Many queers have a strong sense of community; we form bonds with our chosen family, and we often choose to attend events by and for LGBTQ2S+ folks in our hometowns. So when we travel, it’s natural that we try to expand those connections by seeking out community across borders. Visiting queer-owned businesses can be a great way to do this.
It’s not always easy. Language barriers, as well as homophobic cultures that force businesses to be discreet, can make these venues hard to locate. And while pubs and clubs are the most obvious queer spaces, we don’t always want to spend all our time in places all about alcohol.
Businesses that are owned or operated by lesbian, bi, trans and/or nonbinary people, or focused primarily on them, are particularly difficult to find. Luckily for you, we’ve done the research so that you can do the shopping. Here are 10 boutiques, services and experiences around the world that you can patronize to support queer women, trans and nonbinary entrepreneurs and their boosters.
United States
Republic Restoratives Distillery (1369 New York Ave. N.E., Washington, DC). Open since 2016, this crowdfunded, women-owned, queer- and trans-led distillery sells spirits with names and branding intended to inspire social change. From Kamala-themed Madam Whiskey to Fascist Tears and Dissent Gin (which impressively honours both RBG and a New York deli), the political spin on the labels is no coincidence. One of the founders, Pia Carusone, had a successful career in politics before getting into the distillery business, and the enterprise is meant to be revolutionary. Many of their ingredients are locally sourced, and funds from the sales of certain spirits go toward important causes such as abortion funds and the groups Advocates for Trans Equality and Vote.org. The folks behind this distillery care about investing in their community and challenging the status quo as much as they care about creating good-quality liquor (which they care about a lot). The distillery also has a cute tasting room and cocktail bar.
Hinterland Empire (7112 N.E. Glisan St., Portland, Oregon). This ethically crafted clothing and sustainably-sourced coffee shop is run by a proudly “grumpy, feral, queer woman.” Imagine drinking coffee in the forest with your queer, motorcycle-riding besties and some local frogs and slugs, and you might get a sense of what the vibes are like in this shop. Owner Trinia opened a screen-printed apparel business back in 2013, in a small location in Northern California. In late 2020, she was able to open the Portland (and now sole) location, with much more merch for sale including jewellery, mugs, sexy calendars and card decks featuring employees and friends. And of course, coffee. Hinterland’s comfy, American-made clothing is inspired both by nature and quirky queer badassery, with slogans like: “Sapphics for Satan,” “Be polite you fucker” and “The future is feral.” If you want to absorb the atmosphere a little longer, you can chill in the back courtyard with your beverage.
Canada
Bistitchual (Unit B, 266 Jane St., Toronto, Ontario). Bistitchual was founded in late 2020 by bi, trans and gender-apathetic café manager John, and disabled queer knitter Kelsi, following the success of their crafty queer podcast. They saw the need for a space to showcase LGBTQ2S+ dyers, artisans and makers. The store partners with local makers, and they only stock Canadian and/or queer yarn, including beginner kits for newbies. They also sell crafts, such as macramé and pottery that have been made by queer artists, and offer beginner knitting classes. While the store is not yet wheelchair accessible, they are working to change this.
Mexico
La Mercadita Diversa (Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey, Ignacio Zaragoza, Corregidora, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon). This Diverse Market, run by the Percha Colectivo in the northern Mexico hub of Monterrey, is a monthly opportunity to showcase queer and trans artisans and makers. Past markets have featured more than 50 LGBTQ+ small businesses selling a huge range of products, including vegan snacks, K-pop fan merch, cakes, Indigenous jewellery, tarot readings, candles, buttons, handmade underwear, custom keychains, candy and much more. The goal of the team that hosts the markets is to help form community and to boost financial support for queer small businesses. In operation since 2022, admission to the market is free.
Germany
The Sweetspot Art & Tattoo Studio (Bouchéstr 20, Berlin). This reboot of SóLaura Studio is the new home of Brazilian queer intersectional feminist, photographer and tattoo artist Laura Sobenes Sono. Sono founded her tattoo shop with revolving art exhibitions in 2022. Most of the artists are immigrants and queer, and the studio regularly hosts markets, events and workshops. Sono values creating a safer space for QTBIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks, and stresses the importance of consent and self-expression in her art.
Iceland
Pink Iceland (Hverfisgata 39, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland). Not to be presumptuous, but wouldn’t a wedding in one of the most queer-friendly countries in the world be the perfect souvenir? If you’re shopping for something more serious than the usual travel trinkets, Pink Iceland has you covered. From proposals to weddings to gay tours of the island, they do it all—with a touch of sapphic magic. The company was founded in 2011 by now-wives Eva and Birna, with the help of their friend Hannes who worked on website and logo design. What began as a project for a tourism course is now the leading destination wedding planner in Iceland. Their cute office is located in the centre of Reykjavik, a block from Kíkí Queer Bar and around the corner from the city’s famed community-painted Rainbow Street. (Read more about it in our insider’s guide to Reykjavík.) Head around back for a sneaky mural of Drag Race royalty Detox. If you’re looking for a wedding on a black sand beach with stunning basalt columns or a majestic waterfall as your backdrop, these folks can handle the planning. They also generously work with heteros.
Hong Kong
Les’Play HK Premium Intimate Store (1F 26 Granville Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong). In 2016, Les’Play’s founder saw a hole in the Hong Kong sex toy market, and she wanted to fill it. The motivation to open a store for high-quality sex toys for women and lesbians came from her own frustrations when shopping for toys with her same-sex partner, and finding them to be predominantly designed for men or straight folks. She attributed this to Asia’s somewhat conservative views on homosexuality, and felt that although the market for these products might be small, it was nonetheless important. This sex-positive business promotes sexual and gender education, and caters to queer and trans folks in particular. Their products come in all sorts of fun shapes; think unicorns and bananas in addition to the classics. They have sections dedicated to FTM folks, books, lingerie and more.
Japan
Etc. Books (Daita Building 1F, 4-10-18 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo). Though we can’t make any declarations about the leadership’s sexual orientation or gender, this feminist, Japanese-language bookstore and publishing house in Tokyo is fiercely queer and lesbian-forward. In 2018, the publishing house launched a feminist magazine called etc, which is a nod to Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble and aims to highlight marginalized voices in a patriarchal society. The bookshop itself opened in 2022, not only as a store but also a community and activist meeting place for feminists and sexual and gender minorities. The shop hosts lots of cool queer events; they recently held a two-month exhibition in memory of the late lesbian activist and performance artist Tari Ito. This past June, they celebrated Stonewall Uprising day with appearances by proud queer femme writer Aya Mizukami and feminist, non-cis writer Minori Suzuki, as well as showcasing a Transgender Realities panel throughout Pride month. They have also held talks about literature celebrating all children, regardless of gender identity, and CEO Akiko Matsuo has published many books on gender, feminism and gender-based violence.
Taiwan
Ada Casa Salon (1F, No. 69, Section 2, Hankou Street, Taipei City). This well-reviewed hair salon in Taipei offers lesbian-friendly and gender-affirming haircuts, and their logo is proudly displayed on a large Pride flag in the shop. Owner and stylist Ada Chang opened the salon more than 10 years ago with a goal of highlighting the passion of local entrepreneurs and the creativity of designers, which has no doubt been achieved. Their Instagram is the best place to see their range of styles—they post lots of fun hair content.
South Africa
Genderwear SA (Observatory district, Cape Town, address shared for fittings by appointment only). On a continent where more than half of the 54 countries outlaw homosexuality, South Africa’s Cape Town is a welcome oasis. (Read our insider’s guide to Cape Town here.) In the only African country that has legalized equal marriage, it’s the most gay-friendly destination on the continent. Not unexpectedly, where it’s legal to be queer, queer businesses have the opportunity to flourish. Genderwear SA, which sells high-quality gender-affirming garments, is a place for transgender, nonbinary and gender-queer folks to shop with less dysphoria, to connect with community and to find comfortable clothing. They sell binders, tucking underwear and other products like stickers and trans rights T-shirts. Although not yet fully brick-and-mortar, this primarily online shop offers in-person fittings by appointment, and they pop-up at many local markets and events. Transmasc nonbinary owner Mx Mel Laubscher told Pink Ticket Travel that the best place to find their products in-person is to follow their Instagram. They recently had a booth at a kink expo, and they are excited to attend Cape Town’s large-scale annual Streetopia market and event in November.
