some like it hott
“One of the major challenges of being a queer person starting (or taking over a business) is the decision to be out or not. How much of myself and my identity do I share with consumers while still maintaining my own safety. The reality of the world is that LGBPQ and TGNC people have always been targets of violence and things have not improved, they have gotten worse in many places and we are directly being attacked with a slew of anti-trans legislation.
Being an openly LGBPQ business owner puts you at risk for losing potential bigoted customers, losing business and sales or being a direct target for discrimination, defamation, harassment and even violence against you or your property. As a person who lives authentically out and loud about it most of the time, safety permitting, my identity is a huge motivator for success in a business sense. I want to rise above the oppression that I’ve been subjected to and live a fulfilling life by being financially self sustainable; a goal and dream that is statistically and realistically unattainable for most folks in my community. Being an example of success and hard work to other people may have the same struggles is important, not just for my community but for representation in a greater sense.
Our identities are often ignored and erased and stories told about us in media are almost always stories or struggle, I want to tip scales and show that TGNC people CAN succeed and can find fulfillment in a career where you are your own boss. I lived for a long time silenced, and small and afraid to seek the things that would make me happy because we, as a community are told we are undeserving of any of the things that everyone in the white, cishet world automatically expect without question.
I want to be seen as a Trans GNC business owner and speak up about it for all those who haven’t found their voice yet and give them the hope that they can have a future. Being out as a queer and trans person is a part of who I am, of course, it will always inform the way I operate my business, how I interact with the world, how i use my position to advocate and support others in my community. I wear it proudly and hope I can inspire others the way my trancestors helped guide me and find my way.”
- Usnea M
*Bear and Usnea are in the midst of taking ownership of Some Like it Hott.
Address | Port Townsend, WA, United States
Website | Some Like it Hott
Facebook | Some Like it Hott
Instagram | @aldersmoked
Paca Pride Guest Ranch
“We started a Permaculture Homestead Campground to re-invent both camping and the family farm allowing the public to stay in fully furnished yurts while learning about sustainability, low-impact farm practices, and be base camp for their Mountain Loop experience.
Surviving the adversity presented by county permitting processes taking 2 years to complete meant that our cash reserves to offer more yurts to the public got tanked from carrying our costs for so long before we could open to the public.
Our goal is to bring the public to the farm, to see sustainability and permaculture principles in action, to reconnect with nature by staying in yurts. “
"We are proudly gay-owned making manifest the change we want to see in the world through hospitality. Toot that rainbow horn!"
- David Capocci, Co-Owner
Website: pacapride.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PacaPride
Address: 28311 Mountain Loop Hwy, Granite Falls, WA 98252
La cocina pt
Myself, Casandra, and my wife Lissette, are proud to be triple threat business owners / entrepreneurs - Women, Lesbian, and of Color. Operating in the Port Townsend community has been a rewarding experience as we have been shown great support of our Lesbian identity and surrounded by many LGBTQ+ supporters who live locally in the Olympic Peninsula.
When we first decided to open our family run business, we were hesitant about how
prominent we wanted their relationship to be in public view. We feared backlash, discrimination and potential hardships about showcasing our Lesbian identity to the public as being Gay still is not universally accepted.
After some personal soul searching we decided that the creation of La Cocina PT is a culmination of both of us, our hard work, experience, dreams and passion - and to leave out an essential part of who we are (Lesbian) is not something we could do.
To both of our surprise coming out all over again as Lesbian business owners has been an easy and rewarding experience in this community. We have had tremendous support from both Olympic Pride and Pride Port Ludlow bringing in LGBTQ+ guests constantly to our business. We are proud that we can showcase to the LGBTQ+ community that we can have a voice and be who we are as both know that many generations before us have not been afforded the same luxuries.
We both see the importance of being true to ourselves and showing representation to the generations to come. Representation matters as when we were growing up neither one of us can remember seeing many LGBTQ+ figures on television nonetheless in their community. We are grateful that we have the ability to be visible to this community and that younger generations can look up and say that we too can be Gay and a business owner.
-Casandra Garay, Owner
Address | 221 Taylor Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Website | www.lacocinapt.com
Facebook | La Cocina Port Townsend
Instagram | lacocinapt
Cake & Shake
Baking has been a lifelong passion for Chris, Owner of Cake & Shake, as learned from his grandmother at a young age. Their close bond was a safe space for Chris to come out as transgender, which was special as their family grew up with financial instability in a less-accepting community. “I never really felt safe or had a sense of peace [growing up] until I moved across the country to Washington. I finally felt like I could be myself and pursue my dreams.”
With this new sense of empowerment and security, Chris reflects, “I have seen so many hardships and depressing situations and at the end of the day all I want is to see people happy. This business brings it all together for me; I am able to honor my grandma, build wealth for my family and make people happy. Cake & Shake is a welcoming inclusive space for all!”"
Advice to other members of the LGBTQ2+ community who are interested in starting a business:
“It’s in your absolute, best interest to always be your authentic self, even when it scares you and makes the people around you nervous.
You do not have to have it all figured out. Life is a series of connecting events and unavoidable curve balls that are thrown in.
Hold on to your courage.
Hold on to your imagination.
Trust your intuition.
Trust the process.”
- Chris Richards, Owner
Address | Sequim, WA, United States
Website | www.chriscakeshake.com
Facebook | Cake & Shake
Instagram | @chriscakeshake
some like it hott
“One of the major challenges of being a queer person starting (or taking over a business) is the decision to be out or not. How much of myself and my identity do I share with consumers while still maintaining my own safety. The reality of the world is that LGBPQ and TGNC people have always been targets of violence and things have not improved, they have gotten worse in many places and we are directly being attacked with a slew of anti-trans legislation.
Being an openly LGBPQ business owner puts you at risk for losing potential bigoted customers, losing business and sales or being a direct target for discrimination, defamation, harassment and even violence against you or your property. As a person who lives authentically out and loud about it most of the time, safety permitting, my identity is a huge motivator for success in a business sense. I want to rise above the oppression that I’ve been subjected to and live a fulfilling life by being financially self sustainable; a goal and dream that is statistically and realistically unattainable for most folks in my community. Being an example of success and hard work to other people may have the same struggles is important, not just for my community but for representation in a greater sense.
Our identities are often ignored and erased and stories told about us in media are almost always stories or struggle, I want to tip scales and show that TGNC people CAN succeed and can find fulfillment in a career where you are your own boss. I lived for a long time silenced, and small and afraid to seek the things that would make me happy because we, as a community are told we are undeserving of any of the things that everyone in the white, cishet world automatically expect without question.
I want to be seen as a Trans GNC business owner and speak up about it for all those who haven’t found their voice yet and give them the hope that they can have a future. Being out as a queer and trans person is a part of who I am, of course, it will always inform the way I operate my business, how I interact with the world, how i use my position to advocate and support others in my community. I wear it proudly and hope I can inspire others the way my trancestors helped guide me and find my way.”
- Usnea M
*Bear and Usnea are in the midst of taking ownership of Some Like it Hott.
Address | Port Townsend, WA, United States
Website | Some Like it Hott
Facebook | Some Like it Hott
Instagram | @aldersmoked