What to Buy for Your LGBTQIA+ Family Member this Pride Month

Annually, the month of June marks Pride, a month meant to honor and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. According to Youth.gov, Pride is celebrated in June “to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) Americans.” It’s a month that’s traditionally full of parades, marches, festivals, panel discussions, and more to recognize the LGBTQIA+ experience.

If your family member has plans to celebrate Pride, there are many items you can gift them to help maximize their celebrations. Here are some ideas.

Rainbow-Themed Clothing

Rainbows are synonymous with Pride. Why? Well, according to Oprahdaily.com, “the rainbow pride flag has become a symbol synonymous with the LGBTQ+ community and its fight for equal rights and acceptance across the globe.

It's also a celebration of the beauty and diversity of the experience, flown at pride events throughout June. Rainbow clothing and accessories make a great gift for a Pride celebrator.

You could get your loved one a rainbow women’s t-shirt to wear to Pride events or a rainbow canvas tote bag to carry around throughout the month.

Rainbow canvas sneakers or rainbow sunglasses also make good gifts for your LGBTQIA+ family member. This way, they’ll have plenty of rainbow-themed clothing and accessories that they can wear to Pride events throughout the month.

Books and Resources About the LGBTQIA+ Experience

From books by Queer Eye cast member Jonathan Van Ness to a memoir by trans activist Janet Mock, there are many books and resources created by influential members of the LGBTQIA+ community that can inspire your family member to be their most authentic selves.

During Pride month, spend some time researching the best books about the LGBTQIA+ experience, along with books about the history of the LGBTQIA+ movement. You can give your family member powerful books throughout the month that celebrate their community.

This thoughtful gift is a nice way to celebrate Pride while also recognizing the struggles that the LGBTQIA+ community still faces today. Your loved one can curl up with a cozy throw blanket and read about LGBTQIA+ leaders throughout June (and beyond!).

Tickets to a Local Pride Event

Your loved one can rock their Pride clothing at a local Pride event that they’re excited about attending — and you can gift your loved one tickets for said event. Do some poking around to find out what local events they’re most excited about. From there, scoop up tickets to the event and give them to your family member as a Pride month gift.

Not only are you helping your loved one celebrate Pride, but you’re also helping them create a happy Pride memory. You can even purchase yourself a ticket to the event and go along with them.

A Donation in Their Name

You can gift your loved one with more than a physical gift during the month of Pride. You can also opt for a donation in their name to an organization that is fighting for LGTBQIA+ equality. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and GLAAD are great places to start.

You can also look into local nonprofits that support LGBTQIA+ people in your community — you can even ask your family member if they have a preferred group for you to financially support in their name.

If you’re feeling extra generous, you can even set up a monthly or bimonthly recurring donation in your loved one’s name — and you can encourage other family members to do the same.

Products That Benefit a Specific Cause

Throughout Pride month, many brands and corporations sell products with the purpose of celebrating Pride — items like rainbow-printed alcohol bottles or shirts with Pride-affirming messages.

Typically, these organizations donate a portion of the item’s proceeds to a group that supports the LGBTQIA+ community. During Pride month, you can get your LGBTQIA+ family member a few Pride-themed items that benefit an organization that supports their community.

The LGBTQIA+ community should be recognized all throughout the year, and Pride is a great time to kick off those celebrations. So much progress has been made since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, but there's still so much that needs to be done for the community.