Here Are 3 Companies To Support During LGBT History Month
(They are all founded by genius LGBTQ owners btw.)
We all know that June is pride month – but October might be the most important month for engaged and married LGBTQ couples. Why? Because October is LGBT history month. While June is the time to celebrate that love is love and the celebration that comes from LGBTQ joy, October hones on the complex and often difficult past of LGBTQ couples.
When we take a step back during the month of October, in celebration of this special month, we can realize the ways history has impacted LGBTQ weddings immensely.
It is an often troubling thought of mine that it wasn’t until 2015 that the Ogergefell v. Hodges case legalized same-sex marriage in the United States. That was a short eight years ago. Another pivotal historical case was Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. This of course was the case where a same-sex couple was denied a wedding cake from a bakery owner. The Court ruled in the couple’s favor determining they had constitutional protections of expression.
These two cases, as well as the endless stories of LGBTQ oppression and resistance in American society, demonstrate the winding road LGBTQ couples have had to take. The history of LGBTQ marriage rights reflects times where celebrating queer love was not always easy.
As our society evolves and LGBTQ couples continue to celebrate their joy, we can find LGBTQ companies to support, even in the wedding industry. Here are three LGBTQ- founded wedding-related companies I found to not only utilize in your planning but to awe at as much as I did.
1. Nonbinary Wedding Wear For The Big Day
I wish I found out about QUEERA earlier. I am in love with this gender-neutral wedding and formal wear company founded by designer Curtis Cassell. QUEERA describes their mission on their website stating Cassell started his company after being a “[waiter at event spaces and hearing other LGBTQ staff talk about nervousness towards what to wear on their wedding days because of gender normalities].”
With this in mind, Cassell has now built a brand around formal wear that combines traditional or otherwise typical gender-based silhouettes and combines them with the opposite gender. When looking at the photos of his work on the company’s site, you’ll see tons of flowy, colorful and unique designs that do not adhere to any gender bias.
I admire Cassell’s ability to be a queer designer, making designs for individuals who want to feel that sense of extravagance on their big day but do not want to be held back by gender norms. To contact QUEERA about wearing one of Cassell’s revolutionary designs, check out this link.
What I Love About Their Brand
QUEERA has made the smart choice of having a “Press” tab on the homepage of their site. This invites people to “ooo” and “ahh” at their recognition. Not only do they proudly display their press coverage here, but they share recent articles going out about the company, by esteemed magazines, on their Instagram.
2. Makeup For Your Dream Wedding Look
Glam is the most important thing on your big day — in my humble opinion. It does not matter what gender you are or how glam you would like to be, there is no other day to utilize the fun benefits of makeup than on your wedding day. For anyone that might use makeup — brides, grooms, planners, and everyone in between — I found an LGBTQ-founded and supportive makeup company.
Fluide was founded by Laura Kraber who wanted to create “gender-expansive beauty and represent under-represented faces and voices.” The company utilizes models of varying gender and sexuality backgrounds which I really admire. Representation makes their site feel so inclusive and unique — I would really love to see this on more makeup companies’ websites.
With options like lips, eyes, face and nails, anyone getting into glam mode for anything wedding-related or otherwise, can find all your vegan and cruelty-free makeup options here.
What I Love About Their Brand
Fluide has also opted in for a “Press” tab on the homepage of their site — under the “About” section. To receive even more brand recognition the brand has SUCH an amazing Instagram feed. Their feed works towards their brand recognition because they adhere to a style and aesthetic that the beauty community can relate to.
3. A Perfect Venue By The Finger Lakes
Founded by couple Heather Tompkins and Chelsey Madia, Crispin Hill is a lesbian-founded and LGBTQ-friendly wedding venue. Overlooking the Finger Lakes of New York, this venue is a rustic, country-style yet whimsical location that offers couples of all backgrounds the chance to celebrate their love with beautiful scenery.
Crispin Hill is one of those unique venues that can be transformed into a couple’s aesthetic but still ultimately adhere to a clean and classically farm-style look. For those looking for a destination wedding within America, Crispin Hill offers the perfect and timeless escape of a lake venue.
What I Love About Their Brand
This brand has demonstrated brand image consistency by using the same fonts, photo editing style, and a steady flow of recent posts on Instagram.
With 1.6k followers on Instagram, I think their brand image could be benefitted by sharing their company is an example of an LGBTQ-founded success story. Although the company does post photos of the LGBTQ couples that they have hosted, and a post for pride month, they are lacking in advertising the way they are LGBTQ founded and friendly.
LGBT history month is almost over, but it is not too late to support businesses founded by those who have historically been repressed from success. If anyone does use any of these businesses, please let me know! I know I’ll be up late looking for makeup on Fluide’s site tonight.
XOXO,
Thalia