This year’s Pride Month theme, “Connected in Colour,” celebrates the vibrant threads that link the LGBTQIA+ community together. And few people bring that idea to life quite like the small business owners who weave their identities, values and lived experiences into everything they create.
From body-positive art to food products that tell queer stories, to photography sessions built on trust and care, these three Aussie entrepreneurs are proof that when business owners show up as themselves, the ripple effect reaches far beyond their shopfronts.
We’re thrilled to introduce you to artist Frances Cannon, Queer Food founder Andy de Groot and photographer Laura Du Vè, three incredible business owners sharing what connection, colour and community mean to them.
Frances Cannon (They/Them)
On what “Connected in Colour” means to them
Community and connection is so important to me as a queer person. I take so much pride in my queer community, and as a butch lesbian, I especially feel protective of the more marginalised members of my community and am ready to fight to keep them safe!
As a small business owner, connecting to my audience is super important. I want my audience to feel seen in my work, and I want my buyers to feel excited and proud about supporting a small business run by a queer person.
On how identity shapes their business
My queerness is at the centre of my artwork, because my work is all about being a non-binary lesbian who is also fat! So many people relate to the work I make about loving my fat body, celebrating my queerness, and uplifting other marginalised folks. My main customer base are queer people and fat people and I am absolutely delighted to make work and products that make my audience feel seen and celebrated!
On supporting LGBTQIA+ businesses beyond Pride Month
Pay us! Buy our work! Come to our events! Come to our protests! Talk to your family about the importance and beauty of the LGBTQIA+ community, and how we have always existed in every culture and continent. Support us in as many ways as you can because the world is very scary at the moment for queer people, in particular trans people. So many governments are trying to outlaw being LGBTQIA+ and take away our rights. We need to support and care for each other, and we need the support and care from our wider community as well.
Please consider donating to Black Rainbow and Beyond Bricks and Bars this Pride Month. Black Rainbow supports LGBTQIA+ Indigenous Australians, and Beyond Bricks and Bars supports queer and trans people in the prison system.
Andy de Groot
Queer Food
On what “Connected in Colour” means to them
For me, “Connected in Colour” is about what happens when people feel safe enough to openly express who they are. As a trans man and the founder of Queer Food, I see “colour” as representing individuality, authenticity, creativity, and the different experiences people bring into a community.
I think there’s something really powerful about people feeling confident enough to express themselves openly. When someone lives authentically, it doesn’t just impact them, it helps create safer and more welcoming spaces for others as well. Visibility has a ripple effect. It helps LGBTQIA+ people feel less alone, more understood, and more comfortable showing up as themselves.
Through Queer Food, I’ve seen how openness and authenticity can create genuine connection between people. We create food retail products and events that share LGBTQIA+ stories, from contemporary community voices and collaborations to moments from queer history that deserve to be remembered and celebrated. Sometimes connection starts with something simple, like a shared meal, a colourful product on a shelf, or the story behind it, but it can lead to conversations, recognition, and a stronger sense of belonging.
To me, “Connected in Colour” is ultimately about community, people embracing who they are, supporting each other, and helping create spaces where others feel safe, seen, and included too.
On how identity shapes their business
My identity has shaped almost every part of how I run Queer Food. A lot of my experiences navigating workplaces and public spaces influenced the kind of business I wanted to build, one that feels welcoming, community-focused, and genuinely human.
That has naturally shaped our brand. Queer Food exists to tell LGBTQIA+ stories through food, so visibility, authenticity, and representation are built into everything we do, including our products and events. I wanted to create something that celebrates queer and trans people openly, rather than treating identity as something hidden or only acknowledged during Pride Month.
It has also shaped the culture around the business. I know how important it is for people to feel safe, respected, and able to be themselves at work, so creating that kind of environment really matters to me. We try to build relationships and partnerships that are grounded in care, collaboration, and community rather than just transactions.
On supporting LGBTQIA+ businesses beyond Pride Month
I think that authenticity is also why many people connect with the business. A lot of our customers are LGBTQIA+ people who feel represented by what we do, while others are allies who want to support businesses creating positive social impact. People are increasingly drawn to brands that feel real and values-led, and I think being open about who I am has helped build that trust and connection.
Laura Du Vè (She/Her)
Femmeplastic
On what “Connected in Colour” means to them
The concept of connection is something that’s integral to my business and my personal queer life. To create with other queer creatives and businesses comes with a depth of conversation in my sessions. The breadth of clientele I have spans so many communities, so being able to be a point of connection but also to facilitate that with different LGBTQIA+ people both personally and professionally is something I’ve felt passionate about my entire life. I think photo sessions can be daunting for some people. If you’re not an artist or performer I think having a space that you can just show up and be yourself and feel at ease, and know you’re going to get an amazing headshot or press shot with me is really important to me. As someone who has a history with modelling and experiencing both sides of the camera, I like to make sure my clients feel taken care of during our sessions in the way I didn’t always get.
On how identity shapes their business
I think identity has been a major part of my business. While I don’t think I planned it, it just happened. I found myself working predominantly with queer people and women through corporate events, live music, nightlife, drag and performance more generally, which, while not intended, I am so grateful for as it makes going to work so much fun and I’m around other artists. I love working with those in the arts, it’s harder than ever to be someone working in it, but the camaraderie is a beautiful thing. It’s a real shame our government doesn’t care to fund more in the arts. The way it’s been decimated since the pandemic is shameful but something I am so lucky to see is the true community and camaraderie that exists within all of us in the arts. We can’t just switch off our desire to create just because there’s a lack, so we find new ways to work and create, and I think that resilience is the backbone of queer creative arts spaces. Some funding would be real nice though!!
On supporting LGBTQIA+ businesses beyond Pride Month
Hire us! Put us on your team. Give us, and more specifically, trans people opportunities in higher positions. Give generously to our community fundraisers! If you see hate happening around you on public transport or in your life, stand up for queer people and especially for trans people all year round, not just during Pride Month. Or just tell us we look good if you see us wearing a fab outfit! Any and all support matters and helps us fight against rising hate towards the most vulnerable.
Discover more from Frances Cannon at francescannonart.com and follow along at @frances_cannonon Instagram. Explore Queer Food at queerfood.com.au and connect with them at @queer.food on Instagram and @queer-food on YouTube. Check out Femmeplastic at lauraduvephoto.com and follow @femmeplastic and @ldvphoto on Instagram.
For more inspiring small business stories and tips, follow us on social @vistaprintaustralia and visit our Ideas & Advice blog on our website.
