Celebrate Pride by Supporting These Latine Brands and Entrepreneurs
Pride month is a time of celebration and recognition. We celebrate the generations that fought for the rights and equality of all, regardless of race or place of origin. But we also celebrate those who continue the fight today.
Not only should we remember that PRIDE began as a riot, but we should also applaud those who put the struggle for representation at the forefront.
Many are small businesses and entrepreneurs whose daily work is doing their part to let millions of people know they are not alone.
Here are some Latine-owned and LGBTQ+ brands and businesses you should support this Pride month.
A Tribe Called Queer
A Tribe Called Queer is a Los Angeles-based community organization focused on empowering BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. They aim to create safe spaces and affirm identities through mental wellness, art, education, and more.
They offer accessible programs, resources, free virtual events, a podcast, gender-neutral clothing, and a wellness zine. Founded by Sabine Maxine Lopez, a Queer BIPOC Non-Binary Femme, the organization celebrates diversity and self-expression in various forms.
Scary Good Coffee
Another of our fav LGBTQ+-owned brands is Scary Good Coffee. Realizing the coffee industry’s lack of inclusivity and representation, especially for women and minorities, Nancy Alvarez established Scary Good Coffee to deliver fresh, complex coffee to homes.
The company is dedicated to enhancing the coffee experience while promoting visibility and representation for women of color in the coffee industry.
JZD
Similarly, we cannot talk about PRIDE without talking about JZD. Jen and Vero founded this lifestyle brand in 2016 to celebrate Latina culture and community empowerment. It started with the iconic Pink Latina Power Tee, symbolizing the strength and representation of Latinas everywhere. Despite initial struggles, the brand grew through its strong community focus, leveraging social media to connect and expand.
JZD creates products that resonate with cultural roots and stories, ensuring their community’s input in every launch. Today, JZD is a thriving Queer Latina-owned business, dedicated to celebrating cultura and empowering individuals by reminding them of their inherent power and ancestral support.
Iliana Galvez (growmija)
Now, let’s talk about creators. Iliana, known as GrowMija, is a Queer Latinx illustrator based in Houston, originally from the San Francisco Valley. She began her Instagram page @GrowMija as a love letter to her baby sister, Chachis, to provide art that represented her and affirmed her worth.
Now, she shares this empowering message with the world, emphasizing that everyone is worthy of love, respect, and all the good things life offers.
The Queer Gym
The Queer Gym, founded by Coach Nat, is America’s first fitness center dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community. The gym emphasizes community and support over amenities by offering live group workouts and personalized coaching from home.
With affordable membership options starting at $100 per month, participants receive live workouts via Zoom, nutrition coaching, meal prep guides, and more. The Queer Gym aims to help its members build sustainable fitness habits while avoiding the discomfort often found in traditional gyms.
Coco and Breezy Eyewear
Another brand we love is Coco and Breezy Eyewear. Founded in 2009 by twin sisters Coco and Breezy Dotson, this brand aims to illuminate individuality and empower self-expression through luxury eyewear. Their meticulously designed unisex frames, crafted as wearable art, celebrate diversity and inclusivity.
Each piece honors the brand’s community, vision, and values, making every wearer feel seen and celebrated. Coco and Breezy Eyewear are dedicated to adorning each person’s unique essence with their intentional designs.
Smile Cult
Similarly, Smile Cult is a lifestyle brand based in LA that creates apparel and goodies for individuals in their healing era. Their products redefine favorite words, focusing on themes of self-care and empowerment.
Each item is hand-pressed and designed to support and comfort “softies” on their journey. The brand emphasizes inclusivity and community, inviting everyone to engage with its offerings.
Barrio Drive
On that same note, Barrio Drive is an immigrant-owned brand that advocates for marginalized voices through fashion, art, and storytelling.
Founded by Ziri Pena and Yaji Wonderland, the brand focuses on creating a movement that celebrates and elevates diverse perspectives, emphasizing cultural pride and community empowerment.
UndocuLawyer
Wait, but there’s more. The UndocuLawyer Firm, founded by Mrs. Irazoqui-Morales, specializes in the intersection of business, tax, and employment law, mainly focusing on the impacts of immigration status on entrepreneurial endeavors.
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the firm offers expert legal services to support immigrants navigating complex legal landscapes.
Little Barn Coffee House
Finally, Little Barn Coffee House, co-owned by Seleste Diaz and Joana Rubio, opened in Los Angeles in July 2020. Diaz and Rubio, lifelong vegans and partners for 15 years, transformed the space themselves during the pandemic to offer vegan versions of traditional meals.
They aim to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for diverse communities, including vegan, Latinx, minority, and LGBTQ+ groups. Their future goals include opening a full-service restaurant with live entertainment and supporting those with food insecurities.
