This Pride month, News is Out is focusing on LGBTQ+-owned businesses. While many companies offer Pride options and collections, these businesses are queer or trans-owned and part of the community. We have you covered, from delicious eats to share with friends to clothing to help you stand out at Pride events.
Clothing and accessories
Haily Marzullo and her swimwear company are the creators of the tucking swimsuit that garnered much controversy at Target. Humankind’s Pride collection was removed from Target’s Pride collection; however, you can shop directly through their online store. Humankind makes swim tops, bottoms and uni-suits to fit a variety of body types and gender expressions.
Sergio and Jesus have had much success with their queer-centric clothing brand this year, being one of the designers chosen for inclusion in Walmart’s Pride collection. While the slogan “Sounds Gay, I’m In” is their signature design, there’s no shortage of apparel, home goods, flags and even blankets available through their online store.
Designer Bri Zie opened The 4th House right after graduating college in 2022. Bri specializes in wire-wrapped gemstone jewelry and offers clothing designs like “Silly Lil Gay” and “Certified Lil Dude.”
Pridebox’s slogan is “for the gays, by the gays” and offers a wide variety of apparel, hats, totes and gift boxes full of Pride. Order a Happy BirthGay Box featuring a rainbow confetti cannon, bath bomb, cupcake bites and more. Or welcome a friend to the family with their ConGAYtulations on Coming Out Box.
Celebrate your fur kids and Pride simultaneously with Knits and Pups. Owned by Helen and resident shop pup Addie, each product is hand knitted. Their Pride collection features a selection of knitted hats and headbands, with $5 of each sale going to Trevor Project. Of course, don’t forget to pick up a knitted cowl for your dog for the chilly days to come.
Influencer and mixed media artist Mars Wright offers a selection of unique shirts, hats, hoodies and more on his site. His Pride collection features designs like “I Love Trans People” and “Trans Joy is Resistance,” with a portion of proceeds going to the Unique Woman’s Coalition in support of Black trans women.
These famous kilts by Verillas have been seen in TV shows “The Shannara Chronicles,” “Star Trek” and “House of the Dragon.” You’ve also probably seen them at a Pride event near you! The fashion brand is owned by Alice Greenbrier, a trans woman, and has a Pride collection of kilts and accessories in various flag options.
“We care about equality for everyone, protecting our planet, being kind, and having fun.”This Springfield, Missouri-based company lets customers know where they stand. They offer a variety of independent designer shirts, stickers, flags of all sizes and quirky items like the cashmere-scented “Cuffed Jean Bisexual” candle. You can even get a Springfield, MO Pride flag!
Food and drink
This queer cookie company run by husbands Luis and Hans has caught the attention of foodies and Hollywood alike. (Their dark chocolate brownies were part of the Oscar goodie bags in 2022) Based in Austin, Texas, Wunderkecks offers a variety of cookies and brownies packaged in cheery pink and red boxes. Score a box of the Pride Special, a chocolate funfetti-flavored cookie, for yourself or someone you love.
San Francisco-based chocolatier Carol Gancia has been making these small-batch single-origin heirloom chocolates since 2020. Their annual Pride chocolate collection is a real treat and includes boxes of house-made truffles adorned with rainbows and other Pride flag colors, with flavors like kalamansi (a citrus native to the Philippines, hazelnut and vanilla bean sea salt caramel.
Start your morning with a hot cup of “The Gay Agenda,” a medium roast organic blend of coffee grown in the Chimbu Province of Papua New Guinea. The team at Grinding Coffee roasts its beans the same day they are shipped, so coffee lovers are getting incredibly fresh beans with every order. This small, Black & LGBTQ+ owned roaster was founded by best friends, Oso & Liyah, during the pandemic and has a strong commitment to the Black and LGBTQ+ community.
Owner Gefen wants to make specialty coffee more approachable and does so with limited-edition collaborations with local artists. Try their Espresso for Everyone, which combines Brazilian, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian beans. Perfect for those oat milk lavender lattes to start your Pride off right.
One sip and you’ll be thinking, this Chardonnay is so gay! Founders Tim and Josh make a zero sugar rosé and a chardonnay with a portion of proceeds going to Trevor Project. Tim, who is the gay one of the duo, wanted to reclaim the phrase, “That’s so gay,” which was often used as an insult when he was young. Both wines are made in California, where the company is based.
This Hudson Valley-based chocolate company has “a deep commitment to social justice, environmentalism, and veganism with a love of bold flavor and obsessive commitment to artisan techniques.” Their Pride Bark is individually crafted with plant-derived coloring, edible flowers, and organic raspberries.
Want to share an LGBTQ+-owned business with us? Email us at newsisout@localmedia.org.