One way to give back to your local LGBT community — and to show a little love to those who may be experiencing a hard time — is volunteering at a queer center in your area. To locate a site in your state go here.
From there, it's as simple as a quick phone call or email to see what their volunteering process is like and signing up. It is a wonderful way to help out, donate your time to a great cause, and hopefully make others — including yourself — feel better in the process.
Another way to avoid the commercialization of the holiday and heteronormative standards of Valentine's Day is to make your own Valentines or small handmade gifts and present them to the people in your life who matter. This isn't always just a lover or partner — this can be members of your own family or your chosen queer family, friends, etc.
This activity will allow your creativity to shine through and make the people in your life you care about also feel special. There is no one right way to make a Valentine or a gift — it is the thought that counts. It could be anything from baking cookies or other treats to crafting to simply making a card.
Practicing self-care is essential and takes on many forms. On Valentine's Day — which can sometimes be triggering for people depending on their dating history — taking care of yourself is even more vital. If you were in a bad relationship or experienced trauma because of dating, Valentine's Day can feel even more overwhelming.
If you are able to take the day off and get a hotel or just have a staycation, this is one way to celebrate. This can allow you to recharge and focus on yourself and what matters most to you. It lets you do the things you might not normally do. Valentine's Day is about love in general, so remember to love yourself because the relationship you have with yourself is one of the most important ones there is.
Whatever way you choose to practice self-care should be done for yourself every day — and not just on Valentine's Day. Being kind to yourself and taking the time to feel good about who you are and where you are at in life is everything.
Shopping at queer-owned businesses is one way to directly support the community as well. TransisBeautiful, Otherwild, LoveandPride, and Fluide are just a few stores that offer queer-centric products. Whether you're after sports apparel or the leisure wear that TransisBeautiful offers, cool home goods from Otherwild, or the empowering jewelery of LoveandPride, you can find a little something to bring some joy to you (and maybe someone else special) in your life.
Sex toys come with the territory of Valentine's Day, so embracing it and picking up a little something for just you — or maybe you and your partner — is always fun. More times than not feminist sex-toy shops have more options for queer identified folks and offer a more inclusive space. Shops such as Babeland, Unbound, Good Vibrations, and Lelo offer a range of options for whatever you might be looking for.
There are also things heterosexual people can do to support the queer community on this day. You can donate to a cause that helps LGBT youth and the community at large such as G.L.A.A.D., the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, the Human Rights Campaign, and GLSEN. Volunteering at an organization that benefits the community is a great way to demonstrate your support.
Simply trying to show up for those in your life who are queer-identified and making them feel heard and acknowledged is important. Show your support for your queer friends by making them a Valentine, checking in with them, spending time with them, and supporting their endeavors.
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