Back in 2020, we published “We will travel again: LGBT couples need support” as a response to the global crisis. It was the beginning of a project that highlighted LGBTQ+ queer-owned businesses in need of visibility and solidarity. What started as a call for support during uncertain times has grown into a long-term mission: sharing the stories of queer couples who create safe spaces, build inspiring businesses, and strengthen the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. From bars and cafés to hotels and cultural landmarks, these stories show resilience, love, and the importance of representation. This hub brings these stories together. Whether you are planning your next trip, looking for queer-owned places to support, or seeking inspiration, here you will find stories that show why visibility matters. By providing a platform for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, Couple of Men showcases how love and resilience can lead to community empowerment. Each story illustrates how business ownership can also serve as a form of activism.
Why supporting LGBTQ+ businesses matter
Queer-owned businesses are cafés, hotels, cultural spaces, and workplaces where diversity is celebrated and respected. When an LGBTQ+ couple builds a business together, it is both an act of love and an act of courage. These businesses challenge stereotypes and create spaces where identities are affirmed and celebrated.
These businesses often provide more than just a product or service. They create places where LGBTQ+ people and allies can gather openly, where identities are affirmed, and where inclusivity is practiced in everyday interactions. For travelers, knowing that a café, guesthouse, or bar is queer-owned brings a sense of safety, trust, and connection. It also means contributing to communities that may face systemic discrimination and barriers to equal opportunity.
Advertisement
KLM Flight Offers
Fly with our partner airline, the gay-friendly KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and its partners Air France and Delta Air Lines in Economy, Premium Comfort and Business Class to LGBTQ+ welcoming destinations worldwide.
Supporting queer businesses has a ripple effect:
- Representation: Visibility inspires future generations of queer entrepreneurs.
- Community impact: Queer-owned businesses create inclusive spaces that promote a sense of belonging.
- Local economies: Money spent in LGBTQ+-owned places directly supports equality-driven initiatives.
- Travel safety: Knowing where to find queer-owned accommodations, cafés, and venues gives travelers confidence and comfort.
- Cultural preservation: Many LGBTQ+ businesses preserve queer history and culture, often serving as informal community centers.
By sharing these stories, we aim to connect you with real people behind the businesses, amplify their voices, and strengthen a global queer economy built on authenticity and equal opportunity. The value of LGBTQ+ couple-owned businesses lies not only in what they sell or provide but also in the larger statement they make: that queer love and entrepreneurship deserve to be visible, celebrated, and supported.
LGBTQ+ couple business stories around the world
Each story is a window into the lives of LGBTQ+ couples who turned passion into purpose. These narratives showcase not only their love but also their entrepreneurial courage.
(More stories will be added as we continue to share inspiring LGBTQ+ business features.)
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT TO FEATURE YOUR OR OTHER LGBTQ+ BUSINESSES HERE ON COUPLE OF MEN!
Global perspectives on queer couple businesses
LGBTQ+ couple-owned businesses exist worldwide, but the context changes greatly depending on the country. In Western Europe and North America, many couples openly run hotels, bars, and cultural venues, supported by stronger legal protections. In Asia, Latin America, and parts of Eastern Europe, queer couples often face harsher realities. Some run businesses quietly, choosing not to highlight their identities for safety reasons. Others boldly identify as LGBTQ+-owned, becoming beacons of hope and visibility in their communities.
For travelers, supporting these businesses can be meaningful and transformative at the same time. Booking a queer-owned B&B in the United States may feel different from visiting a queer café in Cambodia, but both experiences affirm visibility and contribute to global solidarity. Recognizing these differences helps us appreciate the courage it takes for LGBTQ+ couples to put themselves in the public eye.
Historical context of queer entrepreneurship
LGBTQ+ businesses have a long and meaningful history. For decades, queer-owned bars, cafés, and bookstores were among the only places where members of the community could meet safely. These spaces were often run by couples who combined their personal and professional lives to create visibility and safety for others.
In New York, gay couple entrepreneurs, such as those who ran bars like the Stonewall Inn, provided meeting points and safe spaces that became integral to the queer rights movement. Also in other cities across Europe and North America, gay and lesbian bars became lifelines during times of oppression, police raids, and political hostility. In smaller towns, queer cafés and shops quietly became centers of resistance, typically risking closure or violence. For many couples, owning a business was not just a means to earn a living, but also a way to claim a space in a world that denied them equal rights.
Their work was both personal and political, laying the groundwork for queer- and LGBTQ+ owned businesses to continue this legacy today. They represent continuity with a past where visibility often meant the difference between life and death. They are also a testament to how far the community has come while reminding us that acceptance is never guaranteed and that visibility remains vital.
Challenges LGBTQ+ couple businesses face
Despite progress in many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ businesses continue to face unique challenges. Access to funding can be more difficult for openly queer entrepreneurs, especially in regions where discrimination persists. In conservative societies, businesses may face boycotts, vandalism, or hostile legislation simply because of who owns them.
Even in more progressive areas, being visibly queer in business carries risks. Couples who own bars, hotels, or cafés may worry about the safety of their staff and customers. Online harassment and bad-faith reviews can also harm businesses that openly identify as LGBTQ+-owned.
For couples, the overlap between personal and professional life can introduce an additional layer of complexity. We know what we are talking about as gay couple travel bloggers living, loving, and working together 24/7. Running a business together can be empowering, but at the same time, it can also be emotionally demanding in environments where equality is not guaranteed. These challenges underscore the importance of consumer support, visibility, and community solidarity.
Stay up-to-date about LGBTQ+ welcoming countries: the annual Gay Travel Index
Gay Travel Index 2025
The Berlin-based Spartacus informs LGBTQ+ and queer travelers about how gay-friendly a holiday destination is according to several ranking factors and criteria.
Which country ranks first? Where is it safe to travel to as a gay and LGBTQ+ traveler?
You can use the GTI to prepare for your gaycation and as a guide when choosing a holiday destination.
How to plan queer-conscious travel
Travel is one of the most powerful ways to support queer-owned businesses. By selecting LGBTQ+ couple-owned accommodations, cafes, and cultural venues, travelers – whether identifying as LGBTQ+ individuals or not – can directly support local queer economies while enjoying authentic experiences.
Before you travel:
- Research queer-owned places through LGBTQ+ travel blogs, directories, and social media.
- Use tools like Google Maps and Yelp to filter for LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
- Connect with local Pride organizations or LGBTQ+ community centers for recommendations.
During your trip:
- Visit and spend time at queer-owned venues, not just for convenience but to connect with the community.
- Attend events, workshops, or performances hosted by LGBTQ+ couples.
- Share your experiences online and leave positive reviews.
After your trip:
- Stay in touch with the businesses you visited.
- Recommend them to friends and family.
- Support them remotely by ordering products or making a donation to their initiatives.
Travelers have the power to make conscious choices that go beyond sightseeing. Supporting LGBTQ+ businesses while traveling means leaving a footprint of solidarity wherever you go.
LGBTQ+ travel guides 2025: safe & inclusive
Tested for safety, inclusion, and being a queer welcoming destination worldwide—from vibrant city breaks to outdoor escapes! Our LGBTQ+ and gay travel guides help you to travel with confidence.
Community benefits of supporting LGBTQ+ businesses
Supporting LGBTQ+ businesses has wide-reaching benefits. These businesses provide employment opportunities in safe and inclusive environments, which is especially important for queer staff who may face discrimination elsewhere. They contribute to the local economy, often revitalizing neighborhoods by creating cultural spaces, restaurants, or boutique accommodations.
Queer-owned businesses also play a role in normalizing LGBTQ+ visibility. In small towns and conservative areas, the presence of an openly queer business challenges stereotypes and fosters understanding. In larger cities, they contribute to cultural life by supporting Pride demonstrations and celebrations, queer film festivals, and community projects.
By supporting these businesses, you are helping individuals succeed and contributing to collective resilience. Your choices have a direct impact on the survival and growth of spaces that nurture diversity.
How to find and support queer-owned businesses
Finding and supporting LGBTQ+ businesses has never been easier, thanks to online tools and community networks. Yet, beyond searching for them, there are many impactful ways to ensure these businesses continue to thrive.
Step 1: Look for official labels
- On Google Maps, businesses can display the LGBTQ+-owned attribute, helping you identify queer-owned shops, restaurants, and accommodations while traveling.
- On Yelp, you can filter searches to find LGBTQ+-owned places, even with shipping options, making it possible to support them globally.
Step 2: Support through action
- Book queer-owned hotels and B&Bs when traveling.
- Visit cafés, bars, and restaurants owned by LGBTQ+ couples.
- Share their stories on social media to amplify their voices.
- Leave reviews that highlight inclusivity and hospitality.
- Buy online from queer-owned shops or consider donating to their community projects.
- Participate in LGBTQ+ cultural events hosted by these businesses.
Step 3: Get certified or connected
For business owners, organizations like the NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) certify LGBTQ+-owned businesses, strengthening visibility and credibility. Certification enhances trust with customers and facilitates connections between entrepreneurs and larger corporate and community networks.
Supporting queer-owned businesses is about more than economics. It is about building a future where diversity is celebrated in every aspect of life. Every coffee purchased, every stay booked, and every online order contributes to equality, visibility, and resilience for our community. By making conscious choices, travelers, and locals alike can help these businesses thrive.
Gay Cruising Guides
Together with our dear friend and Gay Cruising Culture expert John, we are showing you the best cruising places of gay-friendly travel destinations worldwide. How to find gay cruising hot spots? How to do gay cruising? Is gay cruising legal ion my gaycation?
Intersectionality: women, trans, and POC couples
While many stories highlight gay male couples, it is crucial to include the experiences of lesbian couples, transgender entrepreneurs, and queer people of color. Their journeys often involve facing multiple layers of discrimination, but also bring unique perspectives and strengths.
For example, Diana and Roksana’s journey from Poland shows how lesbian couples face not only sexism but also homophobia. Transgender entrepreneurs and Drag Queens regularly struggle for recognition and safety, yet many create thriving businesses that center on inclusivity. Queer people of color frequently navigate both racism and homophobia, but their businesses can become powerful sites of community pride and resistance.
By amplifying these stories, we reflect the full diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and ensure that visibility is not limited to a single narrative. Intersectional representation also helps readers understand that supporting queer-owned businesses simultaneously strengthens multiple marginalized communities.
Our commitment to visibility
At Couple of Men, we believe in the power of visibility. By sharing stories of LGBTQ+ couples and their businesses, we help build a world where queer love, entrepreneurship, and creativity are recognized and celebrated. We understand that each of these businesses carries not only the weight of running a company but also the responsibility of representing a community that has long been marginalized and overlooked.
This page will continue to grow as we meet and feature more inspiring couples. Our goal is to create a resource where readers can continuously discover queer-owned businesses worth supporting. From small cafés in Europe to guesthouses in the United States and activist-led projects in Asia, every story adds to the global picture of queer resilience.
If you know an LGBTQ+ couple whose business deserves to be highlighted, reach out to us — we’d love to share their story. By working together, we can ensure that visibility translates into impact.
Couple of Men’s ongoing support for LGBTQ+ businesses
This landing page is part of Couple of Men’s long-term project that began with the 2020 article “We will travel again: LGBT couples need support”. What started as a response to a global crisis has grown into a dedicated hub amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ couples and their businesses worldwide.
Through visibility and support, we can all contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable future.
Do you like it? PIN IT!
Do you want to know more about our gay travels around the world? Stay tuned on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. See you again soon!
Karl & Daan.