Our Gay & Lesbian section’s picks for the persnickety queer.
1/5All tied up Wear a spiffy new bow tie while homo for the holidays and make a statement for marriage equality with Tie the Knot ($25), a partnership between Modern Family�s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Chicagoland-based online retailer the Tie Bar. Proceeds from each sale benefit orgs advocating for LGBT civil rights. Available at thetiebar.com.
2/5Made in Boozetown The �hood gets its own hooch with Halsted Vodka ($26), a new high-end spirit that gives back to causes near and dear to our community. Created with the advice of patrons from the nabe�s many bars and clubs (and currently served at Sidetrack, Hydrate, Halsted�s and Lady Gregory�s), this handcrafted, small-batch spirit uses an American grain and Rocky Mountain water to form boozy goodness that contributes 15 percent of all operating profits to LGBT charities. Available at Andersonville Wine & Spirits (5201 N Clark St, 773-769-0858).
3/5Photograph: Jessica ZerbyGlamour shots Visions of club kids are mostly remembered through a late-night haze, but two of Chicago�s finest come into focus with Getting into Face: 52 Mondays Featuring Jojo Baby and Sal-e ($45), a stunning coffee-table book shot by Bernard Colbert and illuminating the talents of two of our city�s inimitable performance artists. Available at womenandchildrenfirst.com.
4/5A season for Sharon �Tacky, overpriced crap� is what high priestess of spooky drag Sharon Needles calls her line of posters, bumper stickers and funderwear. We couldn�t resist this set of four ceramic shot glasses ($26.99) featuring a cartoon likeness of the RuPaul�s Drag Race star. Perfect for toasting the holiday season. Available at store.sharonneedles.com.
5/5Raymond LaVoieGear shift Put away all those ugly holiday sweaters. Trevor Gear ($.99-$14.99), a collection of buttons, stickers, tees and temporary tattoos, takes a stand against bullying by directing young people to the Trevor Project hotline. We like the T-shirts with inspiring phrases like �Talk to me� and �I�ve got your back.� Available at thetrevorproject.org.
