Looking to shop queer during Pride (and all year round)? You’ve come to the right place, because we don’t shop for our gay shit at mega corporations; we support small, queer-owned businesses for our Pride gear and anything else we want/need! Here’s a little roundup of some artists/businesses for you to support this June and every other month of the year.
Feminist Press
Feminist Press is an independent publishing house that publishes some truly amazing books. (We Were Witches, anyone?!) This month, they’re offering 30% off over 50 LGTBQ+ books with code PRIDE26 at checkout. If you can’t decide, don’t worry, they’ve made bundles in the $15-$35 price range and titled them by their themes. See: Be Gay. Read Crime; INTENSE FEELINGS; and A Lil’ Hedonism As a Treat. Yes, it is ALWAYS time to buy more books. You have our permission.
MegEmikoArt
Looking for art and apparel made by a super cool human? Miko to the rescue! They’re an artist who makes all kinds of incredible art and, lucky for us, turns them into stickers, clothes, tote bags, and more. Their main shop is here, but they have an Etsy store open for a limited time with a lot of extra apparel options not currently on their usual site. (I, for one, am a big fan of the “Sushi rolls not gender roles” sweatshirt.) If you’re looking for an easy way to show off your pronouns, slap one of these stickers on your shirt and call it a day.
Bill Crisafi
You likely know the art of Bill Crisafi if you, like us, are a spooky bitch who uses Instagram too much. Bill’s artwork is kooky and spooky, and we love every piece. For June, however, there’s one shirt you absolutely need:
CTOAN Co
Need a Pride candle or six? Of course you do! CTOAN Co. is queer-woman-owned and makes truly amazing smelling candles. (I know, I have several!) The rainbow flag booty candle below is scented with apricot, though they have solid colors with other scents as well. Plus, they have a wide variety of body type candles in rainbow or solid colors. And they have really cool 3D printed lighter cases of hot rainbow bodies and they’re also KEYCHAINS so you have no excuse not to get *something* from them this month.
Little & Grim
Every year, Alex at Little & Grim makes a Pride collection of perfumes that smell amazing AND have the greatest names. Every year I wonder, “Can they do it again?” Turns out, yes, because Big Titty Goth BF, Demon Himbo, and Pro Homo are just perfection. Plus, there are returning Pride scents from past years also available (The Moon is Gay is sold out, but Lesbian Chainsaw Dominatrix is available babyyyyyy).
Loudmouth Books
I’m lucky enough to live in the Midwest now, close-ish to Loudmouth Books. It’s owned by Leah Johnson, famous author and queer Black woman, and specializes in selling banned books. Jealous yet? You should be! But fret not, because Leah just designed this perfect oversized muscle shirt for all you readers of queer authors, and you can buy it no matter where you live. Bonus point: It’s being made with union labor! Also, we will match, because I purchased this SO QUICKLY you don’t even understand.
Sweet Cowboy Blues
I have a confession to make: I want almost every single thing in this shop. I am not a gay cowboy, but some part of my soul is, and will forever be since going to two of Orville Peck’s Rodeos (hopefully a third this year, fingers crossed). So you’re telling me a trans man in the UK makes the most incredible cowboy-themed gay merchandise? Sign me the fuck up for every single thing. There’s a bunch of t-shirts, art prints, stickers, postcards, wall hangings… and I want all of them. But you need something to carry your stuff in at Pride, so my recommendation is this tote bag. (Though I’m absolutely buying this art print ASAP.) They also offer digital art downloads so you can print things yourself, as well as tattoo tokens!
Have any queer small businesses you like to shop at? Tell us about them! We’d love to learn about more businesses keepin’ it queer all year.
