June marks the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a month-long observance of the anniversary of The Stonewall Riots, a six-day long rebellion led by LGBTQ+ community members living in New York City in 1969. From marriage equality to broader employment opportunities, the LGBTQ+ community has made great strides in achieving inclusion in society since the Stonewall Riots 53 years ago. One such area is within business ownership. According to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 1.4 million LGBTQ-owned businesses in the United States, bringing in an estimated $1.7trillion in revenue.
Here are five LGBTQ+ owned businesses to look out for this Pride Month:
- Wildfang. Queer-owned, this beloved clothing store highlights the importance of a diverse leadership team, has committed to going Climate Neutral, and has sustainable relationships with their supply chain factories. Wildfang also donates 1% of their revenue back to organizations that are dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues.
- Ink Meets Paper. This “wife-and-wife” owned greeting card and stationery business believes in the power of handwritten words. All their greeting cards and paper goods are printed using antique printing machines, then assembled by hand for shipment in their flagship store.
- Fluide. A skincare brand dedicated to amplifying the voices of queer and gender-expansive communities, Fluide is at the cutting-edge of corporate social responsibility. They are staunchly “mission-driven” with their vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free products and diverse staff.
- Northwest Press. This book press is committed to publishing graphic novels and comics by talented LGBT artists and creators. Their mission of raising awareness of quality LGBT graphic novels has led to a Lambda Literary Award and features in Out Magazine.
- Equator Coffees. Since 1995, this coffee company has prioritized authentic relationships with coffee growers and sustainable techniques. Furthermore, Equator was the first coffee roaster in California to be a Certified B Corporation.
With Pride month in full swing, it’s important to remember that disabled people exist and thrive in every community, including the LGBTQ+ community. As a disability-owned firm that believes in the power of intersectionality, we love supporting other minority-owned businesses.
