Showing love to Black-owned LGBT+ businesses all year long is great, but Pride month is an especially ideal time to do it. Over the last two years, all kinds of businesses felt the impact of the pandemic, which forced some to either move online or shut down altogether.
Whenever Pride season comes around, some Black people in the community feel isolated and seek out spaces where they can find others who look like them. Moreover, Black LGBT + people are in the unique position of being a minority within a minority, and with homophobia and transphobia so prevalent, they don’t always get the support they need.
One way we can love up on the Black LGBT+ community is through our money. So with that in mind, here are some dope Black, LGBT+ companies to patronize and follow on social media.
Rofhiwa Book Café - North Carolina
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If you’re looking to indulge your love of The Culture and LGBT+ studies, check out Rofhiwa Book Café in Durham, North Carolina.
Founders Naledi and Beverley are from South Africa. Their travels to Kenya have shaped their business and reinforced their appreciation for the richness of Black culture.
“Black people have always been moving and in the process, exchanging styles and ideas and forms,” Naledi told Travel Noire. “This is what Rofhiwa strives to capture and distill – aesthetically and in terms of the selection of books we carry on our shelves. We really wanted to open a business that could reflect the ways Black people are connected across the world through art and music and of course, literature.”
The shop pays homage to the history of Black Durham. On the tabletops, a map of the historic Hayti district is engraved.
Towards the end of June, Rofhiwa will be hosting a special event featuring South-African DJ, Muzi “The Zulu Skywalker.”
Alibi Lounge- New York
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Alibi Lounge has the distinction of being one of the last Black and gay-owned bars in New York.
Long before opening his business, founder Alexi Minko advocated for LGBT+ rights. He makes it his priority to make Alibi a safe space for the community.
Sip cocktails like Elegance Is An Attitude (Cognac and Champagne Taittinger) and Everyone Needs An Alibi (with dark and light rum).
BLK MKT Vintage- New York
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If you’re looking for a vintage shop for us and by us, check out this gem in Brooklyn.
Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart offer records, art, clothing, furniture and other products from the past and present.
According to the website, “by centering black cultural artifacts via thoughtful curation and varying modes of accessibility, we’re communicating very explicitly to Black folks that not only do we see you, but we love you as well. You’re worthy. What you’ve created is worthy. You are important here.”
You can visit the shop on Marcus Garvey Boulevard, or place an order online.
Unoia- Georgia
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This Atlanta-based business specializes in CBD products for people and pets.
The name translates to “beautiful thinking.”
Founders Brandé Elise and Danielle Gray are passionate about what they do. The benefits of CBD products are endless and some use them to manage depression and anxiety.
Take your pick from a selection of CBD- infused tintures, topicals, edibles and more.
Unoia has been featured by Essence, Out, and Atlanta Magazine.
Jeffery Pub- Illinois
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When this humble Chicago spot opened in the early 1960s, it wasn’t billed as a gay bar. That happened a bit later in the decade- likely sparked by the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969.
Like Stonewall, Jeffery Pub is one of the oldest gay bars in the US, and it attracts many Black patrons, gay and straight. The owner is Jamal Junior.
In an interview with Chicago Magazine, bartender Charlotte Thompson said, “there’s not many bars where people can come out and have a good time, let alone one that’s predominantly gay, unless you go up north to Boystown. When they come to the Jeffery Pub, I just try to make them feel good, make them feel at home, and make them feel safe.”
Lambda Lounge- New York
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Another Harlem staple, Lambda Lounge is the area’s only Black-owned lounge. It was created by Charles Hughes and Richard Solomon.
The website sums it up as follows:
“Welcome to the Lambda Lounge, where downtown elegance meets uptown swag for the grown and sexy in you. Come enjoy our exquisite signature cocktails and unparalleled service. Whether socializing at our oversized bar or lounging on the sofa in one of our featured sections, Lambda Lounge is the place to let it down or turn it up.”
Oh You Fancy, Huh? which is gin and Prosecco- based, and Prideful Punch are just two of the specialty cocktails available.
Lambda Lounge is available for private parties and special events. You can fill out the form here for consideration.
Feelmore- California
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If you’re in the Bay Area, check out Feelmore, a queer-inclusive, adult shop.
The founder, Nenna Joiner, uses they/them pronouns.
Nenna started out selling sex toys in their car before opening not one, but two shops. One in Oakland, the other in Berkeley.
What can you find? Everything imaginable to level up your sex life. Vibrators of all shapes and speeds. Sleeves. Lubricants. Kink equipment.
Check out the online shop, too.
Haute Butch- Online
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This clothing company was founded in 2012 by Karen Roberts and Danette Sheppard-Vaughn.
They cater to folks with butch and androgynous aesthetic who aren’t as widely represented in mainstream fashion. From suspenders to dapper suits, Haute Butch has you covered.
The website states, “the fear, oppression, and frustration that comes along with having a fierce sense of style and living in a society stuck in out-dated mindsets where women should embrace feminine ‘appropriateness’ is what keeps Haute Butch thriving even on our darkest days.”
Virtual consultations and shipping both domestic and international are available.
High And Tight- California
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This LA barbershop prioritizes being an inclusive space for LGBT+ clients and staff. It’s owned by Tasha Johnson, who uses they/them pronouns.
Johnson told In The Know, “when I opened High And Tight, it was the goal to be that safe space in the community. I come from a cis- hetero barbershop environment, so there were many issues that I wanted to not have in the new space. I wanted to welcome people to be comfortable.”
If you’re a hair professional, booths are available for rent full time and part time.
From color jobs to mohawks, you can rest assured that you’ll leave here looking and feeling fresh.
The Cocoa Butter Club
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Let’s hop across the pond to the UK for this last one.
This award-winning community provides a space for performers of color. The motto is, “where the melanated are celebrated!”
The Cocoa Butter Club was founded in 2016 by Sadie Sinner, an acclaimed cabaret performer.
The idea was to “clap back against cultural appropriation, lack of representation and imitation.”
Check out the website for information on the productions and workshops offered.