Just in Time for Pride: Queer-Friendly Missoula Businesses
Photo Courtesy of Dennis Webber Photography
Look, we know shopping options in Missoula are limited, but if you find it hard to continue justifying spending your dollars at Target, after they backpedaled their performative allyship, we have a list for you. Now seems like a REALLY good time to tell you about some of our favorite local queer-owned businesses and stores. We’re including ally owned businesses because we know none of these business owners would abandon their convictions in the face of bullies like Target has.
Full disclosure, much of this list is derived from businesses that have supported or sponsored queer friendly events in and around Missoula. We should also mention that one of the businesses on this list is owned by a 406 Families founder.
Bolt & Bruizer’s Bakery and Barkery : This one shot up on on our list for being a new business that didn’t waste any time stepping up for the queer community. The business jumped at the chance to support LGBTQ+ events like Queer Prom. And yes, they WILL bake your wedding cake.
Brightside Body Art: Some tattoo studios in Missoula have reputations for being, well, seedy at best and criminal at worst. It’s hard to know who to trust your body to, but Brightside Body Art is female- and queer-owned and operated and has the highest standards for safety, cleanliness, and ethics. If the desire to get a tattoo has been needling you (get it?), you’ve got to check this place out.
Clearwater Credit Union: If you’re looking for a place to bank, you’ll be happy to know that Clearwater Credit Union steps up in a myriad of ways for Missoula, most notably throwing their sponsorship dollars behind Queer Prom.
Zoo City Apparel: Still deciding what to wear to Pride? Zoo City Apparel not only has a whole line of Missoula Pride merch. They also signed up to sponsor the big event this year. That’s putting money where the mouth is.
Missoula Paddleheads: You can be proud supporting our city’s Pioneer League baseball team this summer. Paddleheads Pride Night is always a fun part of Pride week. Last year everyone in my family went home with free rainbow socks!
Frame of Mind: Many artists and free-thinkers are queer, so it makes sense that a business that supports art would also support the LGBTQ+ community. But Frame of Mind isn’t just any art supply store. They just racked up six Best of Missoula awards!
Tiffany Photography: When Tiffany’s local school board (Florence) tried to ban the school’s Gay Straight Alliance, she banded together with some friends and decided to throw a Queer Prom. Little did she know that small idea would bloom into an 850-person, two-night event that garnered national attention.
Mineshaft Pasty Co.: If you’re in the Bitterroot Valley and need some color in your life, Mineshaft Pasty Co. is the way to go. Not only will it make you feel like you’ve been transported to Butte at the turn of the century with the most authentic pasties you’ve ever tasted. They also go out of their way to make sure the LGBTQ+ community is loved an accepted.
There’s a lot more where that came from, but we didn’t have time to name all the businesses in Missoula that support the LGBTQ+ community. Visit GayMontana.org for a list of Missoula Pride activities and other supportive businesses. Did we miss your favorite? Tell us about it in the comments.