Gayest Christmas Songs
by Sassafras Lowrey

I’m the kind of person who can’t get enough of Christmas. From the minute that I finish eating on Thanksgiving, I’m ready to make the yuletide very, very gay. My queer family has lots of fun Christmas traditions and one of them is listening to Christmas carols pretty much nonstop through the month of December. I like just about every Christmas song, but there is a special place in my little rainbow heart for the quirky gay holiday songs, and Christmas songs recorded by LGBTQIA artists. So, I’d like to share with you my mix tape/playlist of favorite queer holiday hits to help ring in the gay magic of the season!
There’s Still My Joy — Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are actually my favorite band (yes, I’m that kind of queer person) and I love their holiday album Holly Happy Days. This is one of those quiet beautiful songs that just feels very Christmassy to me.
Santa Baby — Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
This might actually be my favorite song on this entire playlist, and for certain is the best rendition of this song that I have EVER seen/heard. Take everything you think you know about the Santa Baby song and make it….way gayer.
Christmas Cookies — Mary Lambert
So gay, so sweet, this is my favorite song from Mary Lambert’s new 2020 Christmas Album Happy Holigays (I can’t believe it took until 2020 for an artist to make an album with this perfect name).
Nothing for Christmas — RuPaul
From RuPaul’s Slay Bells album, “Nothing for Christmas” is the campy Christmas song you’ve been waiting for. After all, what could be better than combining drag and Christmas carols?
Hallelujah — KD Lang
I didn’t think of Hallelujah as a Christmas song but every radio station and play list I’ve heard this year has been including it so….. Why not! KD Lang’s rendition of Hallelujah is pretty heavenly and will now have a treasured spot on any gay Christmas playlist I make.
Baby, Please Come Home — Melissa Etheridge
Lesbian icon Melissa Etheridge from her holiday album A New Thought for Christmas gives a new spin to this rock Christmas song. In the pandemic for anyone who is missing someone this Christmas season I think this song will take on a new meaning.
Step Into Christmas — Elton John
It’s hard to go wrong with this upbeat fun, classically gay Christmas song. It’s the perfect holiday tune for decorating the Christmas tree to or for going out of a walk or drive to look at holiday lights.
Jingle Bells by Rainbow Dash of My Little Pony
This reimagined tune is from the “It’s a Pony Kind of Christmas” album (highly recommend). Rainbow Dash is by the end of the cartoon series is canonical gay so in addition to being a cool flying rainbow pony her Christmas song definitely belongs on my gay Christmas favorites.
Make It Jingle- Big Freeda
New Orleans hip hop artist Big Freedia gives us a super queer Christmas song! “I’ve been naughty, but I’ve also been nice” don’t miss the festive outfits, great dancing and catchy beats!
The Christians and The Pagans, Dar Williams
This is an old-school 90s gay anthem that just had to make it onto the list. Full of figuring out family strife and being your best gay self plus influencing kids in the family to question their heteronormative families. It’s a real folky gay feel good song.
Sam Smith — Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
I love just about any rendition of this classic Christmas carol, but to hear it sung by non-binary icon Sam Smith is pretty special and the perfect way to round out this holiday mixtape.
About the Author:
Sassafras Lowrey’s novels and nonfiction books have been honored by organizations ranging from the American Library Association to the Lambda Literary Foundation and the Dog Writers Association of America. Sassafras’ work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired and numerous other newspapers and magazines. Sassafras has taught queer writing courses and workshops at LitReactor, the NYC Center For Fiction and at colleges, conferences, and LGBTQ youth centers across the country. www.SassafrasLowrey.com