LGBT+ Owned Businesses to Support this Pride Month

Coronavirus has effected the world in so many ways, and one that feels particularly prominent this month is the lack of the usual pride celebration and protests that are so important part to many within the LGBT+ community.  However just because the gatherings can’t happen doesn’t mean the need for community support and celebration needs to stop.  Quite the opposite, it’s now more important than ever that we show our support for each other, reach out to those feeling isolated and show we are there for those who need it the most.  One way of supporting the community in these rough times is by making sure we support LGBT+ businesses, to give them a financial boost in these hard times.  Right now so many LGBT+ businesses are in financial trouble, with historic bars being closed with no certainty that they will return, performers having no work and all those independent creators who make items for Pride month seeing a huge drop in sales.  I was inspired by Haydy’s Support Small Businesses’s series to come up with a similar list of my own for LGBT+ Owned Businesses.

One thing that surprised me when I started researching this list was just how hard they were to find!  I know that there are thousand’s of LGBT+ owned businesses across the world but trying to find them with those search times proved to be surprisingly difficult, especially when I tried to narrow it down to the UK, and what was available was often outdated.  I want to highlight as many small LGBT+ Owned Businesses as possible that you can still purchase from during lockdown.  I want this to be a comprehensive and ever-growing list so if you are aware of any companies I’ve missed drop it down in the comments and I’ll be sure to add it.  So without further ado, here are LGBT+ owned businesses to support this pride month:

Clothes and Accessories

Tetebang

Drag Queen Tete Bang is not only selling their own range of merch on their website but they have also recently taken to selling a range of stunning facemasks.

Website: https://www.tetebang.co.uk/shop-1

Pride in London

I’ve been volunteering for Pride in London for around eight years now, so forgive me if I am a bit biased on this one, but Pride in London do have a great range of merch.  Their current Pride in lockdown t-shirt (seen above) is defiantly a favourite of mine!

Website: https://www.theprideshop.co.uk/product-category/pride-in-london/

Animal Hair

If you are looking for unique and sassy accessories look no further.  The glasses, in particular, are true works of art!

Website: https://www.animalhair.co.uk/

Liverpool Queer Collective

A great range of LGBT+ t-shirts for everyday wear.

Website: https://liverpoolqueercollective.teemill.com/

Pomshell

A gorgeous array of colourful accessories including a rainbow ribbon chocker (seen above) which is perfect for Pride month!

Website: https://www.pomshell.com/

Gender Free World

This clothing brand specialises in beautiful print clothes that can be worn on any gender.  Their range of print shirts has something for everyone.

Website: https://www.genderfreeworld.com/

Comic Youth

Check them out for a great range of LGBT+ themed pins.

Website: https://comicsyouth.bigcartel.com/products?page=1

Books

Portal Books

Portal Books is a new LGBT+ bookshop based in York.  Whilst the physical book shop is currently closed due to the virus you can still shop online.  Their selection of books is a great inspiration for any reader.

Website: https://the-portal-bookshop.square.site/s/shop

Category is Books

Category is Books is a queer bookshop based in Glasgow, whilst they are also currently closed due to the virus they are running a book ordering system so if you’d rather keep your money out of the hands of Amazon why not order directly through them.

Website: https://www.categoryisbooks.com/

Gay’s the Word 

Gay’s the Word is a historic LGBT+ owned bookshop in London that you might have seen in the film Pride.  It’s currently working to get it’s online store up and running where you will be able to buy some great merchandise as well as their amazing range of LGBT+ books.  In the meantime, you can request a mail order for books, films and magazines through their website.

Website: http://www.gaystheword.co.uk

The Queer Book Box

This company work with independent LGBT+ book stores to put together a monthly subscription of books with an LGBT+ theme.  Great as a gift for others or a personal treat.

Website: https://www.queerbookbox.com/

Music

Queen Sounds

Queen Sounds is a booking agency that specialises in working with LGBT+ musicians.  Check out their Instagram to find new artist’s and playlists or donate to their Kickstarter to help grow their businesses.

Website: Check out their Instagram and Kickstarter

Nightlife

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern 

The RVT is a truly iconic venue having seen so many famous drag performers over the years and as legends have it even Princess Diana was known to have had a boogie on its dance floor.  It’s one of my favourite venues and while it’s had its fair share of hardships over the years it’s always come back swinging, so here’s to hoping that happens again.  To help them during the closure please check out their fundraiser.

Website: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-rvt

Dalston Superstore

Dalston Superstore is an important LGBT+ venture with young and fun energy.  They are currently open for takeaway drinks and vegan eats, and you can also donate to their hardship fund to help make sure they survive through this hard time.

Website: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/dalston-superstore-hardship-fund

Artwork

Lois Tierney Draws

Lois Tierney’s signature colourful style is a joy to behold, and they do a whole range of pride related art for all different sections of the community.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LoisTierneyDraws

Sophie Green

Sophie Green is a designer who creates a range of beautiful items from artwork, to homeware and even clothing.  Her Liverpool themes artwork is my favourite, especially the rainbow watercolours as seen above.

Website: https://www.sophie-green.com/

Everything else

Barmpots UK

If you are from the north you will know exactly why I love the name of this business for a start!  Barmpots handpainted plant pots to make a colourful and unique home for your favourite plant or succulent.  Their ‘Legends’ collection even decorates plant pots to look like your favourite signers, from Amy Winehouse to Bowie and Prince and more.  You can commission them to make your own design if you have something specific in mind.  Predictably if you know me it is their watermelon plant pot designs that I’ve fallen in love with!

Website: https://barmpots.com/

Sh!

Sh! is a sex shop aimed at women.  The atmosphere is genuinely different then you will find in sex stores anywhere else online and it’s open and friendly attitude makes it popular.  Not only do they sell sex toys of all kinds but they have a variety of online classes you can take from home.

Website: https://www.sh-womenstore.com/

So there are the UK LGBT+ owned businesses I have found so far but I’d love to keep this list going.  if you are an LGBT+ business owner or you know of any, just drop me a comment below or contact me on the email on my about page and I can look into adding this and keeping the list as full as possible.

Have you shopped at any of these LGBT+ owned businesses before?  Which are your favourites?