Surviving the Holiday Season: 2020 Edition

The holidays are a hard time for everyone, and this year is no exception. Many members of the LGBTQ community are estranged from their biological family, which can leave some people feeling alone and isolated. However, as queer people, we get the luxury of choosing our family.

On top of that, the COVID pandemic has barred many people from traveling. Health officials are suggesting limiting holiday gatherings to those in your household. With all of this in mind, we realize that this holiday season will most likely be one of the hardest for folks in our community. That’s why we put together a list of tips on how to celebrate this holiday season in a safe and queer way.

One holiday tradition that everyone can get behind is watching Christmas movies. While we’ll try to keep this list as nondenominational as possible, the truth of the matter is that most holiday movies and specials do center around Christmas, especially the small handful of queer ones. The streaming service Hulu has put out several queer holiday movies such as Happiest Season starring Kristen Stewart and Jinx and Dela’s Holiday Special.

Though America has begun vaccinating for COVID-19, the pandemic is still a large risk factor this holiday season. If you plan on meeting with friends or family over Zoom, as many others are, check out teambuilder’s list of virtual holiday party ideas, which includes games like Gingerbread Wars and a holiday-themed Scavenger Hunt. 

A fun way to let others know you’re thinking of them is to send a care package. Care packages often include things to help inspire self-care, such as candles, soaps, or just fun goodies like stickers or sunglasses. Check out Etsy’s array of Pride-themed care packages for the queer folks in your life, or even snag one for yourself.

We realize the holiday season can be a hard time of year, and 2020 is shaping up to be one of the hardest yet. But we’ll get through this the same way we get through everything, as a community. OUT FRONT wishes you a happy holiday, no matter how you choose to celebrate.