Your friends are politically aware. Sophisticated. Well-traveled. Creative. And they recycle.

In fact, they’re a lot like you.

So what can you get them that they don’t have themselves? 365gay hunted for good gifts – gifts that say you put a lot of thought into the kind of people your friends are. Gifts that say you admire their intelligence, their elegance, their wit. Gifts that say, “I looked into your soul. And your soul told me that you wanted a rare, designer set of cuff-links crafted by gay monks out of pieces of disco ball recycled from Studio 54.”

Presents that give back

1. Sustaining lives and resources

Zulugrass jewelry is for the chic woman who wants bling with bang.

Maasai women in Kenya collect and then dye zulu grass, a hardy, drought-resistant grass that is then strung into colorful strings dotted with Czech crystal beads.

The company is run by Philip and Katy Leakey, who were looking to bring economic opportunities to their Maasai neighbors. Local women are able to make a living, even during the country’s devestating drought, and profits contribute to protecting and sustaining wetlands and savanna in Kenya.

This is a gift that helps women, helps the envirornment and looks fantastic. Buy a few strands for $12.95 each that she can wear around throat or wrists. TheLeakeyCollection.com

2. Support the fight

Your friends read evey gay political blog, every day. They go to vigils and protests. They write their senator. They have a closet devoted to witty signs calling for action.

Lucky you, HRC has gift memberships. For $35, they’ll even send your recipient a bear (no, a stuffed one. Don’t get any ideas.) For $50 they’ll get a bear and an equality cap.

But most national gay organizations – NCLR, Lambda Legal, Victory Fund, for example – will let you buy a membership in honor of (or for) someone else.

If your friend isn’t active and you’d like them to be? Well, maybe a membership would be a good first step.

3. Wearing your (lack of) rights on your wrist. Or your neck.

1138. That’s the number of federal rights we’re missing because we can’t get married.

Love and Pride jewelry for men and women has a collection with “1138″ in stark stainless steel. It’s a conversation opener and a way to show . $59.

If your issue is hate crimes, commemorate the life of Matthew Shepard and other victims of anti-gay violence with the Matthew Shepard Pendant. On one side of the titanium circle, it says ERASE HATE. On the other, UNDERSTANDING COMPASSION ACCEPTANCE.

All proceeds from the pendant go to the Matthew Shepard Foundation to support diversity programs in education. Love and Pride Jewelry. Both pieces, $59 each.

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