Christmas is traditionally “family-friendly,” which, as anyone who’s ever watched Fox News can tell you, means heterosexual. So gays have always done it a little differently, Bingham said:“I don’t care about Christmas .” He does however, have a soft spot for holiday kitsch, like elf costumes, tinsel and stockings.
“It’s not your typical Santa and elves,” said Nathan Thomas, who fixed up the store with decorations. “I wanted something dark and mysterious.” Revealing a studded tongue ring, he let me know his New Year’s resolution: “To make a lot of fucking money.”
Holiday green was also on the mind of Sebastian Liman, a wiry East Village Boy who was swishing around in a skimpy elf costume. Asked by a guest what went into the creation of his elf suit, Liman looked a little confused and replied, “fucking underwear.” Snapping the skivvies’ elastic, where several greenbacks had been placed by male admirers, Liman asked the guest, “Are you going to give me some money for charity or what?” Which charity? Consternation spread across Liman’s prettyboy features. Finally, with a shrug, he shot back, “AIDS awareness?”
