Rise and Grind: Top Queer Southern Entrepreneurs of 2019

Compiled by Kelsey Gledhill and Megan Smith

Creating a business is no joke. Between articles of incorporation and business bank accounts to mission statements and target audiences, it’s enough to make your head spin and send you down that dreaded rabbit hole of self-doubt and insecurity, only to spit you out the other end questioning your entire purpose in life. Dramatic? Maybe a smidge. But I think we can all agree that self-doubt is evil and has no business in business—we don’t know her.

Here’s what we do know—it takes time, vision, grit, money, passion, and most importantly, wholehearted belief in yourself and your idea. Spectrum South has curated a list of queer southern entrepreneurs who have taken their passions, go-getter attitudes, and badass boss work ethics to a completely different level to make their work their own.

Somos Semillas Vegan Kitchen
Founder: Gianna Navarro
Identity: I identify as queer and nonbinary/gnc/gender fluid.
Houston, TX

Tell us about Somos Semillas Vegan Kitchen.

Somos Semillas Vegan Kitchen is based in Houston, Texas. My work partner, Hallie Garcia, and I run a pop-up kitchen specializing in plant-based tamales and other Mexican foods. We utilize traditional methods for hand-making all of our tamales from start to finish and love to incorporate regional ingredients and source locally whenever possible. My mission has always been to showcase how Latinx folks can enjoy the familiar foods we grew up eating without sacrificing or “missing out” on anything by choosing vegan/plant-based foods. As an activist, I hope to help others learn about decolonizing our diets and being inclusive of human rights in the fight for environmental justice and animal activism; all of these issues are interconnected and I hope to help show that veganism is not inherently classist or inaccessible.

Another mission of mine is to one day help open a kitchen co-op to help other QTPOC-owned startups flourish in spite of economic barriers. It has been no easy feat being a disabled person of color and trying to self-fund a business. I hope to work with other members of my community to build a network of resources that we can all benefit from while helping others. I want to embrace cooperative economics and mutual aid.

What inspired you to create Somos Semillas?

I was inspired to start a business almost three years ago when first transitioning into a plant-based/vegan lifestyle. I noticed how difficult it was to find accessible options for dairy- and meat-free foods. I have always loved to cook, but I had worked multiple jobs, full time since I was 17, so it wasn’t something I got to spend much time doing. When I decided to transition my diet, I was working as a photographer and had maybe one day off each week, but I found myself very excited by what felt like a whole new world of cooking and tried new recipes whenever possible. Learning about food and nutrition in new ways was really stimulating and I wanted to further pursue it. I was also dating a chef a few years ago who helped me take a different approach to food and introduced me to the concept of sustainability. We spent a lot of time daydreaming together about starting a vegan restaurant for other Brown kids like us who missed the foods we grew up eating. We both worked full time, and I was often ill, so it took awhile for us to take any of the initial steps to actually pursue that dream.

Two years ago, I experienced the onset of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. I became paralyzed from my hips down and experienced loss of many physical functions. I was hospitalized a few times, and lost my photography job almost immediately. Over time, I gained some abilities back (I was later diagnosed with the chronic, autoimmune counterpart to GBS known as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP). In October 2017, my ex and I had an opportunity to do a pop up at an old Houston venue called Walter’s (RIP) through some friends they worked with. That’s when we got a swift kick in the ass from the universe to do what we had talked about for so long. Within two weeks, we created the menu, had our original logo designed, and tested recipes non-stop for the food neither of us had eaten since choosing veganism—tamales. I haven’t stopped since, and my new partner, Hallie, and I only want to keep going.

Since then, I have faced many personal and financial challenges, stopped working with my original partner, re-branded, and gained a great sense of community and support. I have come up with many new recipes to expand our menu and have a blast doing this work. I’m grateful for all the encouragement we have received on the basis of people simply enjoying the food and recognizing our hard work. I have not “overcome” my disability and don’t wish for people to objectify disability or view it as “inspiration porn,” but I do hope to raise awareness of how meaningful it is to help support people in your community. I would not be able to pursue cooking as my livelihood without all the people who believe in Somos Semillas and what we are doing.

Where do you see Somos Semillas in the next three to five years?

In the next three to five years, we plan to start working in our own kitchen space (we currently pay rent at a shared venue), so that we have the space to expand our operation. Currently, Hallie and I (along with the help of some close friends who help us out sometimes) operate as a two-person business. I hope to bring on other team members, have the storage to prepare more tamales (because 200–400 a week isn’t enough!), and provide our fresh tamales to local cafes that we open wholesale accounts with. I would love to teach some cooking classes as well as do more activism outreach, and work with local organizations to benefit our LGBTQ+, POC, and indigenous communities. Long-term goals are to have a brick and mortar location and help start the kitchen co-op.

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

My advice to other queer entrepreneurs is to believe in your friends, support their projects and dreams, and do what you can to help support their wellbeing too. You never know who you will meet and how they can change your life in such positive and meaningful ways, no matter how seemingly small. We are constantly meeting new friends who have similar goals of changing what the future can look like for queer folx in every job field. That love and support always finds its way back to us and the more receptive we are to it, the more we are allowed to explore those connections to not only network with others, but strengthen our communities and create the change we wish to see. We have picked up a lot of work opportunities through our friends and getting to work alongside them is always so much fun. I know it’s not always safe or easy for us to be out as LGBTQ+, but I would say that when you feel safe, don’t tone yourself down to be more palatable to the masses.

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

“I Like That” by Janelle Monae has been bringing me back to life lately. <3

LEUR
Founder: Charles Champagne
Identity: I currently identify as queer.
Baton Rouge, LA

Tell us about LEUR.

Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, LEUR is a continuously evolving independent arts and culture platform dedicated to curating and documenting the southern queer experience through art, creativity, and community collaboration.

What inspired you to create LEUR?

The constant hustle from my fellow LGBTQIA+ creative community inspires me every day.

I graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Digital Advertising and Visual Communications. While I was in school, I discovered my passions for photography, production, and publishing. I was able to discover these passions through my internships and on-campus jobs with LSU Student Media. I had internships and part-time jobs freelancing around town, but nothing stuck and nothing felt purposeful. I took my time graduating, as all of my friends who were graduating before me were struggling to find jobs due to lack of job experience. I made sure to get as much job experience as I could before finally graduating from college. When I walked up to receive my diploma in December of 2015, I had work experience with local newspapers and magazines and even internships with nationally known companies like the Walt Disney Company in my back pocket. After that moment, I thought everything would just fall into place. Unfortunately, none of that seemed to be enough for employers at the time.

After a night of venting with my partner and chosen family, they reminded me that I was perfectly capable of starting my own business. That is where LEUR (French for they/them/theirs) was born. The next day, I went and downloaded images from my friend’s websites and portfolios, made some design mockups, sent out a few more emails, and before you knew it, we hosted our first launch party downtown at our local arts council here in Baton Rouge. (I think we sold about four issues that night and raised about $300 for our next printed issue.) Since establishing LEUR Magazine, LLC, in 2016 we have hosted Baton Rouge’s first queer arts markets (ArtsFest at Baton Rouge Pride Festival and The Queerative Market), collaborated with local community partners to host interactive art exhibitions, as well as continued to curate and publish both a printed arts zine as well as an online curation of southern queer content here in Louisiana and the greater South.

We are currently working on curating content and events for our 2019 lineup. Anyone interested in collaborating on content and local events can email me at [email protected], and can also visit leurmag.com for more information.

Where do you see LEUR in the next three to five years?

My vision for LEUR is to establish a self-sustaining, interactive art and event space where local LGBTQIA+ artists can collaborate and put on public queer art exhibitions here in the South. I would call it, “Leur Maison” (“Their House”).

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid of competition. When you get overwhelmed with anxiety, be still. Take a few deep breaths. Recognize your humility, your imperfections, your mistakes, and then tell yourself that it’s okay. It comes with the job of being a creative. Ask yourself: What has life given you up to this point? How can you use those things to your advantage? What can you create that no one has seen yet? Then, once you figure that out, go do it yourself. And if you find someone doing something similar, collaborate and support each other. A community thrives on collaboration, not competition.

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

“Power” by Moon Boots, Black Gatsby

DAMN GXRL
Identity: Our members comprise of individuals who identify both as queer and straight allies. Reflecting the diversity of the LGBTQIA community is a huge priority for us, and guides all of the decision making that goes into planning our content and events.
Houston, TX

Tell us about DAMN GXRL.

DAMN GXRL is comprised of a group of Houston-based artists, musicians, and community advocates who are committed to making local venues, exhibition spaces, and performance spaces safer, affirming, and more inclusive for female, queer, trans, and nonbinary artists, musicians, and performers, as well as for event attendees and employees. We book shows, provide exposure for underrepresented artists, and have a new zine in the works.

What inspired you to create DAMN GXRL?

DAMN GXRL formed in 2016 in direct response to a prominent cis male booker being outed as a serial harasser and assaulter of women. We feel like booking our own shows and creating our own spaces are the most direct ways of making things better and safer for ourselves and for other marginalized people.

Where do you see DAMN GXRL in the next three to five years?

We’ve always had dreams of finding the right space to turn into our very own venue!

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

Don’t feel like you have to justify your business or organization’s existence to other people. It’s a waste of energy that could be put into doing something that brings you joy!

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

Here are a few songs we’ve collectively put together. The full mix will be in our upcoming zine!

“Bend Until U Break” by Pearl Crush

“Bitch I’m Nasty” by Rico Nasty

“Career Boy” by Dorian Electra

“Handle It” by Britt

“One More” by Yaeji

Sundaze
Founder: Raine Hopper
Identity: I am a trans woman with a general queer identification.
Austin, TX

Tell us about Sundaze.

Sundaze is a pair of food trucks in Austin, Texas that I started. The first opened almost three years ago, and our latest opened in January of this year. We serve southern-style fried chicken sandwiches, but our chicken-fried Seitan is the menu item that the business is built around. Our concept was essentially to offer an alternative for folks who don’t want to support other companies that have anti-LGBTQ ties (*cough* Chick-fil-A *cough*). Our eventual goal is to be accessible to all people, but for now, we’re a queer- and vegan/vegetarian-friendly company. Gluten free and allergen free items are on the horizon.

What inspired you to create Sundaze?

There a lot of things that have led me to this entrepreneurial path in life. For one, I’m creative and highly ambitious by nature. Creating and growing is in my blood just as much as my distaste for authority. I have Attention Deficit Disorder, which has made it difficult to excel in more corporately structured environments. Lastly, I’m a musician, touring a couple of times a year, so flexibility is important. But truly, my never-ending search for a job that would give me an environment where I could grow and flourish is what finally made me take the leap. I wanted to create jobs that recognize people as individuals and play to their strengths, rather than forcing them into sink-or-swim positions. I wanted that for myself, and I hope to offer that to those who work for and with me.

Where do you see Sundaze in the next three to five years?

In the next few years, I hope to see our business grow to a point where we can open a brick-and-mortar store. Trailers are great and can be a fun experience, but to reach the level of service and quality we aspire to, we’ll eventually need a more permanent facility.

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

Before I set out to start my business, I worked for other entrepreneurs doing just what I hoped to do. I learned from their shortcomings and achievements, and those environments are usually better for finding ways to apply your skills and knowledge. Being queer can make this difficult, and I was really lucky to have worked for very accepting people. But most of all, I refused to be timid or hide who I was, and that earned their respect. When I opened my own business, I obviously created a space that is accepting of queer identities. But in dealing with vendors and landlords in Texas, I never apologized for who I am, and no matter their beliefs, when they realize you’re serious and unafraid, they’ll know what’s up and it’ll just be business as usual.

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

The song that reminds me I’m a badass boss is “GO!” by Santigold feat. Karen O. It’s a dang banger and just gets me pumped. 😉

KinTech
Xavier Montoy
Identity: I came out as gay at age 15 to my family and friends and I don’t regret it to this day. My life as a gay man has segregated me in some ways, but has more importantly opened up so many doors that I never knew existed.
Houston, TX

Tell us about KinTech.

KinTech is an IT business based in Northwest Houston that focuses on repairing and selling cell phones, computers, and tablets. We also feature an extensive list of tech services that we can provide onsite or in store. Our mission is to provide our customers with high-quality tech services and products all in a one-stop shop. From getting a new phone, to repairing a broken phone, to removing a virus from your computer, we can do it all.

What inspired you to create KinTech?

Almost four years ago, I was working at T-Mobile when my partners and I realized that there was an opportunity for us to provide customers with a cheaper alternative for fixing their phones. If a customer had a broken iPhone, their only options at the time were to upgrade (aka buy a new $600+ phone) or pay the insurance deductible (which was $175). We realized that we could fix the same phone for less and still make a profit. With time and tons of help and blessings, we’ve been able to expand to servicing tablets, computers, drones, and even Virtual Reality (VR).

Where do you see KinTech in the next three to five years?

As we continue to grow our company and brand, we know our next venture includes more locations throughout Houston, and eventually throughout the nation.

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

Don’t feel defeated or give up when you make mistakes. Believe me, everyone makes them. Creating a business is a struggle and only you can decide to continue this journey or to throw in the towel. There have been moments in these past four years when I thought I wouldn’t make it through. We owed too much money, or we spent too much money, or we weren’t getting paid enough to survive. But in the end, these growing pains are just another step up the ladder of success. Remember, if you fall nine times, get back up ten.

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

My taste in music is terrible, but I still love to jam to “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas.

The National Center for Equity and Agency
Founder: Laura McGuire
Identity: I identify as a proud hard-femme queer woman.
Central Florida

Tell us about the National Center for Equity and Agency.

The National Center for Equity and Agency (NCEA) is a consulting and expert witness firm based out of Central Florida. We specialize in sexual misconduct prevention (i.e. sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, etc.) and LGBTQ inclusion. We provide training, advising, coaching, and lectures on these vital topics to schools, universities, military bases, and businesses.

What inspired you to create the National Center for Equity and Agency?

I was loving what I was doing (it truly is a vocation, not a job), but was feeling burnt out by organizational politics and red tape. I saw so much potential in my field and work that desperately needed to get done, yet there were a million barriers to bringing that potential to fruition if I continued to work at an organization. I knew that if I started my own firm, I could do exactly what I wanted and go wherever I was needed. I officially launched my center in June 2018, and we are now going into our ninth month of operation.

It has been the most profoundly spiritual experience of my life. Each and every day, I have to tap into my higher power to get up and keep going. And by doing that, I rely only on God and myself to succeed, which has bonded me to my spiritual practice in the most amazing ways. It also allows me unlimited time and energy to tap into my creativity and potential. So many things, like my two recent book contracts, would have never happened if I was still sitting in pointless meetings and at a desk hoping to be appreciated for my calling. Growing up, I thought I was going to be a nun. I studied the preparatory discernment work for six years before deciding not to go down that path. The reason I desperately wanted to join religious life was because I wanted to be in service to God and humanity 24/7, 365 days a year. Being an entrepreneur and going full force at my business is the closest that I have ever felt to that original dream.

Where do you see the National Center for Equity and Agency in the next three to five years?

Oh, the ultimate tough question! There are so many variables business owners can’t control, and that can be overwhelming. My goal is to evolve and flourish—that’s my vision in a nutshell. I am in the process of hiring my first relationship managers right now, but in a year, I’d like to bring on more staff to fill additional advanced and regular roles so that the Center can benefit from their talents and expertise. A lot of consultants make their business about them. I purposefully didn’t make this “McGuire, LLC” because I truly want to be a national center—something that far outlasts my existence. In five years, I would love us to have a solid group of staff and a building where clients can visit and hold community gatherings. Most of all, I want to see our mission being spread, because we really are just trying to change the world in the best ways we know how.

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

Be like Nike—Just Do It! Seriously though, if you have always wanted to run your own business, if it’s the dream that keeps you up at night, if it’s the daydream you escape to, then make a plan, get the resources, and set a date to launch. You can do it part time while keeping your day job, or you can go at it full forced and see how you land. Either way, do not believe in the myth of “the right time,” or that you need money to get started. What you need is a clear mission and to be obsessed with learning. Much of this learning entails failing in the first three years—failing with the sole purpose of failing better. Prepare yourself for literally years of being kicked down in preparation for your ultimate long-term success.

The world needs people to create and do what you do—especially people who see and experience the world differently. As queer people, we know where we aren’t represented, we know where we feel unsafe and unseen. So go there and be that!

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

I actually have a Spotify playlist for my business: Money by laurabellyoga. Enjoy!

C3Nami
Founder: Ruoyun Xu
Identity: My team actually has a broad spectrum of identities ranging from gay, bi, and queer to straight.
Austin, TX

Tell us about C3Nami.

We are C3nami, a digital marketing firm based out of Austin, Texas. We are passionate about putting the human experience back into digital marketing. We amplify businesses’ unique selves online so that they can grow and connect with their ideal community and tie that experience back to their business. We are compassionate challengers who help our clients to implement their digital media by either teaching them how to do it all themselves, helping them fill in gaps in their content, or doing it all for them. We seek to create an accepting culture that allows both our clients and team members to thrive.

What inspired you to create C3Nami?

I started my business four years ago in an industry that was still relatively young. There hadn’t been a standard set in the industry of how marketing was done online, so small- and medium-sized businesses were getting lost in the shuffle.

Business owners were looking for solutions in large and expensive agencies, freelancers, or any millennial they could find. But regardless of who they ended up choosing, we felt like there was something missing in a lot of the content showing up online.

We noticed that there was a stark contrast between the amazing business that we would engage with in person and how they showed up online. When we asked “Why?,” most were intimidated by the platforms, the audience watching their every move, or just picking something good to post about. A lot of them knew that they needed to be online, but they didn’t know what they should say or why they were saying anything at all.

So we sought to create a space where both our clients and team members can try things out in a supportive and creative environment. Whether we’re training one of their in-house employees to take over the business’ social media, or our team is running all company platforms for them, our hands-on collaborative process allows them to find their real message, try out new tactics, and show up confidently online.

Where do you see C3Nami in the next three to five years?

We definitely see the firm in Austin growing! We envision a larger team and an expansion of our offerings to include group courses for business owners. I want this to be a space where clients and our team can grow personally and professionally. Later in the future, I see the business growing beyond me to have a full firm in Austin and potentially a second one in Europe.

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

There are so many ways that I can answer this!

First and foremost, lean into the unknown. The quote “Life begins outside of your comfort zone” by Neale Donald Walsh, has sat as the background on my phone for the last six years. When you lean into the uncomfortable, you break through personal and business-related barriers that hold you back.

Running your business is like a roller coaster, there will be high points where you feel on top of the world and low points when you question everything. It’s about looking back at why you do all that you do, so when things hit the fan—because that’s life—you can continue to persevere. It’s about how we choose to show up in that moment—do we choose to thrive or to just survive?

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

This is super nerdy, but when I come out of an exciting moment and am embracing happiness, I find myself humming or whistling the Super Mario theme song. It’s my way of celebrating the happy moments.

Sphynx Teahouse & Cat Lounge
Founders: Ashleigh Boyd and Lori Sevilla
Identities: Ashleigh: I currently identify as queer and my pronouns are she/her. I feel like my sexuality and gender identity are pretty fluid on the spectrum.
Lori: My pronouns are she/her. I’m bisexual but I am attracted to all types of people—their masc/femme presentation or lack thereof doesn’t matter to me.
Houston, TX

Tell us about Sphynx Teahouse & Cat Lounge.

Lori: We’re Sphynx Teahouse & Cat Lounge, and we plan on being the first minority-owned cat cafe in Texas! We also want to be the first cat cafe to use its platform to not only benefit cats, but to address community challenges. We’re based in Houston’s Third Ward. Outside of helping out shelter cats, our main goals are to provide FIRE vegan foods to our neighborhood and to support local Black and Latinx small-scale farmers by sourcing ingredients from them.

What inspired you to create Sphynx?

Lori: In March, we’ll have been running Sphynx for one whole year! I was inspired to create a cat cafe where me and Ashleigh could be ourselves. I always feel like there’s this misconception that Black and Brown neighborhoods “wouldn’t understand” concepts like cat cafes, but I was like, nah, let’s make a cat cafe that’s built by the Black and Brown community from the ground up!

Ashleigh: I was inspired by Asian kawaii- and animal-themed cafes, but in starting my own business, I wanted to put my own unique cultural spin on it. I also wanted to start an animal cafe that had a greater purpose: to help facilitate animal adoption and provide a relaxing safe space for my community.

Where do you see Sphynx in the next three to five years?

Ashleigh: In the next three to five years, I hope to have our brick-and-mortar cafe open for business. In addition to having ongoing adoptions, I would like to see the cafe become a creative hub where we can hold events for local artists, poets, and other entrepreneurs. Most importantly, I want to create a space where weirdos like me feel inspired to be their most authentic selves.

Lori: I couldn’t have said that better!

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

Ashleigh: All the things that make you a unique individual will be what sets your business apart, so don’t let anyone make you compromise your brand or personality to be more marketable to the masses. In the words of Solange: “Big up haters, if you don’t like it, I didn’t make it for you.”

What song makes you feel like a badass boss?

Ashleigh: “Good As Hell” by Lizzo. This song not only makes me feel like a boss, but it reminds me of all of the struggles I had to overcome to get to this point.

Lori: “Kitana” by Princess Nokia

Street Fresh Productions
Founder: Jasmin Moore
Identity: I identify as a lesbian.
Houston, TX

Tell us about Street Fresh Productions.

Street Fresh Productions is a Houston-based company which provides photography, videography, and custom fashion and printing services. Our mission is to provide quality, affordable services with a fresh and trendy appeal.

What inspired you to create Street Fresh Productions?

I love fashion and I’ve always enjoyed creating my own wave. I started customizing and printing my own pieces, and many people would offer to pay me for my work. They began requesting that I customize items for them. From there, I started my first business venture, Cold Customz & Printing, in 2014. Business was booming within the first year and a half, so I wanted to expand. I thought about opening a small storefront, but I did not want to deal with what I thought would be hefty overhead. As a solution, I started doing research on mobile fashion trucks. As I was researching, I came across some great mobile trucks and came up with the idea to include both fashion and mobile printing. From there, Street Fresh Fashion was born in late 2015. Street Fresh Fashion is a mobile clothing store that features some of the hottest streetwear brands as well as custom-printed items.

I began doing photography as a hobby many years ago. As my interest grew, so did my love for perfecting the craft. About two years ago, I began working as a photographer professionally. Today, Street Fresh Fashion and Street Fresh Photography operate under one umbrella, Street Fresh Productions.

Where do you see Street Fresh Productions in the next three to five years?

In the next three to five years, I see Street Fresh Productions flourishing and being a well-known, quality brand and experiencing consistent growth and expansion.

What advice do you have for other queer entrepreneurs?

My advice to other queer entrepreneurs is to be bold enough to turn your passion into your career. Do what you love while being your complete and authentic self!

What song makes you feel the most badass boss?

“Woman” by Kesha or “Like A Boss” by Slim Thug