Culture

9 B.C.-based LGBTQ2S+ businesses to support this Pride Month—and beyond

From a trailblazing queer bookstore to a sparkling drag lounge and a fertility startup changing the game, these local businesses embody community, creativity and care

By Mihika Agarwal /

1. Little Sister’s

Little Sister’s first opened its doors in April 1983, when co-founders Bruce Smyth and Jim Deva launched the bookstore from the second floor of a former house on Thurlow Street. By the 1990s, it had moved to its current Davie Village location, where it quickly became more than just a retail space. The shop has long been a cultural cornerstone for Vancouver’s LGBTQ2S+ community—offering not just books, but refuge, advocacy and visibility. Over the years, Little Sister’s endured legal battles over censorship and survived three anti-gay bombings. In 2016, longtime staffer Don Wilson took over ownership, continuing its legacy as a hub for queer literature, resources for all ages and crucial coming-out guidance.

1238 Davie St, Vancouver

littlesisters.ca

2. Friends of Dorothy

With vibrant locations in Victoria and Kelowna, Friends of Dorothy is a glam, retro-inspired lounge that celebrates queer culture with flair. Named after the iconic phrase used historically within LGBTQ2S+ communities, the venue offers inventive cocktails, drag brunches and a welcoming space for connection, creativity and celebration. Owner Rudy Tomazic set out to create an environment where LGBTQ2S+ individuals and allies alike can feel equally welcome—an inviting, joyful space that bridges communities and encourages belonging. Whether you’re dropping in for live entertainment or just a night out with chosen family, Dorothy always has room for more friends.

315 Lawrence Ave, Kelowna

537 Johnson St, Victoria

fodlounge.com

3. Joey

 

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Founded by Vancouver-based queer couple Mandy Potter and Kristine Wilson, Joey offers at-home insemination kits designed to make family-building more accessible and inclusive. After navigating limited and costly fertility options themselves, the duo developed a user-friendly kit that includes ovulation strips, syringes, specimen cups, menstrual cups, pregnancy strips and step-by-step instructions. Their mission is to provide an affordable, comfortable alternative for individuals and couples—queer, trans, single parents and others—seeking to conceive outside traditional clinical settings. “Every single day we’re coming across new customers who are using it for reasons we never even would have thought about,” Potter told BCBusiness.

tryjoey.com

4. Awl Together Leather Inc.

In an industry long dominated by tradition and gatekeeping, Awl Together Leather stands out as B.C.’s only female- and queer-owned leatherwork and shoe repair shop. Co-founded in 2021 by Tess Gobeil and Ariss Grutter, the East Vancouver studio is redefining the cobbler trade through inclusivity, mentorship and community engagement. Grutter, a trans person active in queer leather circles, and Gobeil, a studio arts graduate, bonded over their shared experiences of underrepresentation in the industry. Their commitment to accessibility is evident in initiatives like weekly open studio sessions, where staff can work on personal projects and learn beyond their regular duties.

101-1183 Odlum Dr, Vancouver

awltogetherleather.ca

5. Cross and Crows

 

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Located near Trout Lake in East Vancouver, Cross & Crows Books is a queer-owned bookstore dedicated to showcasing literature by and for LGBTQ2S+ communities. Lebanese-American founder Nena Rawdah grew up in 1970s and ’80s Texas, where “gay” was often used as a derogatory term. Years later, she found belonging in the literary scene of the Pacific Northwest—first in Portland, where she opened St. Johns Booksellers and built a chosen family among readers and writers, and now in Vancouver, where she has recreated that spirit with Cross & Crows. Since opening in 2023, the store has become a cozy, community-oriented hub: part bookstore, part gathering space. It features a mix of new and used titles with a strong focus on queer, trans and BIPOC authors, plus a thoughtfully curated children’s section. The shop also regularly hosts readings, book launches and community events—cementing its role as a cultural hub in the city.

2836 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

crossandcrows.com

6. Brood Care

Brood Care’s roots trace back to Bunky Bambino, a local doula agency where queer-trans founder Emma Devin briefly worked providing birth and postpartum support. In 2019, Devin joined forces with Gillian Damborg and Lizzy Karp to acquire the business, rebranding it as a tech-enabled learning platform and in-person care service with a mission to offer inclusive, affirming care for all kinds of families. Since then, the Vancouver-based agency has expanded its services to include full-spectrum doula care, virtual education and mentorship—centering queer, trans and non-traditional parents in every stage of family-building. “It’s been a huge pillar for Brood to focus on the alternatives for family structures that we can nourish and nurture, because everyone from queer-trans folks to cishet families deserve to have the community they need,” Devin told BCBusiness of their mission.

broodcare.com

7. Zee Zee Theatre

 

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Founded in 2008 by Cameron Mackenzie, Zee Zee Theatre was born from a desire to create a platform for queer voices often overlooked in Vancouver’s performing arts scene. As a queer artist, Mackenzie set out to build a company grounded in compassion, representation and connection. Today, his bold, heartfelt productions—centering 2SLGBTQ+ stories—attract diverse audiences. Committed to equity in all senses, the company pays all artists professional living wages—a program upheld through dedicated fundraising, grant writing and community support. In recent years, Zee Zee has gone on to launch Canada’s first queer and trans playwriting unit, ensuring that the next generation of queer storytellers is seen—and heard—on stages across the country.

zeezeetheatre.ca

8. Provide

 

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Founded by David Keeler and his late partner Robert Quinell, Provide is a queer-owned design studio nestled in Vancouver’s Armoury District—the heart of the city’s vibrant design community. The boutique offers a carefully-curated collection of home accessories, furniture, lighting and floor coverings, crafted by artisans around the world. Think hand-crafted rugs from India, earthy ceramic bowls from Spain and natural-stone bath accessories sourced from Italy. Today, Keeler carries forward the founders’ shared vision, passionately supporting the growth of both emerging and established Canadian designers and fostering a more inclusive, collaborative design community in Vancouver.

Provide, 1805 Fir St, Vancouver

Provide Design Gallery, #101-1636 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver

providehome.com

9. Mon Pitou

 

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Tucked in Vancouver’s Fairview neighbourhood, Mon Pitou is a small, homey French bakery, bistro and specialty food store. They serve espresso drinks, pastries, hearty brunch plates and seasonal drinks like tiramisu iced lattes and matcha tonics. After leaving careers in biotech recruiting and the airline industry, co-owners Jesse Hawes and his partner Triet Duong set out to open a space that felt warm, welcoming and community-focussed. Their sentimental branding was inspired by their English bulldogs and a nickname from Hawes’ grandmother.

1387 W 7th Ave, Vancouver

marchemonpitou.ca