There’s no way to know exactly how many US businesses are owned by LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. Unlike race and (binary) gender, the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t collect data about sexuality, nor about gender identity that falls outside the binary. (Is that any of the government’s business? Arguable! But bear with us here.) The best information we have comes from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NLCC), which has “certified” 1,678 LGBTQIA+-owned and-operated businesses — compared to the 33.2 million total small businesses the government has counted overall, as of 2020. That’s only 0.005% — and if 5.6% of Americans identify as queer or trans, those numbers just don’t add up. So we’re pretty sure there are way more than that.
Now let’s talk about venture capital: Between 2010 and 2019, global VC deals doled out more than $1.5 trillion to businesses overall. But according to one report, not even 1% of US deals are made with openly LGBTQIA+ founders — “openly” being the keyword there, as another report found that 37% of LGBTQIA+ business owners avoid mentioning their sexuality and / or gender identity to investors in the first place. It’s hard to own your own business in general, but in an economy dominated by cishet people (usually men), that struggle can be exponentially more challenging if you’re … not.
As we say often here at Ellevest, money — who gets it, how it’s spent — is an essential component of social justice. That applies to LGBTQIA+ justice, too. And in the absence of “official” forms of data — the kind that can speed up access and stability at the institutional level — it’s even more on us as consumers to actively support queer- and trans-owned businesses when deciding where we put our dollars. As investors, we can prioritize intentional investing by creating a win-win impact portfolio that aligns with our values while providing competitive returns.
You probably know a few LGBTQIA+-owned businesses already, but there are countless more to explore and support, in your own network and beyond it. We asked the Ellevest community to share some of their favorites, and we’ve compiled the answers we got into an initial list. We regularly update this by-the-industry directory, so be sure to bookmark this page for future reference.
Art, Artists, and Crafts
Anna Parade, IG: @annaparade
Bless the Messy, IG: @blessthemessy
Brooklyn Sewing Academy, IG: @brooklynsewingacademy
Eel Fine Art & Sculpture, IG: @eelcostello
Prime Creative Co., IG: @joaquinprime
La Flecha FIlm Co., IG: @laflechafilm
Lanni Made, IG: @lannimade
Lonesome Bill, IG: @lonesome.drift.er
Mud Witch, IG: @mud.witch
Muddy Rib, IG: @muddy_rib
POT Studios, IG: @POT_la
Robin Eisenberg, IG: @robineisenberg
Slip n' Stitch by Toni, IG: @slipnstitchbytoni
Sydney Valiente, IG: @sydney_valiente
The Pigeon Letters, IG: @thepigeonletters
Beauty, Wellness, and Skincare
Babeland, IG: @babeland_toys
BatMe Cosmetics, IG: @batmecosmetics
Bijou Candles, IG: @bijoucandles
Boy Smells, IG: @boy__smells
Candle Tit, IG: @candletit
Faceted Beauty, IG: @facetedbeauty
Fempower Beauty, IG: @fempowerbeauty
Goodlayla, IG: @goodlaylaco
Jade & Fox Co., IG: @jadefoxco
Jessica Lanyadoo Co., IG: jessica_lanyadoo
Katelyn Page Fitness, IG: @katelynpagefitness
Little Yoga Studio, IG: @littleyogastudio
Maven Made, IG: @mavenmade
Mainstream Nails Denver, IG: @mainstream_nails
Mystic Baby, IG: @mysticbabystore
Noto Botanics, IG: @notobotanics
Pill Joy, IG: @pilljoyshop
Platform BTN, IG: @platform.btn
Pura Luna Apothecary, IG: @puralunaapothecary
Roots & Crowns Apothecary, IG: @rootsandcrownspdx
Sapphic Apothecary, IG: @sapphicapothecary
Seagrape Apothecary, IG: @seagrapeapothecary
Selia & Co., IG: @seliaandco
Candle Tit, IG: @shopenby
Simply Extract, IG: @simplyextract
Taya Beauty, IG: @tayabeauty
The New Savant, IG: @thenewsavant
Untamed Supply, IG: @untamed_supply
We Live in Truth, IG: @weliveintruth_welit
Clothing and Accessories
Automic Gold, IG: @automicgold
Awe Inspired, IG: @aweinspired
Bowtie Behavior, IG: @bowtie_behavior
Carmen Liu Lingerie, IG: @carmenliulingerie
Culture Flock, IG: @cultureflock
Dapper Boi, IG: @dapperboi
I Love You So Much It Hurts, IG: @_ilysmih_
Jen Zeano Designs, IG: @shopjzd
Official Rebrand, IG: @official_rebrand
Peau de Loup, IG: @peaudeloup
Powers Provisions, IG: @powersprovisions
Shannon V Jewelry, IG: @shannonvjewelry
TomboyX, IG: @TomboyX
Wildfang, IG: @wearewildfang
Wooaryou, IG: @wooaryou
Big Gay Ice Cream, IG: @biggayicecream
Cuties, IG: @cutiesLA
Dayum Jam, IG: @dayumjamrva
Diaspora Co. Spices, IG: @diasporaco
Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks, IG: @pipcornheirloomsnacks
The Pie Queen of Denver, IG: @thepiequeenofdenver
Camp Violet Jungle, IG: @campvioletjungle
Charis Books and More, IG: @charisbooksandmore
Common Dear, IG: @shopcommondear
Darling Spring, IG: @darling_spring
Encourage Coaching Chicago, IG: @encouragecoachchicago
Everybody LA, IG: @everybodylosangeles
Foggy Pine Books, IG: @foggypinebooks
The Honey Block, IG: @thehoneyblock
Lesbian Bar Project, IG: @lesbianbarproject
Little Pickle Memories, IG: @littlepicklememories
Minna Goods, IG: @oh_minna
Rebel Data Co., IG: @rebeldataco
The Salt Eaters Bookshop, IG: @thesalteaters
Thems Health, IG: @themshealth
The Trans Capitalist, IG: @thetranscapitalist
Tubby & Coo’s, IG: @tubbyandcoos
Very Gay Paint, IG: @verygaypaint Food and Restaurants
Other