By Jessye Grieve-Carlson
Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, and so many of our Certified LGBT Business Enterprise (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers offer quality, unique products that can make great gifts for the loves in your life. Every purchase you make has an impact, and even small purchases make a huge difference in the success of diverse-owned businesses. Each gift idea highlighted here is offered by a Certified LGBTBE® supplier through NGLCC. Make sure to place your orders early for products shipping nationwide so they arrive in time for Valentine’s Day, or take advantage of virtual offerings while they remain available!
For Nature Lovers
Did you know that Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers after whom the holiday is named, is also the patron saint of beekeeping? The Best Bees Company offers expert installation and maintenance for beehives at your home so you can do your part to save the bees without having to lift a finger.
If your partner is looking for nature elsewhere, you can book your next getaway through Travel Concierge Partners, an LGBTQ+ travel agency guaranteed to save you time and provide stress-free vacation planning with a commitment to excellence.
For Galentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to show some extra love to everyone in your life, including your friends!
The Passion Planner is a goal-based planner with a mix of weekly and monthly spreads, and it’s become a hit for goal-driven individuals trying to get organized. Add in some stickers or markers so your Galentine can get creative with their dreams.
From the team at PopHaus Collective comes It’s Kind of a Fun Story – a storytelling party game for adults that lays all your cards on the table. Get to know acquaintances or the friends you thought you already knew everything about!
Browse beautifully scented candles from Evolution Aura! Each candle scent is hand-crafted with natural ingredients to match the essence of different emotions — whether it’s Passion, Strength, or Joy, your friends are sure to connect with one of many elevated fragrances available for purchase.
For Transgender & Gender Expansive Loves
We’re proud to showcase LGBTQ-owned businesses that offer gender-affirming clothing and accessories for transgender and gender expansive (TGX) people. Get connected with TGX-owned businesses, as well as suppliers offering TGX-focused products, at nglcc.org/tgx.
TAILQR makes non-binary neckties for every body. These neckties are made in the United States from recycled materials, with 5% of each purchase going to LGBTQ+ organizations.
If your partner likes to make a statement, they will love the empowering, trans-affirming streetwear and accessories from Mars Wright. Whether it’s the mug reading, “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my hormones,” or the “You Are Loved” T-shirt, there is something for everyone!
For Bookworms
Trystan Reese, a transgender storyteller, facilitator, and parent recently published How We Do Family: From Adoption to Trans Pregnancy, What We Learned About Love and LGBTQ Parenthood. The memoir chronicles Trystan’s unique story and what he’s learned about being the best parent, partner, and person you can be.
Or, consider ordering a book from Rofhiwa Book Cafe, an independent Black- and LGBTQ-owned bookstore in North Carolina featuring curated offerings from Black authors.
For Health & Wellness Enthusiasts
Have your Valentine’s Day gifts support your partner’s fitness goals this year! Bianca Russo Fitness is a body-positive, trauma-informed fitness coach offering a variety of Virtual Personal Trainings, so you and your partner can work out together from anywhere.
For post-workout recovery, Rawlogy offers massage balls and rollers that come in different travel sizes and are made from renewable cork. 5% of Rawlogy’s profits are donated to the National Forest Foundation, which means your purchase is making an impact in more ways than one.
Calling all superfood devotees: The Chaga Company infuses the finest chaga and functional mushrooms into drinks, teas, coffee, chocolate, powders, tinctures and elixirs so that you can reap the superfood’s health properties. The benefits of chaga are countless — they have the highest immune modulating, antioxidant, adaptogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties in any superfood.
For Foodies
Sometimes, the best way to the heart is through the stomach. If a box of chocolates is getting old, try Two Chicks Jerky, a handcrafted beef jerky company offering the highest quality meat with no nitrates or additives.
For the gluten free loves in your life, Wooden Table Baking Co. makes a wide variety of cookies and sweets, and offers vegan options as well. They specialize in Argentinian Alfajores – two shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche.
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These gift ideas represent only a handful of our almost 2,000 Certified LGBTBE® businesses. We hope you find the perfect gift for your sweethearts and support an LGBT-owned company this Valentine’s Day!
Learn more about NGLCC at nglcc.org.
