the queer-owned gift shop getting louder and prouder in trump’s america.

queering the burbs / by Joe Erbentraut / April 29, 2026

When you’re living under this era of political fascism and cruelty as someone who is queer, trans, or otherwise marginalized, it can be tempting to fly that freak flag of ours a little bit lower. Voices getting a little quieter, spirits shining less brightly, bodies flinching in anticipation of a strike, retreating into the shadows as a matter of safety and survival.

But then there’s others among us who are doing the opposite and refusing to dim their light despite there being many reasons where it’d be entirely understandable if they did. Trevor and Dillon, the co-owners of Bad Luck Club, are an example of the latter. The couple opened their brick-and-mortar gift and vintage shop in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood in 2024 as an extension of their love for maximalist interiors and all things just a little bit off-kilter. Read More Here.