Sleigh the Holidays: Staff Gift Picks for Every Name On Your List

Published: December 2, 2024 | Last Updated: December 4, 2024

Looking for the perfect gift to honor your chosen family this season? Give the gift of Michigan adventure, support local LGBTQ+ businesses, and celebrate queer artistry and history.

Make Michigan Memories with a Gift of Adventure

Experience classic queer Lake Michigan

There are many hotspots throughout Michigan that would make for a delightfully queer weekend getaway (and new ones on the rise), but sometimes it’s good to reconnect with the classics, like a whirlwind adventure in the Saugatuck-Douglas region. Reserve a room at the always-hopping Dunes Resort in Douglas or nab an Airbnb gift card and encourage your gift recipient to book a cottage in this Lake Michigan queer mainstay, known for its vibrant arts community, coastal charm and a rich LGBTQ+ history that dates back to the ’60s. You’ll find plenty of restaurants and shops to round out a fun (or romantic) getaway for you and a dear member of your chosen family.

Create a queer Michigan adventure on a budget

Feeling stretched in the money department this year? Just because you don’t have the Benjamins to be purchasing entire weekends away for your bestie doesn’t mean you have to mope at home or forgo gift-giving all together. Michigan is brimming with so many memorable, fun, free or almost-free activities that you’ll wonder why people are out here spending so much money once you put together the best low-cost queer itinerary ever. Here are a few options to get you started:

• A Queer Outdoors event (free or low-cost, queer-inclusive hikes, kayak trips, outdoor gatherings)

• A day exploring Ann Arbor and the totally free LGBTQ+ Walking Tour (grab a coffee at queer-owned Vertex Coffee Roasters)

• Explore queer art for free at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit or the Detroit Institute of Arts

Share the Gift of Reading

'True Gretch'

Every queer Michigander knows the staunch LGBTQ+ ally Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, but few know the story behind her rise. From debate prep and social media presence to humble everyday interactions with constituents, readers are taken into the small moments that made Big Gretch the “joyful warrior” she is. The breezy read never overstays its welcome and leaves even the most apprehensive reader engaged. Delightful, witty and meaningful, “True Gretch” leaves readers with a renewed purpose and understanding of what political action is really about.

Delight your favorite queer bookworm

It’s a win-win prospect. You have queer friends and loved ones who love to read, and Michigan is brimming with queer-owned bookstores. You could browse that uninspiring display of generic gift cards at your local big box retailer and grab another Amazon card, or you could branch out a little this year and support a vital community resource. Consider these queer-owned bookshops who will keep reinvesting your dollars to make our community better:

• Literati Bookstore (Ann Arbor)

• 27th Letter Books (Detroit)

• Sidetrack Bookshop (Royal Oak)

• Wayfaring Booksellers (Lansing)

• Coy’s Comics (Saginaw)

• Bettie’s Pages (Lowell)

• Books & Mortar (Grand Rapids)

Unique Queer Oddities

“Breaking the Binary: A Queer Ecology Zine”

Honestly, at $10 a pop, grab a few copies of this charming, subtly defiant, handcrafted zine and include them with multiple gifts this year (a PDF version is available for $5). Stapled together in classic ’90s zine style, “Breaking the Binary” includes 12 full-color, highly illustrated pages filled with research about queer ecology, a field combining traditional ecology and queer theory. Here, creator Madeline Priebe (@theartofmadeline) explores the inherent queerness of the nature that surrounds us, from same-sex behavior across various animal species to sex-changing plants. Priebe’s Etsy store is packed with other quirky, handmade queer gifts, too (don’t miss their “Like Gravity: An Asexual History Zine.”)

The Hirschfeld Broadway tarot

If you’ve already gifted your friends the cat tarot cards, take it up a notch with the new Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot Deck and Guidebook. This isn’t just another tarot set; it’s a gorgeously unique blend of Broadway magic and spiritual insight, featuring the iconic illustrations of legendary cartoonist and gay activist Al Hirschfeld. Each card is a miniature masterpiece, capturing the wit, elegance and theatrical flair that made Hirschfeld’s art so beloved. Honestly, I’ve never been a tarot person myself — but now I’m hooked, thanks to how irresistibly stylish and imaginative this deck is. The combination of Hirschfeld’s whimsical linework and the mysteries of tarot makes for an enchanting gift. Imagine the possibilities these cards could unlock for your recipient: Will 2025 not suck as hard as we think? Will your mystic-in-the-making rise above the chaos and uncertainty the world may throw its way? At the very least, this deck will spark reflection, inspiration and maybe even a little Broadway-style drama.

2024 Criterion Collection films

The Criterion Collection, renowned as the gold standard in film preservation and restoration, has long championed diversity in its offerings. For the queer physical media collector in your life (there is, of course, the option of a Criterion digital subscription as well), consider these standout 2024 titles that have joined the company's esteemed catalog.

One highlight is “Querelle” (1982), the daring collaboration between two groundbreaking queer artists: director Rainer Werner Fassbinder and French novelist Jean Genet. This arousing tale explores gay desire through the stylized lens of Tom of Finland. It follows a Belgian sailor whose arrival in the port of Brest sparks passion, rivalry and violence.

For fans of sapphic cinema, “Bound” (1996), the lesbian neo-noir classic starring Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon, finally gets the deluxe 4K restoration it deserves. Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, who would go on to helm “The Matrix” and come out as trans, the film resonates even more deeply through the lens of their personal and creative evolution.

For those invested in LGBTQ+ history, filmmaker Gregg Araki, one of the most influential voices in queer cinema, has spent his career documenting the outsider experience with a rebellious, punk-rock sensibility. The Criterion release of Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy is a treasure trove, compiling seminal works from his New Queer Cinema era, including “The Living End” (1992), “Totally F**ed Up*” (1993), and “The Doom Generation” (1995). These films capture the angst, vibrancy and radical defiance of queer youth in the ’90s, offering both a snapshot of the era and timeless reflections on identity, desire and survival. With meticulously restored visuals and new bonus features — including interviews, commentaries and archival footage — the set is an essential addition to any cinephile's collection. Additionally, there is CC40, a box set celebrating 40 years of the Criterion Collection. Many films that have queer appeal, including “My Private Idaho,” the Rock Hudson-starring “Seconds” and “Y tu mamá también,” are among the set’s whopping 40 titles.

'Sylvester: Live at the Opera House'

Unreleased until now, “Sylvester: Live at the Opera House” is the perfect Christmas gift for the vinyl-collecting club queer, not just because of the music itself but because of what Sylvester represented. Known as the "Queen of Disco," Sylvester was a trailblazing figure in the LGBTQ+ community, breaking barriers with his unapologetic embrace of queer identity, gender fluidity and feminine style during a time when such visibility was rare and courageous. In the vinyl’s liner notes, Sylvester is described as the “central diva” whose performance at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in 1979 was “as unlikely as it was inevitable.” This album isn’t just music — it’s a testament to queer pride, artistry and resistance. It’s a gift just hearing his version of The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” In a world still demanding resilience, gifting this vinyl is a way to honor that spirit, celebrate identity and share the enduring power of an artist who transformed culture with every note.

Custom paint by numbers

Looking for a gift that screams “sentimental and extra”? This one’s for the crafty queens, hopeless romantics and DIY divas — especially if your boo is one of them. Custom, intricate, adult paint-by-numbers are having their moment this season, and this gift checks all the boxes: it’s cute, creative and doubles as a date-night activity and chic home decor once you’re done with your masterpiece. Maikoo Art offers the option to upload a couple’s photo and have it made into a paint-by-numbers piece. The kit includes the brushes, paints and hardware to hang the art, along with the option to frame it.

Practical Gifts

'TERF Repellant' tote bag

What queer person doesn’t have an influx of cute bags (but will never turn down another one)? With a spray bottle graphic that reads “TERF Repellent” (“100% effective,” it notes—so it should work on J.K. Rowling), this bag will show that you’re a safe space for people in your community. If you’re more of a purse or wallet person, though, this shop has the same design on a shirt, an iron-on patch, a pin and more. It’s also for a cause you can feel good about supporting as Rainbow & Co is a queer, autistic-owned shop that sells apparel, accessories, pins and flags, with 10% of sales each quarter going to LGBTQ+ organizations.

Craft mocktail gift set

Are you loving the mocktail menu at Uplift? After a long night spending lots of money there, why not go home and make your own? The Dry Goods Beverage Company carries a variety of mocktail mixers, ready-to-drink mocktails, NA spirits and NA wines. This gift set features five single-serving mixers to create your own mojito, salted paloma, hurricane, lemon drop and bloody Mary at home –– just add NA spirits and club soda!

Queer-Owned Small Business Gifts

'Queer Joy Is an Act of Resistance' T-shirt

Support the incredible team at Transfigure Print Co. in Grand Rapids and a life-changing youth program with a t-shirt beaming with love and light — and a dash of defiance. The super charming t-shirt design, featuring the slogan “Brave Trails: Queer Joy Is an Act of Resistance” features a picture-perfect summer camp scene your gift recipient will love wearing year-round, with imagery of a mountain, trees, birds and a cheerful image of the sun. The project is a collab between LGBTQ+ youth leadership camp Brave Trails, modern art phenom Lisa Congdon and Transfigure with 20% of proceeds going back to the Brave Trails community.

A gift certificate for (permanent) art

Know someone that just needs that little push (or the funds) to get that tattoo they’ve been wanting? Consider a gift certificate to a local tattoo shop like My Little Needle Tattoos (Plymouth), Clove Tattoo Co. (Grand Rapids), Heirloom Arts Tattoo (Kalamazoo) and Rat King Tattoo (Detroit) — all tattoo shops that outwardly express their pride in making safe, inclusive experiences for their clients.