LGBTQ+ communities worldwide have gained a spotlight in the startup and small business markets in the past few years. Gay clothing brands, LGBTQ stores, and other types of queer owned businesses focused on various niches like IT or digital marketing have made an impact with their actions, projects, and beliefs.
With so many great LGBTQ+-centered businesses out there, it can be difficult to choose which ones to keep an eye on in 2024 and beyond. Let’s take a look at a few amazing examples of LGBTQ+ businesses so that you can engage them whenever you need their products or services.
1. Rebirth Garments
Rebirth Garments is one of the gay clothing brands you should keep an eye on because of its mission statement and long-term goals. Its founder is Sky Cubacub who is themselves a non-binary queer who is unfortunately also disabled.
What this means is that this particular LGBTQ+-owned business understands what the community is struggling with every day. This mindset was at the core of Sky’s thinking when they created Rebirth Garments, a brand focusing on clothing and accessories for people of all genders and sizes.
As its name might suggest, the brand alludes to the rebirth of one’s self in one’s true image. While their main demographic consists of queer and disabled people, Rebirth Garments doesn’t discriminate against anyone.
Their products are gender neutral and fit for anyone looking for amazing, quality clothes or accessories to purchase. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t find the right apparel to represent who you are inside, check out Rebirth Garments and see what you can find.
2. GC2B
GC2B is one of the trans owned businesses with the intent to create gender-affirming binders for the LGBTQ+ community. Its founder, designer, and CEO Marli Washington created GC2B as an answer to their difficulties.
The binding accessories he came across before founding the company were anything but comfortable or appropriate for his self-expression. Touted as a trans brand for trans people, this company aims to alleviate much of the discomfort and worry transgender individuals have when buying and wearing binders.
These binders are patented and intended for accessibility, addressing the mainstream apparel industry standards head-on and working to disrupt them. The GC2B binders come in various styles and colors and offer comfort to their wearers based on their body types.
This brand doesn’t aim to preach nor to convert anyone’s beliefs – it aims to help people, first and foremost. As such, it’s worth keeping an eye on GC2B and its binder line, regardless if you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally.
3. Taimi
LGBTQ+ dating isn’t easy due to the unfortunate stigma surrounding the community in many social media circles. While this has been mitigated somewhat in recent years, it can still be troublesome for queer or trans people to use dating apps safely.
Taimi is an LGBTQ+ dating platform designed specifically for these communities and it does its best to provide a dating safe haven for everyone.
The platform shares many of its features with traditional social media, enabling its users to share content, post updates, video chat, and even become its influencers.
If you’re looking for a great LGBTQ+ dating app, click here to visit Taimi and see what it’s all about. It’s one of the most disruptive LGBTQ businesses to support as it is very active online and wants people to know that they’re welcome at Taimi.
4. Kirrin Finch
Kirrin Finch is one of the more original and creative gay clothing brands out there, launched by the couple Laura and Kelly Moffat. The couple was searching for wedding dress options when they discovered that they weren’t able to find anything matching their true selves. They shortly quit their jobs and started the clothing brand Kirrin Finch as a means to provide LGBTQ+ people with clothing they can feel like themselves in.
Given that the couple described themselves as tomboys, their choice to create a clothing brand by LGBTQ+, for LGBTQ+, is an inspiring one. This is a high-quality clothing brand that anyone can engage with and find cool clothing options for themselves.
The Kirrin Finch mission statement is to challenge clothing industry norms by enabling people to feel comfortable and confident in who they are. Suffice it to say, Laura and Kelly succeeded in their goal and continue to do so in 2024.
5. Fluide
Fluide is one of the best makeup queer owned businesses out there today. Founded by Isabella Giancarlo and Laura Kraber, Fluide (stylized from “fluid”, as in “gender fluid) is an LGBTQ+ makeup brand producing vegan, cruelty-free products without harmful chemicals or additives.
Its mission is to see queer beauty represented by queer people, and have created makeup lines for people of different genders, identities, and skin tones for years.
Fluide doesn’t discriminate or exclude anyone from its target audience. It is a friendly, inviting, and positive brand fueled by a worthwhile mission of inclusion and self-expression. This has helped Fluide find its following around the world and is now an exemplary makeup business even without considering its LGBTQ+ roots.
However, that only adds to the fact that LGBTQ+-owned businesses can not only start but thrive in today’s climate and fight to combat the stigma surrounding the community in the mainstream media’s perception.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there’s no shortage of creative and ground-breaking LGBTQ businesses to support out there. Whether you’re specifically looking for gay or trans owned businesses to contact as a client or as a prospective employee, these businesses are truly revolutionary in what they hope to accomplish.
Their contributions go beyond simply being LGBTQ+-owned – they offer real value to their clients and partners. Keep an eye on them, their social media, and PR – and be sure to visit their stores or offices whenever you’re nearby to show your support for their efforts!