Wishing you all a very happy and safe Pride this June!

As you may or may not know, Exit9 is an LGBTQ+ owned and operated business and is registered with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. We strive as a business to uplift the various communities that surround us, like the LGBTQ+ community, the Black community, and the wider POC community and do what we can to support them as a small, local shop.
 

In the spirit of the season, it wouldn’t be right to talk about Pride without talking about some of the most prominent individuals that helped to achieve the rights that we cherish today. Marsha P. Johnson. Sylvia Rivera. Stormé DeLarverie. Larry Kramer. Gilbert Baker. Frank Kameny. Harvey Milk. Audre Lorde. Rita Mae Brown. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Laverne Cox. Alok Vaid-Menon. Jacob Tobia. And countless others, many of whom have sacrificed their lives to help us in our fight for equality. At Exit9 we believe that Black Trans lives matter. We stand with you and we will fight for you.

We’ve loaded our site with a slew of informative LGBTQ+ books, rainbow accessories, pride face masks, and fanny packs to adorn you in some of the chicest gear on the market, but also to help you learn and grow. Pride: Photographs After Stonewall show some striking imagery of the aftermath of the riots that spearheaded the movement for active change and the decades that followed in bold black and white print. We Are Everywhere, another book full of beautiful photographs taken by both well-known photographers of the movement and lesser-known activists is one that while tugging at the heartstrings, is also fueled with hope and love. For the kiddos, check out A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, which features a beautiful little boy bunny who falls in love with another boy bunny and finds out that that's a-okay! If you’re looking to accessorize, check out these rainbow fanny packs and masks from Fydelity in patterns that scream, “Happy Pride!” and these rad socks from Pride Socks.

Because of the fact that we are LGBTQ+ owned and operated gift shop, it’s important for us to not only supply fun, colorful, and spectacular gear for Pride season, but to also support and stock products from LGBTQ+ owned and operated companies year-round. From product makers and card illustrators to pin producers, seed curators, and candle companies, here are some of our favorite products from these LGBTQ+ businesses that you can find in our LGBTQ+ Owned Box, or individually in our online shop.

Exit9 is a proud supporter of LGBTQ+ owned businesses. We are thrilled to host their products on our shelves.

Harlem Heirloom Candle Co. - Hand-poured and hand-crafted right here in the Big Apple by partners Tyler Trinh and Jammie Waldron, Harlem Heirloom Candle Co. creates elegant candles from soy wax and plant-based essential oils in classic scents and sleek minimalist packaging. 

Ash + Chess - Full of neon colors and funky typography, Ash + Chess, a stationary brand made up of queer power couple, Ashley Molesso and Chess Needham, is based out of Richmond, Virginia and regularly creates LGBTQ+ stationery, stickers, tote bags, risograph prints, and most recently have released The Gay Agenda, a comprehensive book full queer history which we have in stock just in time for Pride Month. 



 

The Found - The Found is a LGBTQ+ owned company "found"-ed by Jim York and Albert Tanquero, that produces colorful and spunky greeting cards, enamel pins, mugs, stickers, pouches, and more. Their iconic illustrated pop culture references are what set them apart from other vendors and make them one of the best-selling brands in our shop. 

 

Hudson Valley Seed Co. - Get to growin’ this summer with some packaged seeds from Hudson Valley Seed Co. Started by couple, Ken Greene and Doug Muller, this company lets you choose from a huge variety of fruit, vegetable, and herb seeds to start your very own garden. Each package features unique illustrations and designs from a slew of contemporary artists.