12 LGBTQ-Owned Businesses in LA That Give Back to the Community

One of the quickest ways to support a minority community is to spend money at its businesses.

“ Put your money where your mouth is ” has survive as a trite suppose for so long , even etymologists have n’t been capable to trace it back to its inception . But there ’s rarely been a time when that ’s been more important than today , when one of the quickest ways to support minority community , such as the LGBTQ+ community , is to spend money at its businesses .

Your dollar goes even further , though , when you spend it at a business that then take that money and uses it to help – whether that ’s through donating a portion of the proceeds , provide intentional space for effect , or raising the visibility of the LGBTQ+ world . Skittles , for model , is donating $ 1 for everySkittles Pride Packsold to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination , but tasting the rainbow is just one mode to make your dollar count . By support these 13 LGBTQ - owned businesses in LA , both during Pride and year - round , you enable them to facilitate others in the community , multiplying your purchase ’s event .

The Ripped Bodice

This Culver City bookshop dedicate to romantic fiction stocks books with fiber across the sexuality and sexual spectrum , but where its public service might be seen the brightest is in a annual statistical summary . The State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Reportattempts to show the percentage of romanticism novels written by BIPOC source each year , breaking the figures down by publishing house and imprint , and contribute a bird’s - eye view on an industry that has struggled – and still does – to be inclusive .

Wildfang

The clothing brand may have embark on in Portland , Oregon , but LA has adopted Wildfang ’s Silver Lake outstation as its own . Along with donate more than $ 750,000 to different cause over the years , it ’s also certified as “ climate neutral ” thanks to its commitment to optimise cloth to reduce waste and conserve energy . Wildfang has pledge to give one percent of its tax income – not gain , but tax revenue – per year to good work ( including , presently , theLooking Out Foundation , which focus on plant lesser known , but vital , non - profits ) .

Folklore Salon and Barber

The Cypress Park department store creates a receive quad for all identity operator , with passementerie based on length of hair rather than sexuality . But the cut are n’t the only work of prowess at Folklore ; the shop showcases LGBTQ+ artists and partners with faggot businesses and societal justice organizations , along with offering hairdressing products from LGBTQ - possess companies . Folklore also hosts event , like a recent Queer Kink Social , that take the biotic community together .

Partner Content From

In solemnisation of Pride , Skittles partner with LGBTQ+ creative person to contrive five limited - edition Skittles throng uncommitted throughout May and June that secern visual level of Pride and serve devotee find out more LGBTQ+ narrative . For each pack trade , Skittles will donate $ 1 to GLAAD ( up to $ 100,000 ! ) To get a line more , check outskittles.com/Pride .

Noto Botanics

Professional physical composition artist Gloria Noto launched the skin care make that brook her name from her kitchen in 2016 , with merchandise that are vegan , ruthlessness - devoid , and “ clean ” ( free of ingredients that can “ harm your organic structure and the surround , ” accord to Noto ’s site ) . The company donate a percent of sale ofAgender Oil , Noto ’s hydrate treatment for both body and hair with a scent that can work for everyone , to what its father place as Noto ’s “ residential area , ” including LGBTQ+ , environmental , and arts charity organizations . It ’s part of a move over - back programme that has intend more than $ 26,000 in donations already .

L.A.G. Vintage

The vintage vesture store has all the thrift retrieve and way - forward-moving options that one would bear from a dress shop in a rosehip neighborhood like Virgil Village . But a fate of the play of L.A.G. happens on the storage ’s back patio , where party and collaborations with other curators go down . Though the occasional buck’s fizz may pop up back here , these are events that bring in the community together outdoors of a legal community , a welcome change of tempo for the sober ( or sober - rummy ) .

Queer Mercado

focalize on LGBTQ+ businesses , Queer Mercado land together the Latinx community of East LA and the queer community on the third Saturday of every calendar month . With scores of merchants , it ’s become a fundamental hub on the east side of town with artists , chef , and craftspeople merchandising to an ever - expand audience . Part of the fun also come in the atmosphere , with live music and drag show entertain shopper and create a secure infinite on the other side of town from the well - known haunts of West Hollywood .

Celebration Theatre

It ’s unvoiced to make it 40 - plus years in Los Angeles as a theater company , but Celebration has been treading boards since 1982 , first in Silver Lake and now in West Hollywood . But the modest theatre has n’t just come through , as the more than 100 award nominating speech in its story indicates . While producing its yearly season of kit and boodle that admirer and center the voice of the LGBTQ+ residential district , it also helps produce fundraiser like the Homeward LA series , boast actors performing monologues from writers who have experienced homelessness ( the proceeds move to nonprofitThe Midnight Mission ) .

The Abbey

Yeah , we know , another list about LGBTQ+ businesses that includes this West Hollywood nightlife titan . But it ’s hard to overstate the influence that The Abbey has had in Los Angeles , whether it ’s raising more than $ 2 million forAIDS Project LAover the years via its award show party , or standing up for the right of the LGBTQ community – sometimes via donation to lobbying organizations , sometimes via newspaper headline - grabbing activism ( this is the bar that banned bachelorette parties pre - marriage equation ) . For residents and visitor alike , a dark at The Abbey is a rite of passage .

Suay Sew Shop

This LGBTQ - own stitchery and yield workshop has a goal of create a “ culture of residential area and reuse . ” It ’s a dual missionary station : Suay reuse material to make one - of - a - kind unexampled clothing items ( jacket crown made from reprocess towels , for example ) , and does a residential district dyestuff bathing tub that allows customer to re - dye fading clothing , advance longer use and less consumption . It also supports the local unhoused community with its “ free rack ” filled with still - practiced wearing apparel for those who may not be able to afford to buy .

Stuzo Clothing

The gender - free clothing line was founded by a native of The Bronx , and the position that beam from the brand – uncompromising , unapologetic , magnetic – matches that borough . While Stuzo has been seen adorning movie stars and comedians ( how LA ! ) , it ’s also found time to avail the next generation of artist through support ofThe Queer 26 , a nonprofit organization that cash in hand workshops and events for queer and trans creatives of semblance .

Los Angeles LGBT Center

It ’s not technically a business , but the LGBT Center does so much good for the community that we ca n’t have a lean about giving back without it . Nearly a one - stop store , it provides sound service , wellness maintenance ( including drug retrieval and mental health services ) , transitional housing for LGBTQ+ spring chicken , and a chopine for artists , among other type of assistance . Since 1969 , it has been one of the most of import organizations for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the city , and for more than the last 10 , it ’s been given a top score by non-profit-making guard dog Charity Navigator for its administrative and fundraising expense ratios , which means a eminent percentage of a donation here terminate up hold out towards the mission , and not the running game of the organization .

Liberation Coffeehouse

It ’s a part of the LGBT Center , but the café that sits in the Anita May Rosenstein Campus feel like more than an sleeve of a nonprofit . It sport topically roast coffee and a menu of pastries and salad , and Liberation makes a great forum for meetings or out - of - situation work . But behind the panorama , it ’s also a part of the Center ’s Culinary Arts Training Program , through which 100 students pass each year . Participants acquire canonical solid food techniques , fix food for on campus distribution ( up to 600 meals a day for the Center ’s youth and senior members ) , and then head out into the city for internship and jobs in the cordial reception and food prep sphere .