence of the traditional Raider Waite tarot decks so you can still get an easy feel for the symbolism of each card. Other notable cards include the Emperor, who is depicted as a black man, and the Sun and the Moon cards which are depicted as women in Chinese Hanfu clothing.
LGBTQ: The Survival Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel Madrone
GET LGBTQ: THE SURVIVAL GUIDE BY KELLY HUEGEL MADRONE
On a more serious note, realizing youโre queer can be a mental shock. Aside from figuring out how you feel and reassessing your self-perception, thereโs the slight issue of navigating coming out among family and friends. With the holidays right around the corner, LGBTQ: The Survival Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel Madrone could be the right gift to give at the right time.
The book contains descriptions and explanations for LGBTQ terms as well as key concepts that can help your giftโs receiver navigate how they feel and explain that to other people. Also, yes it does say โteensโ but everybody needs help, no matter their age. It also has content meant to comfort queer readers, for obvious reasons, that can help your giftโs receiver get through the holidays, at the very least.
The Pride Guide by Jo Langford
GET THE PRIDE GUIDE BY JO LANGFORD
The Pride Guide is another book on queer experiences that tries to guide LGBTQ+ youth through the confusing journey of finding their true selves. The book talks about sex, dating, and queer activism in which the former two may be more immediately impactful to whoever youโre giving it to. Even if your gift receiver is no longer a teen, my pal D says this book helped her find the confidence to start asking women out after she figured out she was queer in her mid-20s.
Look, thereโs puberty and then thereโs second queer puberty.
A RuPaul’s Drag Race Shirt
GET THE โREADING IS FUNDAMENTALโ RUPAULโS DRAG RACE SHIRT
My queer friends keep telling me to watch RuPaulโs Drag Race but itโs just not happening anytime soon. What is happening is that theyโre getting this shirt for Christmas. Yes, all of the ones who wanted me to watch Drag Race. Iโve already ordered several copies of these and they have sharp, vivid prints and are 100% cotton fabric so theyโre very comfy.
A Red Flannel Shirt Because Yes, This Is Orientation Profiling
GET THAT ONE FLANNEL SHIRT EVERY SAPPHIC SEEMS TO HAVE
Their words, not mine. Also, I am now being asked for a plaid flannel shirt for Christmas, specifically red because red flannel is somehow queerer than other colors for reasons beyond my comprehension.
These red flannel shirt from Woolrich is loose and long, making it great for layering with a tank top or tube top. I am also being told they should be paired with ankle-height converses and a Kanken backpack so if your gift receiver is super special to you, you might want to get them the whole ensemble.
Speaking of Clothes, Gender-Affirming Clothes!
You donโt have to buy anything expensive or buy anything at all for Christmas. We understand times are tough these days with record-high inflation worldwide so if thereโs one special queer person in your life who would find thrifted and/or secondhand clothes gender-affirming, by all means, get them that instead. If theyโre trans femme, they may appreciate tips on gender-affirming styles that suit them or mini crash courses on how to put on make-up.
Skincare from a Queer-Owned Business
GET THE ESSENTIALS KIT FROM NOTO
Since weโre already on the topic of makeup, why not skincare? This skincare essentials kit includes a resurfacing scrub to exfoliate their dead skin cells, a facial wash, and a serum thatโs sure to leave their face fresher and plumper. It also comes in a cotton canvas bag that your giftโs receiver can reuse for buying produce at their local farmerโs market. Think about it, it would be super cute.
Your Love, Acceptance, and Support
The best gift out there that you can give to the LGBTQ+ folks in your life is one that comes from within. Your love, acceptance, and support can make a difference, especially if theyโre taking their first baby steps as their genuine selves. The trans femme and/or transwoman in your Instagram DMs asking if x or y color suits her? Answer that. Be the cousin who spends time with a queer relative who may be pushed to the edge of family gatherings these holidays. Check on your queer friends this holiday season.
Itโs the little things.