This is our round-up of recommendations for our LGBTQ+ fam! Is there something you can’t stop talking about? A show you’re binging, a podcast that’s making you look forward to your commute? Maybe it’s a book that kept you up all night, a new lightweight tee, or a dainty pair of earrings.
Share it with us and you might find it in our next newsletter: La********@Pi***********.com
A Little Queer Podcast: How to Handle the Holidays (Again)
Sometimes it feels really good to listen to a conversation and feel seen. That’s how I felt during this episode, when hosts Capri and Ashley talk about navigating family gatherings and triggering conversations. Even if you love your family, the holidays can be a lot.
The takeaway? Set boundaries that work for you. As I approach my forties I am ALL IN on boundary setting, choosing situations that are beneficial to me, my wife, and our kids, and saying “no thanks” to any and everything else.
Bonus? They talk about my Queer Watch pick for this month, The Happiest Season. Spoiler: They hated it. Honorable Mention: Last year Cher finally released a Christmas album. A true queer icon, she finally gave us the gift of soulful Christmas crooning. Listen wherever you stream your favorite tunes. The album is aptly named: Christmas.
Okay, so this 2020 holiday rom-com is a controversial choice. Like many people, I kinda hated it the first time I watched it. Capri and Ashley from A Little Queer Podcast called it “atrocious and infuriating.” Again, I felt the same initially, but as I sat with this feeling, I considered the nuance of coming out, and what queer relationships can look like when we start to let family in. It’s complicated.
The premise of the film–if you haven’t seen it yet–is that Abby (Kristen Stewart) is planning to propose to her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) during Christmas with Harper’s family. What Abby doesn’t know until they’re on their way, however, is that Mackenzie is not out to her family. Shenanigans ensue. This is meant to be a holiday rom-com but it’s actually quite loaded for any queer person to watch, because I think we have all been here, in one form or another.
Introducing your significant other to family when you’re a queer couple–whether you’re already out or not, whether everyone is “cool” with it or not–is a lot of emotional work. If I were to really look back and examine my behavior from early in my relationship, I would unearth some cringe-worthy memories. It’s all part of the process. So yea, I kinda wish Abby had hooked up with Aubrey Plaza’s character, but also, relationships are difficult, and I don’t want to spoil the ending … but this is a holiday rom-rom, and I’m glad there was a happy ending.
Also, I am going to be honest: My biggest problem with this film was never that Mackenizie behaves like an ass, because a lot of us have misbehaved a few times in our lives. What I really couldn’t move past was a scene at a party when Abby ordered a VODKA NEAT at the bar. That’s right folks, she ordered a room temperature vodka in a glass. I mean, come on. That’s disgusting. And her character was hot! And interesting! She should have a cocktail to match.
That being said, this is a good time for a rewatch. There’s plenty of eye candy, and Dan Levy is a treasure who can do no wrong. Stream on Hulu tonight.
I’ll Be Gone for Christmas, by Georgia K. Boone
Who doesn’t love a Christmas swap story, amirite? You’ll even find a new one on my queer holiday film round-up, coming soon. That being said, December is a chaotic time of year. I think we can all agree that we are tired, and we need an easy read. This is that. A wholesome holiday romance about discovering and rediscovering queer identity. It’s about finding friendship. It’s about finding yourself. It’s got characters who inexplicably have loads of money and cool jobs but hey, we read to escape, right?
Here’s the pitch: Bee Tyler needs a break from the busy San Francisco tech community. Her best friend says, “Hey girl, get on Vacate,” a house-swap app. So she does it. Meanwhile, Clover Mills has had a shitty year on her family farm in Ohio, so she also needs a break. Vacate it is! The two swap homes for the holiday and their lives change. Forever.
There’s queer romance, an interesting cast of characters, and it’s the feel-good, quick read we need and deserve right now. As always, I recommend borrowing this from the library or purchasing from your locally owned book store.
The Marimekko Raide Bath Robe from Little King, a queer-owned, lovingly curated home and design store located in Beacon, New York.I’m such a fan that they even made it into my 2024 holiday gift guide. Little King is a lovingly curated home and design store located in Beacon, New York. Lucky for you, they have an online shop full of unique gifts and accessories, including this stylish and soft terrycloth robe that I. Am. Coveting.
It’s got pockets! It’s got a belt! It is stylish and admittedly, not inexpensive, but well-made pieces never are. It’s the holidays, treat yourself to some cozy comfort.
Hey there. Laura Leigh here. I’m a wife, writer, mama, small business owner, podcast host, and the Head of Content here at Pink Robin.
I love supporting the queer community and bringing shared experiences to life.
If you have a story to tell, I’m here for it.
la********@pi***********.com
I remember when my wife and I first became moms, I knew that our ability to “pass” was behind us. I was never going to pretend that my wife and family were something other than exactly who they were. It was freeing to know that I had to live my queer life out loud, that I would forever be myself in every space, all the time.
In a 2023 CNN article Daniel Korschun, associate professor of marketing at Drexel University explained that when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, executives “are becoming much more skittish about taking these stands and making strong statements.
According to a 2022 Pew Research Poll, roughly eight-in-ten U.S. adults say there is at least some discrimination against transgender people in our society. Because trans rights have become such a contentious issue across the country, companies that used to view supporting pride as “low stakes” have become less likely to support the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. “The pendulum is swinging a bit back … toward a more conservative approach, where they’ll be less vocal,” says Korschun. According to a recent NBC News article, Target stores will only sell pride merchandise in select locations this year. The retailer will not have Pride collections in about half of their locations. Additionally, they will only sell pride merchandise for adults.
An argument that Target has made in the past and is now using again is that this decision protects their LGBTQ+ employees, but let’s be clear: Conditional allyship is not support. Pulling queer merchandise from their shelves and essentially pretending that we don’t exist–and ignoring those of us who have children that want to celebrate pride with us–is detrimental to our community. Erasure threatens our safety. This weekend my mom told me that she’s done with Target. Like her, I can’t say I feel good about spending my money in a place that doesn’t value my family. As of today, the ACLU is currently tracking 515 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. We exist, and abandoning us only endangers us.
