These 100% GOTS-certified cotton shorts celebrate trans love and power while donating proceeds to GLITS (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society), an organization that supports the LGBTQ+ community globally. Available in XXS to 4XL, these shorts are designed by Grayson Izekiel—a Brooklyn-based Black, trans and non-binary artist and tattooer—and feature empowering reminders like “God is Trans,” “Pride is Power” and “Trans Inclusive Feminism” and more.
Centralia, Pennsylvania-based artist Bum Lung collaborated with online, sweatshop-free merchandise shop Punk With A Camera to create a series of tops featuring their “Be Gay Do Crime” artwork. Available as a cropped, long-sleeve or regular T-shirt; sweater; tank; crewneck sweater or hoodie, the art reclaims the ways in which queer people have been stereotyped and scapegoated for problems in society. All proceeds from sales go to the National Network of Abortion Funds.
Franny Choi explores queerness, femininity, identity and autonomy as an Asian American woman in Soft Science, a book of poems that often center on futurism and technology in a remarkably human manner. While cyborgs feature as a vehicle for otherness, Choi also uses them in many other nuanced ways. Rhythmic and melodic, her poems enthrall readers.
Jaunty and rounded, the Splat Side Table successfully plays with conventional furniture design. It’s made by Brooklyn-based designer Sophie Collé, whose practice encompasses her love of queerness, toys and the dramatic. Available in different heights and a range of colorful and classic hues, the side table stuns on its own or can be stacked alongside others for whimsical combinations.
From the beloved queer-run Hudson Valley restaurant Lil’ Deb’s Oasis comes merch made in collaboration with artist Nico Fontana. The “Tasting Gay” shirt, a long-sleeve garment that’s available in black or amethyst, is a whimsical celebration of the equally enchanting establishment. In wriggly font, the words “Tasting Good” adorn one sleeve while “Tasting Gay” runs across the other. The back of the shirt features a mountain range, peppered with flying butterflies along with Fontana and the eatery’s name.
Launching today, the Marble Fruit candle from cult-followed, queer-owned fragrance brand Boy Smells is born from the perfume of the same name (launched last year) and incorporates all the same delicious notes. It’s a blend of fruity, floral, musky and woody scents, creating a combination that’s rich and complex without being muddled or overpowering. In June and July, Boy Smells will donate 15% of the sales from their Marble Fruit candle and fragrance to GLSEN, with a minimum donation of $50,000.
A portrait through poetry of a trans person’s experience, Kayleb Rae Candrilli’s Water I Won’t Touch runs powerful, emotion-laden language through moments of trauma, tenderness and joy. Candrilli’s accolades—as a 2019 Whiting Award Winner in poetry, a 2017 finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in transgender poetry, and many more—are deserved, and this latest 96-page book further reveals their distinct, necessary voice.
Andreas Carver’s The Aphrodisiac Kitchen is more than a cookbook—it is a journey about self-growth, queer acceptance and, above all, a love story told through and about food. Between sensuous shots of latex-gloved hands smashing fruit and essays on Carver’s upbringing as a queer, mixed-race kid in the American South, the first volume of this cookbook captures food romantically, politically and in all its other multiplicities. Whether it’s the book’s vegan shepherd’s pie recipe or noir-themed food photography, The Aphrodisiac Kitchen enchants.
Like Shaquanda herself—a drag queen and founder of the eponymous company—the Spicier Smoke hot sauce is a fiery showstopper. Measuring at 25,000 Scoville heat units, this condiment is hot without compromising flavor. By using whole ingredients like onion, roasted red pepper, mustard turmeric and habanero, and eliminating fillers and starches, Spicier Smoke delivers well-rounded seasoning that brings some undeniable flair to the table.
From queer-owned Femme Forte, this tote bag displays the accurate slogan “the future of feminism is trans-inclusive,” both forward and as a mirror image. Printed on 100% organic cotton, it’s made ethically in a process that’s wind- and solar-powered. Plus, 10% of the proceeds from each sale is donated to Mermaids, an organization focused on supporting trans and gender-diverse kids. Price is in Pounds.
Enveloped by the grieving process, the speaker of award-winning poet Raymond Antrobus’ new collection The Perseverance probes identity, understanding, connection and other meditative concepts, all through the d/Deaf experience. Published by Tin House, this insightful examination invites readers to experience the profound through Antrobus’ expressive language and magnetic storytelling.
Delhi-born, London-based designer Ashish Gupta studied fine art before pursuing his wildly successful career in fashion, and returned to art when he took up photography several years ago. Seeing the art form as a diary of sorts, he eventually collaborated with House of Voltaire on Gaze—a book of portraits that documents, explores and celebrates queer desire and masculinity. A departure from his trademark flashy style, the photos are intimate, personal and tender—but oftentimes maintain a playful energy. The 365 full-color images, Gupta says, “are full of joy, humor, longing, desire, (and more than a little feeling of tenderness) about sex and sexiness. It’s also about exploring images of sexuality and masculinity, but not just the type of images that we tend to see in the mainstream of gay culture.” Price is in Pounds.
Published by Artisan and based on antique prints from designer and decoupage artist John Derian’s archives, this Color Studies Notebook Set includes three booklets, each with uniquely enchanted front and back covers. Measuring 8.5 by 6 inches, the notebooks stow easily and contain 64 blank pages to stash recipes, ideas or scribbles. In addition to the Color Studies set, Derian also offers one entitled Kitchen Delights and another called The Garden.
Nevada City-based, queer-owned Stone Road (whose sun-grown flowers grow on a 57-acre off-grid farm) makes high-quality cannabis products that are beautifully packaged. The brand’s pre-rolls, available in several different strains, are a standout. Five 0.7g joints come in each box, and our favorite so far is Black Jack—which contains 16.72% THC and 1.88% CBD. It’s a hybrid that’s ideal for reducing pain and increasing relaxation, and is equally enjoyable on an outdoor adventure as it is working on an at-home creative endeavor.
From the Brooklyn-based, queer-couple-owned business Queen Candle Co, this hand-poured sea salt and orchid soy candle blends luscious floral notes with a salty tang. The clean-burning creation comes in a recyclable (or reusable) container and an eight-ounce candle burns for 40 to 50 hours. Each candle is topped with a visual representation of the scent beneath—in this instance pink Himalayan salt rocks. This soothing scent is a favorite, but the brand has many more well-priced options to choose from.
Boy Smells has been a cult favorite for their divine candles since 2016, and the LA-based brand just released their first line of personal fragrances. The five scents are intended for all genders (or are “genderful,” to use the brand’s term) and calling them Cologne de Parfums reflects that intention. The diverse scents range from woody to fresh and zesty. Our pick is VIOLET ENDS, which exudes a dazzling and puzzling blend of top notes including bergamot, black pepper and violet; a base of white birch, leather and smoked papyrus; and a heart of black tea, tobacco leaf and orris. This scent will please incense enthusiasts immediately, but it evolves and softens throughout the day. For those unsure about which of the five Boy Smells fragrances to choose, the Exploratory Set ($20) contains a 1.5ml pump-spray bottle of each scent to test before committing to one—or two.
