June is Pride Month, a time for celebrating LGBTQ+ identities, achievements, and communities. It’s a time for advocacy, education, and empowerment. It’s also a time for gift-giving! Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, there are plenty of pride-inspired and queer-friendly gifts to choose from. In this post, I’ve put together a Pride Month Gift Guide for Gay Men, featuring some of my favorite products and brands.
I hope this Pride Month Gift Guide for Gay Men has given you some ideas and inspiration for celebrating your pride and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Remember, Pride Month is not just about shopping and partying, it’s also about educating yourself, supporting each other, and fighting for justice and equality. Happy Pride Month!
8 LGBTQ Gifts to Give During Pride Month
1. Rainbow Clothing and Accessories
One of the most iconic symbols of the LGBTQ+ community is the rainbow flag, which represents diversity, inclusion, and equality. You can show your pride by wearing rainbow clothing and accessories, such as t-shirts, tank tops, socks, hats, and pins.
Brands like ASOS, Tom’s, H&M, and Levi’s offer a wide range of rainbow-themed items that are stylish, comfortable, and affordable—and each site has their own product landing pages dedicated to pride & rainbow-themed fashion. Personally, I prefer more subtle pride-clothing or ones with LGBTQ+ artwork included rather than rainbows. Some of those LGBTQ+ fashion brands that are less mainstream include DragQueenMerch.com, various underwear brands, and JW Anderson’s Tom’s of Finland collection.
2. Gay Books and Movies
Reading and watching gay-themed books and movies can be a great way to learn about LGBTQ+ history, culture, and experiences. You can also find inspiration, validation, and entertainment in these stories. Some of my favorite gay books and movies include “Call Me by Your Name” by André Aciman, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, “Less (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)” by Andrew Sean Greer, and “What If It’s Us” by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera.
3. Pride Jewelry and Watches
Jewelry and watches can be more than just accessories, they can also be expressions of identity and personality. I’ve bought pride/rainbow-colored Apple watch bands which I always love wearing during Pride Month.
You can find a variety of pride-inspired jewelry and watches, such as rainbow bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings. I’ve found my favorite gender-neutral jewelry and pride accessories from sites like Etsy.com but most major retailers will also release pride-themed jewelry each year during Pride Month. Pride merchandise can vary, but LGBTQ pins are always a fun accessory.
4. Gay Travel Gear and Accessories
Traveling as a gay man can be both exciting and challenging, depending on the destination and the culture. You can make your travel experience more comfortable and safe by using gay travel gear and accessories, such as luggage tags, passport holders, face masks, and guidebooks.
Brands like Rainbow Depot and Wolfyy offer products and resources that cater to LGBTQ+ travelers. But my new favorite gay travel product is the Pride Limited Edition Carry-On from ROAM Luggage. It’s just subtly gay enough that you can tell it’s a gay luggage set, but not so overpowering in a stereotypical rainbow design. I love it!
In fact, using the ROAM Pride Limited Edition carry-on during my trip to Key West, I received no less than three compliments from strangers in the airport! And isn’t that the best way to celebrate Pride Month?!
Plus: $100 from the sale of each ROAM Pride Limited Edition goes to New Alternatives, an incredible nonprofit that’s dedicated to reducing homeless among LGBTQ+ youth. They focus on providing long-term support, not only through housing, but by addressing mental and physical health, education and employment to ensure these youth truly thrive.
5. LGBTQ+ Charities and Causes
Giving back to the LGBTQ+ community can be a meaningful and impactful way to celebrate Pride Month. I think sometimes people (and brands, especially) forgot that Pride Month is more than just a commercial opportunity to heavily target LGBTQ+ people. Besides particular days popular for LGBTQ+ fundraising, Pride Month is a fantastic time of year to give back to the community.
You can donate to LGBTQ+ charities and causes, such as The Trevor Project, GLAAD, and The Human Rights Campaign. You can also volunteer, participate in events, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and issues. Read my article on trans-specific non-profits as well.
6. Personalized LGBTQ+ Artwork
Decorating your home with personalized LGBTQ+ artwork can be a great way to express your identity and create a welcoming and inclusive environment. You can find a variety of queer-friendly artists and designers who offer custom-made artwork, such as portraits, illustrations, and prints.
Some popular options include Queerly Beloved, Ash + Chess, The Gay Beards, Matthew Robbins (who a friend introduced me to and gifted me a print from his NSFW Etsy shop), and one of my favorite gay photographers, Musk Zine (where I buy my annual NSFW calendar from each year).
A good way to find personalized LGBTQ+ artwork is to attend queer art fairs. In NYC, there’s the regular Queer Art Fest and the Rosemart at gay bar The Rosemont (and probably some others), that I always find cool new artists worth supporting at.
7. LGBTQ+ Board Games and Puzzles
Playing board games and puzzles can be a fun and relaxing way to spend time with friends and family. You can find a variety of LGBTQ+ board games and puzzles that are entertaining and educational, such as “Queer Qrosswords,” “The Rainbow Puzzle” by BetterCo., and “Cards Against Humanity: Pride Pack” by Cards Against Humanity.
8. Gender-Neutral Skincare and Grooming Products
Taking care of your skin and grooming routine can be a form of self-care and self-expression. You can find a variety of gender-neutral skincare and grooming products that are designed to work for all skin types and gender identities, such as moisturizers, face masks, beard oils, and hair pomades. Some popular beauty brands with inclusive products include Sustain, Hims, and Lumin.
CBD massage oils and lubes can also be a fun gift for partners during Pride month. Read some of my favorite Sexy & Gay Gifts (Adults Only) here.
9. LGBTQ+ Cookbooks and Kitchenware
Cooking and baking can be a creative and rewarding activity that brings people together. You can find a variety of LGBTQ+ cookbooks and kitchenware that feature recipes and designs that celebrate diversity and inclusivity, such as “The Queer Cookbook“, the rainbow cake pan set from Webake and rainbow kitchenware and culinary sets.
Lots of bakeries also create fun and funky baked goods during Pride month—everything from rainbow bagels (not my favorite) and rainbow-layered cakes.
I hope this Pride Month Gift Guide for Gay Men has given you some ideas and inspiration for celebrating LGBTQ pride and supporting the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community. Remember, Pride Month is not just about shopping and partying, it’s also about educating yourself, supporting each other, and fighting for justice and equality. Happy Pride Month!