Support These Queer-Owned Businesses This Month, and All Year

KARDS UNLIMITED PRIDE DISPLAY | PHOTO BY AMANDA BLAIR

From restaurants to resource centers, Pittsburgh boasts numerous businesses that are owned by and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. 

If you, like a lot of us, are finding it increasingly difficult (and ethically ambiguous) to locate pride merch in big box stores, look no farther than the five shops highlighted in the retail section of this guide. Or, if you’re looking to get active but can’t bear the thought of a mainstream gym’s dressing room, check out some of the options under “Active Lifestyles.” 

While these locales, like all small and local operations, need your support all year long, we’re taking some time at the start of Pride Month to highlight them here. 

Bits and Bites

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEONA’S

1: Pigeon Bagels | Squirrel Hill

Objectively the best bagel shop outside of New York, Pigeon Bagels is an LGBTQ-owned shop offering freshly baked, certified kosher bagels and pastries. It has received national acclaim for its bagels, which come in a variety of flavors: plain, sesame, garlic & seasalt, marble, everything and a rotating bagel of the month. You can also top it off with a variety of sweet and savory schmears, or build your own bagel sandwich with vegetables, lox or whitefish. Don’t be intimidated by the long line — it’s well worth the wait.

2: The Soft Spot | Garfield

As Pittsburgh’s only Sapphic cafe, the Soft Spot is a sober, queer-owned space serving up La Prima coffees, baked goods from Pigeon Bagels and a variety of small snacks, all while providing a safe third space for queer folks and their allies in Garfield.  It’s filled with books — including a little free library at the front of the store — as well as crafts and supplies from the queer community for the queer community. The cafe also hosts a range of events and programming designed to foster community. Stop by for a board game night, a silent book club, artist markets or tea parties; check out the calendar on its website for a full round up of community events.

3: Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches | Lawrenceville (and elsewhere!)

You can find these delicious delights at select grocery stores or restaurants on the dessert menu, or you can visit its flagship shop located in the Garfield/Penn Avenue arts corridor. No matter where you find them, Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches will heal your inner child with the biggest, most flavorful treats — and, they’re all lactose free. The woman-owned, queer-owned business started in the back of a coffee shop in East Liberty, and now distributes to more than 70 locations around the Pittsburgh metro area. 

4: The Black Cat Market | Lawrenceville 

Whether you’re looking to adopt a new furry friend or just hang out with them while you sip a cup of coffee, The Black Cat Market has it all. The queer-owned shop is part cafe, part adoption center; customers can enjoy the company of the cats, and the cats can learn socialization skills and prepare for their forever homes. If you fall in love with one of the kitties in the specialized cat colony room, you can apply to adopt them right on the spot.

5: Square Cafe | East Liberty

The popular, queer-owned restaurant moved from its longtime home in Regent Square to its current location in East Liberty in 2020. Square Cafe serves up seasonal menus that provide guests with delectable dishes for every palate; its menu features a wide variety of options for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free guests, from larger plates to snacks and coffees. The cafe also serves as a gallery showcasing local artists, and it frequently partners with local nonprofits for fundraisers, special events and promotions. 

Shops & Retail

TIFFY OVERLY OUTSIDE OF HER STOREFRONT AT 4745 BUTLER AVE. IN LAWRENCEVILLE BEFORE IT OPENED IN THE SPRING. | PHOTO BY OLLIE GRATZINGER

1. The Shelf Love Society Bookstore | Lawrenceville 

This queer- and woman-owned bookshop recently opened in Lawrenceville, and it has hit the ground running. The Shelf Love Society offers a wide range of romance titles, most of which feature queer protagonists or storylines. It also hosts local queer romance authors for book talks and signings, as well as other events, like a monthly “Stitch and Bitch” fiber arts group, designed to bring the community together.

2. Maude’s Paperwing Gallery | Millvale 

Located right above Harold’s Haunt, a “they bar” and community gathering space, Maude’s Paperwing Gallery is a queer-owned one-stop shop for all your witchy needs. It sells magic-inspired wares like crystals, incense, herb bundles and tarot cards, as well as pride-themed stuff, including books and zines, pride flags, stickers and pronoun pins. Harold’s Haunt and Maude’s Paperwing Gallery are both owned by Athena Lirael, who says the goal of both spaces is to “create a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community where emotional healing and growth can take place.” 

3: Kards Unlimited | Shadyside 

Kards Unlimited has been a staple on Walnut Street since 1968; since its inception more than 50 years ago, it has been run by four generations of women. As a queer-owned and independently operated shop selling cards, candles and just about everything in between, it “upholds LGBTQIA+ and anti-racist values while offering a huge array of fun things to buy: local fare, prints, T-shirts, greeting cards, novelty toys, jewelry and a vast selection of books.” 

4: The Bearded Iris | Swissvale 

The Bearded Iris is a Pittsburgh-based floral design studio specializing in special occasions, small weddings, dried floral decor and workshops. It is also queer-owned and operated, and its owner says the shop strives to create an inclusive, welcoming space for clients of all races, religions, sexual orientations and gender identities. 

5: Sleepy Hollow Handmade | South Hills/Online

Tim and Joey, the married co-owners of Sleepy Hollow Handmade, specialize in creating handcrafted, vegan soaps and body care products using fun, vibrant colors and funky designs. Based out of their home on Sleepy Hollow Road in the South Hills, the couple currently has a range of pride-themed soaps available for purchase, including the rainbow “Loud & Proud” bar; “Venus,” which comes in the colors of the lesbian pride flag; and “Euphoria,” which is inspired by the transgender pride flag. Their soap bars also come in a variety of other colors and scents, as well as a fragrance-free “Bare Bar” for those who might be sensitive to scents or dyes. 

Active Lifestyles

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

1. Hilt and Helm Pittsburgh Fencing Club | Greenfield 

At Hilt and Helm Pittsburgh Fencing Club, participants study historical European martial arts, practice sparring with steel weapons, travel to regional tournaments and host social gatherings like potlucks and barbecues. Black- and queer-owned, the business says it is a safe space for anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, gender, religion and even anime preference. If you’re looking to get involved, you can sign up for a single-day event or for monthly or bimonthly passes.

2. Pittsburgh Fitness Project | Multiple Locations 

This LGBTQ+-owned and operated fitness and wellness company aims to serve each individual’s needs and goals by offering customized wellness solutions. With a team of fitness coaches, massage therapists and physical therapists, the Pittsburgh Fitness Project offers month-to-month payment plans with simple cancellations, all in a diverse, inclusive space free from judgement or intimidation.

3. Queer Fight Club | Undisclosed

Pittsburgh’s Queer Fight Club is a free, trans-led community self-defense program that says it is “dedicated to fostering the capabilities of our community and the most vulnerable members in it.” The club trains weekly in multiple fighting styles. For the safety of its members, the club does not make its training locations public, but folks interested in joining can reach out to queerfightclubpgh@proton.me to fill out a screening questionnaire. 

4: ASCEND Climbing | South Side and Point Breeze

While ASCEND Climbing, which has two locations on the South Side and in Point Breeze, is not specifically classified as queer-owned, it is locally celebrated as a deeply friendly LGBTQ+ space. Primarily a rock climbing gym, it hosts free private affinity climbing sessions dedicated to serving athletes who identify as queer, femme, trans and/or a woman (QFTW) from 6 to 8 p.m. every third Saturday. It is also putting on a free pride party on Saturday, June 13 from 6 to 10 p.m., where folks can enjoy drag performances, a sauna and cold plunge, climbing bingo, crate stacking, local vendors and various giveaways.

5: Stonewall Sports Pittsburgh

Stonewall Sports Pittsburgh is an LGBTQ & Ally not-for-profit adult sports league. Its primary goal is to create an increasingly connected and diverse LGBTQ community by providing additional spaces for people to meet and socialize, namely through organized competition and associated social and fundraising events. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a dedicated athlete, the organization invites folks of all levels to join and connect; from billiards, bocce and bowling to pickleball, sand volleyball and yoga, there are a range of sports operating throughout the year. 

Honorable Mention: Death Comes Lifting | Allentown 

This inclusive gym and apparel brand based out of Allentown specifically caters to goth, punk and horror communities, but it also hosts weekly LGBTQ+ fitness and yoga classes to ensure a safe, affirming place for all to exercise. It offers physical location memberships, as well as online and virtual training sessions and programs. Folks can choose their desired level of coaching, from self-paced pre-recorded workouts to in-person personal training or virtual coaching.

Bars & Nightlife 

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAROLD’S HAUNT

1: Harold’s Haunt | Millvale 

Owned and operated by the same folks who own and operate Maude’s Paperwing Gallery, Harold’s Haunt is a themed “they bar” that offers cocktails, mocktails and a full slate of weekly happenings. Check out the calendar on its website for a full itinerary of upcoming events, including drag show fundraisers, bar trivia and movie night.

2: 5801 Video Lounge and Cafe | Shadyside

Located in Shadyside, 5801 has been operating for almost two decades, establishing itself as a staple in Pittsburgh’s queer nightlife scene. It has a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. each night, featuring low-priced drinks and appetizers, and free drag shows on Sunday, complete with a delicious brunch.

3: Brewer’s Bar | Strip District

As the oldest standing gay bar in Pittsburgh, located in the Strip District, Brewer’s Bar nearly closed in 2024, but it made it back from the brink of death. According to its social media pages, it hosts regular events, including weekend drag shows on Friday and Saturday.

4: Blue Moon | Lawrenceville

This Lawrenceville staple has received a variety of accolades and honors. It was voted Best LGBT Bar in Pittsburgh by City paper in 2016 and 2017, and was named the most inclusive gay bar by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2016. On Yelp, it is ranked #38 on a list of the 50 Best Gay Bars in the U.S. You can enjoy $1 off all drinks as part of its happy hour each day from 5 to 7 p.m.; themed drag shows each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and karaoke every Friday starting at 9:30 p.m.

5: P*Town Bar | North Oakland

Founded in 2007, P*Town Bar thinks of itself as “a Cheers-like bar for the community.” That’s an accurate description; P*Town welcomes a wide variety of guests, from college students to retirees, all of whom join together over a game of pool or pinball. While some may think its name is a reference to Provincetown, the gay mecca in Cape Cod, the bar says it’s actually short for “Pittsburgh Town,” paying homage to the big city’s small-town feel. 

Resources and Support 

PHOTO VIA PITTSBURGH MAGAZINE ARCHIVES | MARILYN (LEFT), A STAFF MEMBER OF SISTERS PGH, AND CIORA THOMAS, THE ORGANIZATION’S FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, SHOW OFF TRANSGENDER PRIDE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS IN 2020. THE GROUP OPENED STONEWALL INN DOWNTOWN IN 2026.

1: Stonewall Inn | Downtown

Founded by SisTers, a Black- and trans-lead non-profit founded in 2013, the Stonewall Inn opened earlier this year as a dedicated drop-in space that can provide gender-affirming care and support for transgender folks experiencing homelessness or discrimination. Its support services include assistance with housing, employment and legal aid, and its community programming consists of educational workshops, support groups and social events.

2: QMNTY Center | North Side 

This North Side space offers a range of services and support for members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community. The QMNTY Closet is filled with shelf-stable goods, hygiene products and clothing; its YOUr Haven Shelter provides off-site emergency and short-term housing available for transgender and non-binary folks experiencing homelessness; the YOUth Drop In invites queer youth 21 and younger for light refreshments and weekly workshops; and Project Silk provides free testing for HIV and other STIs. For a full list of programming and services, including information on how to rent the center’s event space, visit its website. 

3: Dreams of Hope | East End Arts District

Dreams of Hope provides LGBTQ+ youth with a welcoming environment to express themselves through the arts. Founded in 2003, it has grown over the last two decades into a thriving organization that encourages queer youth to find and use their voices, while also protecting them from exploitation and harm. Its young members put on a variety of theatrical shows each year; for a full list of upcoming performances, visit its website.

4: Three Rivers Business Alliance | Multiple Locations

Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA) is a membership-based, business advocacy organization dedicated to making the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny Region an influential and diverse business community for people of all genders and sexualities by promoting economic development and growth. As a chamber of commerce, 3RBA’s mission is to promote, expand and improve the economic interests of businesses owned by LGBTQIA+ folks in the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny Region by engaging in the following activities throughout its operations: economic development, strategic partnerships, education and advocacy.

5: Pittsburgh Equality Center | Shadyside

From book clubs and potlucks to libraries and legal resources, the Pittsburgh Equality Center aims to promote education, advocacy and social justice for all LGBTQ+ folks in Pennsylvania. Its reach is vast, but some of its programming includes the Jim Fischerkeller LGBTQ+ Library; OUTrageous Bingo, a monthly fundraiser featuring local drag queens; and weekly conversations with queer community elders at the Persad Center.