"If you actually listen to the lyrics, most of America’s favorite Christmas songs are actually deeply melancholy, though they usually sound (for the most part) upbeat. That’s also why I have always believed that Christmas music is super gay. If there’s one quality that unites us queers, it’s that we’re experts in yearning while putting a happy face on to hide the utter torment brewing within us. Not that straight people don’t do that, too; if anything, they do it extra well during the holiday season. That’s why not everyone on this list is queer themselves, but if there’s one thing nearly all of these songs have in common, it’s being sad as hell — and if not that, they’re subversive in some other way." Them staff writer @jamesfactora's digs into songs from Sufjan Stevens, Big Freedia and more at the link in our bio.