Why Small Business Saturday Matters for LGBTQ+ Communities
- Justin Morgan
- Nov 26, 2025
- 3 min read
The Saturday after Thanksgiving isn’t just another sale day—it’s Small Business Saturday, a chance to move your money away from big-box chains and toward the small, independent businesses that keep our communities alive.
For LGBTQ+ folks, that choice is powerful. Queer-owned businesses don’t just sell products—they create visibility, safer spaces, and a sense of “I belong here.” When you shop small and queer-owned, you’re saying:
“I see you. I support you. I want you to thrive.”
Why Shopping Small LGBTQ+ Businesses Matters
Every time you support a queer-owned small business, you’re:
Funding visibility – Queer stories, identities, and joy are front and center in their products and branding.
Creating safer spaces – Many LGBTQ+ businesses become hubs where people can show up as themselves.
Supporting real people – Your purchase helps pay rent, buy groceries, and build a life where no one has to hide.
Keeping money in the community – Dollars stay circulating in LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, events, and causes.
For brands like ours, every order is a reminder that our community wants affirming, joyful, unapologetically queer products in the world.
Everywhere Is Queer: Your Map of Queer-Owned Businesses
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I knew where all the queer-owned businesses were,” meet your new favorite tool.
Everywhere Is Queer is an app and website that maps queer-owned businesses around the world—coffee shops, salons, fitness studios, online shops, and more.
With Everywhere Is Queer, you can:
Search queer-owned businesses by location when you travel or explore your own city
Discover new LGBTQ+ brands online that align with your values
Intentionally shift your spending toward queer-owned businesses year-round
This Small Business Saturday, you don’t have to guess where to shop. Open the map, and ask:
“Which queer-owned business can I support today?”
Explore here: everywhereisqueer.com
How to Make Your Small Business Saturday More Queer
Here are simple ways to center LGBTQ+ small businesses on Small Business Saturday (and beyond):
Plan your purchases.
List what you already planned to buy—gifts, clothes, home decor—and see what you can source from queer-owned shops.
Build a “queer shopping route.”
Use Everywhere Is Queer to find a queer-owned café, salon, bookstore, or boutique near you.
Support online queer businesses.
Many brands, like This Gay Tee, are fully online. Your orders still have a huge impact.
Share and tag.
Post your favorite queer-owned businesses on social media. Tag the business and Everywhere Is Queer to help others discover them.
Leave reviews and follow.
A thoughtful review or follow can boost a small business long after the holiday rush.
How This Gay Tee Fits In...
At This Gay Tee, our mission is simple: create clothing and accessories that help LGBTQ+ people “Wear It Loud, Wear It Proud” with designs that feel joyful, affirming, and a little bit sassy.
When you shop small with us—or any queer-owned brand—you help:
Put more positive, affirming queer messages into the world
Support LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs building something of their own
Show big retailers that queer representation is not a trend—it’s essential
This Small Business Saturday: Choose Queer, Choose Small
You don’t have to be perfect with every purchase. But you can decide that whenever possible, you’ll look for the queer-owned, community-centered option first.
This Small Business Saturday, try this:
Open Everywhere Is Queer
Find a few queer-owned businesses that speak to you
Make at least one intentional purchase from a small LGBTQ+ business
Because when we support queer-owned small businesses, we’re not just buying things—we’re investing in visibility, safety, joy, and a future where our community doesn’t just survive, it thrives.
With Pride & Gratitude,
Justin