Does the week before Christmas and New Year’s Eve even really exist?
We’re expected to work, but nothing is getting done. We’re booking travel, but we’re just going back to the same places we were four weeks ago. And the holiday party invites stack on top of each other until we just decide to stay home and rewatch Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square.
The world of gay news hasn’t slowed down either.
How about we take this to the next level?
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We may be mentally drained, but the holigays aren’t over. From last-minute gift ideas, to cozy products we need, and sexy spins on Christmas classics, our social media feeds are continue to bless with more things we need to possess.
So, don’t shut your laptop until 2024 just yet, because these are the 10 things we’re obsessed with this week.
1. Poppers Inspired Scented Candles
Image Credit: Etsy
It’s an age-old debate: do I get my gay friends a decorative candle for the holidays… or something they’ll actually use? (Read: poppers.) Now, I don’t have to choose, thanks to these Poppers Inspired Scented Candles ($18.50 on Etsy) from queer small business Underground Rainbow Co.
Worry not, these handmade soy candles don’t actually smell like VHS cleaner. With labels parodying some of the LGBTQ+ community’s fave brands, you can opt for scents like fresh rain, cool water, bamboo, leather/oak moss, citrus woods, and ocean breeze/sandalwood. All without the head rush.
There are few artists whose work is as instantly recognizable as Keith Haring’s –– and even fewer who left such a meaningful legacy. And while a print or painting is a bit out of my price range, this graphic crew sweatshirt (available for $80 at Abercrombie & Fitch) is an accessible –– and adorable –– way to own a piece of his art. Plus, it is seriously soooo comfy.
As a certified Graphic Tee Gay, I have to admit this isn’t the only Keith Haring shirt I own, but they’re all some of my most-complimented threads. Thank goodness some people still have taste!
3. Miley Cyrus and Ryan Beatty singing Christmas carols
I don’t know any artist who can twist a cover song quite like Miley Cyrus. The out-and-proud singer recently did a performance of “Used to Be Young” for an intimate crowd at Chateau Marmont –– where no one knew the lyrics except for the queers, prompting her to say: “And they want to know why I love the gays so much … Shantay you stay!”
But the real highlight was when she followed it up with “Jingle Bells,” bringing LGBTQ+ singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty up for her assistance. The performance is entrancing, sultry, and jazzy all at once. And major props to Miley for knowing anything past the song’s first verse.
4. Morgan Spector… a.k.a the guy who’s hot enough to get us into The Gilded Age
Where did this man come from? And what can we do to stop him from putting on more clothes? The 43-year-old actor is our breakout crush from HBO’s historical drama The Gilded Age, so aptly named for his muscular build and chest hair. No surprise, he looks just as thirst-worthy in period clothing as he does IRL. And thankfully, the show was just renewed for a third season.
5. A Very Gay Book: An Inaccurate Resource for Gay Scholars
Image Credit: @verygaypaint on Instagram
I’m a firm supporter of the dying art of coffee table books, even as someone who currently doesn’t own a coffee table. After all, there’s no better way to immediately signify an aura of sophistication, artsiness, and intelligence to visitors than leaving a book out in plain sight.
Not only is A Very Gay Book (written by the iconic artists behind @verygaypaint on Instagram) aesthetically pleasing, it’s also hilarious. The satirical book examines the world around us at large –– from trees, to sports, to soup –– and explains, in cheeky detail, why everything about it is gay. (I knew it!)
Snag a hardcover copy to educate a straight friend or decorate your own home for $18.99 on Amazon.
6. Bearaby Cotton Weighted Blanket
Image Credit: Bearaby
I’ll admit it: I used to be a weighted blanket hater. “Why would anyone want a comforter that’s incredibly heavy to lug around and feels like a smothering hug,” I used to say. But after just one night together –– spent staving off a cold and marathoning Selling Sunset –– I’m officially a weighted blanket convert.
And there’s some science behind it all: the weight can stimulate serotonin production, reduce cortisol, and increase melatonin. It’s also just cozy AF.
You can find tons of options, but Bearaby’s Cotton Weighted Blanket ($199 – $279 online) is certifiably the supreme. The chunky-knit comes in a variety of colors, like evening rose, asteroid grey, and midnight blue, and options ranging from 10 to 25 pounds. (They recommend going for one that’s roughly 10% of your body weight.) Just use with caution, because you may never want to leave the couch again.
With lyrics that would make your family blush –– “I’m coming / Down your chimney / With my tits out” –– it’s both hypnotizing and hilarious. I’ve already heard them playing it at NYC gay bars, so no huge surprise that he’s even received an endorsement from Real Housewives‘ Dorinda Medley.
I have not stopped thinking about Jacob Elordi (and his sexy lil’ eyebrow piercing) since I saw Saltburn, and it looks like I’m not the only one. This Twitter X user @elordei tried to troll their mom by sending her a pic of Elordi (whom she likely didn’t recognize), writing, “This is my boyfriend. Do you support.”
I absolutely cannot get over her mom’s response: “U are not ready for that.” LOL. Even moms know this 6’5″ hunk of Australian man meat is not for the faint of heart!
9. What Do You Meme?
Image Credit: Amazon
From the niche “Padam Padam”-referencing posts on Gay Twitter, to the cringey Minions ones on my mom’s Facebook page, memes have become a universal language. That’s what makes party game What Do You Meme ($29.99 on Amazon) a guaranteed good time, no matter who you’re playing with.
It’s kind of like Cards Against Humanity or Apples to Apples, but with pictures. Each round introduces a new photo card, with three to 20 players competing to find the perfect caption from a hand of dealt cards. It’s a sneaky way to learn a LOT about your friends’ senses of humor. And it’s also an opportunity to assert your dominance as funniest one in the group, if you’re needlessly competitive like me.
10. Future Gin Gift Set
Image Credit: Future Gin
No bar cart is complete without a good bottle of gin. And not only are Future Gin’s spirits tasty, but their mission statement is equally incredible. The women and queer-owned and operated company aims to bring a bit of the California spirit to every bottle with hints of lemon, honeysuckle, and grape leaf.
Their Future Gin Gift Set ($130 online) includes a 750 mL bottle of gin and a gorgeous hand-blown glass from Upstate Kokomo. Better yet, a percentage of proceeds are donated to Los Angeles Downtown Women’s Center and Women for Afghan Women. Long live the gin martini!
pic.twitter.com/oVuk7eUIMU— Karl Delossantos (@karl_delo) December 18, 2023
