Black Friday Alternatives: Gifts for LGBT Families From Gay-Friendly Companies

According to a new report, the LGBT population's total buying power, or money after taxes and pension contributions to the government, is $830 billion. That's a lot of money to spend during the holidays.

So why not keep it in the community rather than giving it to companies that work against the interests of LGBT folks? Or how about donating it to a good LGBT nonprofit?

Here are some ideas, from fun T-shirts and onesies to skin care and vacations, that would be great for the new baby, exhausted parents, and LGBT people at large. And for those who have everything, we've put forward some worthy nonprofits that could use the financial help.

1. Malin+Goetz -- Do you know of a parent who's got dark rings under his or her eyes and could use some eye cream? Or how about a couple who are gearing up for a big date after sending their kid to college? Malin+Goetz, owned by Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, has products for every personal care need, including luxury soaps, perfumes, and candles. For the undecideds out there you can buy a gift set that includes a variety of the gay-owned company's products.

2. "My Other Mother Is Also a Lesbian." "You Think You're Spoiled? I Have Two Dads." Those are just two of the many T-shirts and onesies you can buy from CafePress for gay parents and their children. CafePress, which has customizable clothing, iPhone cases, and even yoga mats, offers a wide variety for new and veteran parents or their kids.

3. Know any young readers? My Family! a retail subsidiary arm of Dodi Press, was founded in 2010 by married couple Monica and Cheril Bey-Clarke to address the needs of children in the LGBT community. The company has hundreds of titles for children of all ages, so you can buy a novel or board book in English or Spanish. This is a great lesbian-owned business, and the founders' philosophy is definitely one to support: "It's our mission that the array of multicultural products we offer can be used to give children of same-sex parents a sense of normalcy, while promoting the celebration of our differences and the importance of family values."

4. Maybe the person you're buying a gift for has everything. So we suggest donating money in their name to one of several worthy nonprofit organizations supporting LGBT causes. Your donation could even be part of Giving Tuesday -- a national day to support charities. Three charities that have gotten high marks for their stewardship of donated funds include the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, the Trevor Project, and the Point Foundation.

5. Maybe you want to help someone get away from their daily routine with a nice vacation. There are several gay-owned travel agencies that produce their own packages or know exactly where to book LGBT-friendly vacations. These include AlAndChuck.travel, Now,Voyager Travel, and R Family Vacations. Each has its own specialties but they all cater to LGBT people and their children.

If you know of other LGBT-owned companies that would be great for this list, contact reporter Alex Davidson on Twitter at twitter.com/adwildcat or post below in the comments section. We would love to highlight other LGBT-owned companies and profile what they do for the community!