Words by Smiley Team
Pride is a great time to highlight the businesses, organisations, and individuals who are supporting this community – to remember and support beyond the month of June, too.
Here's a list of businesses run by the LGBTQ+ community for the LGBTQ+ community. Don't forget to check out the LGBTQ+ charities to support, as well!
Adore Dance London is a LGBTQ+ owned dance school based in Hackney. Though they're open to anyone, LGBTQ+ or not, they have a strong focus on trying to support diversity and inclusivity within the dance world. This Pride Month, they're hosting a ‘dress up for Pride’ competition across their classes to raise money for LGBTQ+ charities, and will be matching donations up to £100.
Queer Lit is a Manchester and online-based bookshop, which aims to represent the LGBTQ+ community and provide a safe space. In addition to selling books, they also donate them back into schools as part of their ‘Free Books for Schools’ programme. With the help of their customers they donate around 100 LGBTQ+ books per month to schools in the UK. They have also donated 300 copies of Trans Britain to MPs to help them better understand, and represent, trans lives in the UK.
Lou Designs is an online shop which raises money for charity by making LGBTQ+ themed merchandise and donating 100% of the profits to charity. Charities they support include The Abortion Support Network, Beat, and MindOut.
KelZo Jewellery is an online jewellery company run by a LGBTQ+ couple out of Cardiff. They create unique jewellery with a no waste policy, and have a permanent Pride collection. 10% of the profits from this collection are donated to different LGBTQ+ charities.
FLAVNT (pronounced ‘flaunt’) is a brilliant LGBTQ+ owned apparel company which is 50% trans owned, and the other 50% owned by queer women. A portion of the proceeds from sales goes to supporting their partnerships, often LGBTQ+ people in the community who are saving up to afford gender affirming surgeries. Plus, they do flesh-toned binders for an authentic shirtless experience.
Self and More is a LGBTQ+ owned online sex shop which is working to make sex and sex toys more gender inclusive. The toys on their website are not grouped by gender, but what type of toy they are or what they are used for, so you can have a gender affirming experience - all day, all night. They also donate 5% of their profits to a rotating selection of charities twice a year.
Fitter Confident You is a LGBTQ+ owned online fitness company. Their aim is to help Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer men work through the body issues that often affect LGBTQ+ people, and help them come into their own. They work closely with AKT, the LGBTQ+ homelessness charity, with £5 from each shirt, and £1 of each of the founder’s book being donated.
PR for the People is a grassroots PR company set up and owned by LGBTQ+ couple Lucy Sambrook and Toya Satnarine. They set up their company in an attempt to diversify the PR and Media sectors, and make them more accessible, and affordable, for the LGBTQ+ community as well as other minority groups.
Zodiac is an independent bar and events company owned by members of the LGBTQ+ community. It aims to create safe and welcoming venues for members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as creating jobs for LGBTQ+ staff and performers and raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
SUPPORT: Look through our 12 charities to support, this Pride and beyond.
