LGBTQ+-owned businesses are crucial to uplifting local communities and representing the diversity that defines them. We curated a list of some of the LGBTQ+-owned businesses we love right now. It changes often, so check back frequently.
LessAddressing a need yearned by both women and the LGBTQ+ community, Everybody gives space and safety to... everybody! Everybody is a body-inclusive gym with a dedicated staff, bilingual fitness classes, community workshops on Body and Fat Positivity and Accessibility, and focused fitness training for the Trans community. No one is turned away in an affirming space to support health and wellness.
Offering free gender-affirming haircuts to youth experiencing homelessness, there is no place quite like ProjectQ. An invaluable resource to those wanting to be authentically themselves, ProjectQ is one of the few salons which dedicates itself to the task. ProjectQ also offers workshops, food and hygiene boxes, gender affirming clothing, chest binders, menstrual products, and so much more to LGBTQIA+ youth.
Staffed by graduates from the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s intergenerational Culinary Arts Program, the cafe serves up artisanal coffee and treats while giving you the opportunity to support the Center.
Opened by Border Grill chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken in 2019, Socalo is a beachy, California canteen and Mexican pub serving conscientiously-sourced, seasonal SoCal Mexican fare alongside cocktails, Mexican wines and craft beers on tap. These two chefs lead a booming business while advocating for philanthropy. Over the years Border Grill has partnered with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Scleroderma Research Foundation, Regarding Her, No Kid Hungry, Human Rights Campaign, and more.
Since 1962 Casita Del Campo has long been a haven for the queer community, especially queer artists, looking to congregate. Casita Del Campo is more than a Mexican restaurant; it’s a community center and performance space for queer artists, actors, and drag queens. It’s long been part of the Los Feliz neighborhood and its queer-identifying residents.
Even during the pandemic, the Pleasure Chest has been an advocate for sex positivity and sexual health. Despite its doors temporarily closing, this business continues to offer a range of inclusive virtual classes to the WeHo community on various subjects, while cultivating an atmosphere of affirming trust. The Pleasure Chest has long been a proponent of not only helping people explore sexual fulfillment, but also providing sexual education to its surrounding communities for nearly 50 years.
The Little Barn Coffee House is an LGBTQ family and women-owned, plant-based restaurant which started during the pandemic. With food insecurity on the rise, it was recruited by the Support + Feed initiative to create food pipelines for vulnerable communities including underprivileged families and individuals. Each week The Little Barn Coffee House prepares 100 healthy and vegan meals. Owners Joana Rubio and Seleste Diaz also created a community pantry right outside their restaurant.
Proudly queer and family-owned, The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, opened by sisters Bea and Leah Koch, is America’s sole romance-only bookstore in the West Coast. It offers a diverse selection of romance fiction, including LGBTQ+–led stories and writers. Each year with the sponsorship of Sony Pictures Television, The Ripped Bodice selects 10 to 12 romance authors for recognition with a prize of $1,000. The owners also offer a Racial Diversity in Romance Report and a monthly subscription box.
Free of the restrictions of gender, Stuzo Clothing brings a much-needed eye in the future of fashion. Stuzo is clothing for everyone and designed to allow everyone to live and express themselves as authentically themselves.
There has always been a need in the LGBTQ+ community for clothing that reflects exactly who we are in an affirming way and with an impeccable fit. Sharpe Suiting saw a void in the fashion world and have aptly made space for our community. Through their success, they have also been great advocates for LGBTQ youth in donating hundreds of suits to LGBTQ youth centers, non-profit fundraisers, colleges, and queer prom students across the country.