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This Pride, Support an LGBTQ-Owned Business

Updated: Jun 10

Pride Month is here — a time to celebrate identity, visibility, community, and the people building businesses that reflect all three.


Over the years, Pride has become increasingly commercialized. Every June, logos turn rainbow, limited-edition products appear on shelves, and brands launch campaigns centered around inclusion. Some of these efforts are meaningful. Others feel temporary.


But one of the most impactful ways to celebrate Pride is also one of the simplest: intentionally supporting LGBTQ-owned businesses.


Behind every small business is a founder taking risks, creating jobs, building community, and trying to carve out space in an increasingly competitive economy. For many LGBTQ entrepreneurs, that journey can also include navigating bias, underrepresentation, or workplaces where they never fully felt they belonged.


Entrepreneurship has become not only a career path, but a way to create environments where authenticity and leadership can coexist. And LGBTQ entrepreneurs are making a major impact.


According to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), LGBTQ-owned businesses contribute more than $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy and support countless jobs nationwide. From consumer products and wellness brands to tech startups, hospitality companies, and creative agencies, LGBTQ founders continue to shape industries and communities in meaningful ways.


At the same time, challenges still exist. While protections have improved in recent years, many LGBTQ professionals — particularly transgender and nonbinary individuals — continue to face barriers in employment, healthcare access, funding opportunities, and workplace inclusion.


Founders from marginalized communities often have to overcome additional hurdles while building businesses from the ground up.


That’s why visibility, investment, mentorship, and community support still matter.


This Pride Month, consider where your dollars are going. Shop from LGBTQ-owned brands. Attend events hosted by LGBTQ entrepreneurs. Recommend their businesses. Share their work online. Partnerships, referrals, and visibility can create ripple effects far beyond a single purchase.



Find support 

If you’re an LGBTQ business-owner, there are services that you can access to help support you in building or growing your company.


According to the NGLCC, “By becoming a certified LGBTBE, businesses are able to build relationships with America’s leading corporations, generate prospective business and clients, and collectively team with each other for contracting opportunities. As corporate America becomes more inclusive and further diversifies its supply chain, certification offers the opportunity for LGBT-owned businesses to differentiate themselves from their competitors.”


TransTech is an incubator for LGBTQ talent with a focus on economically empowering transgender people. It works to develop skills within marginalized LGBTQ communities and its members have access to an online community and training.


The leading nonprofit networking organization for LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) professionals in the USA.


StartOut focuses on LGBTQ+ and allied entrepreneurs looking to build scalable businesses – with the potential to grow rapidly, reach broad markets, and attract outside investment.


Gaingels is one of the largest, most diverse, and most active venture investment communities, and we are dedicated to showing the world that equity of access and representation in venture capital delivers positive returns. Among the most active LGBTQIA+/Allies venture investors in the world, but represent an otherwise extremely diverse group of investors and check writers from many backgrounds, and we particularly seek to promote diversity and inclusion at our portfolio companies through direct and network support.


Provide resources and capital to venture-ready businesses with a focus on LGBTQI+ ventures and founders/entrepreneurs at the pre-seed, seed, and A stage.


The LBC is a lesbian-owned and LGBTQ+ Friendly business directory and resource to our community’s businesses and those who want to support LGBTQ+ owned and operated businesses. Business can build their visibility and brand and consumers can find businesses that align with their values.



Be a patron and an ally

Supporting the LGBTQ community goes beyond marketing campaigns or seasonal messaging. Real allyship happens in everyday decisions, workplace culture, and leadership practices.


Here are a few ways founders, business owners, and professionals can help create more inclusive environments year-round:


  • Respect and use people’s preferred names and pronouns

  • Build diverse teams and intentionally broaden hiring pipelines

  • Ensure LGBTQ representation exists in leadership and decision-making roles

  • Create inclusive workplace policies and family-building benefits

  • Foster environments where employees feel safe being themselves

  • Speak up against discriminatory behavior or exclusionary practices

  • Continue learning from LGBTQ voices and experiences instead of assuming understanding


Pride is about visibility — but it’s also about opportunity, safety, and belonging. Supporting LGBTQ-owned businesses and entrepreneurs helps build a business landscape where more people have the ability to succeed as themselves.

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