At TCGplayer, we are proud supporters of the LGBTQ+ community year-round. But we don’t want to just say it, we want to show it: For Pride Month this year, we’re raising money for Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE), an international advocacy organization advancing justice and equality for trans and gender diverse communities. We’re also excited to sponsor the Central New York Pride Parade for another year. But enough about us –– we’re especially looking forward to showcasing LGBTQ-owned and allied local game stores across the country. Here are nine hobby shops who are creating inclusive and safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ gaming community.
Store Name: Top Table Gaming | LGBTQ-owned business
Owner: Tyler Jedlicka (he/him)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “As a gay store owner in Ohio specifically, Pride Month is the only month it feels safe and supported to be visibly gay in this area. We take a lot of pride in creating a safe space for all of our communities. Even when we don't try to market specifically to my community, game stores are naturally seen as a safe space and we are very proud of the work we have done over the last two years to make everyone feel as welcomed as they are and to see our customers all treat each other with so much respect.”
Origin Story: “I’ve been involved in TCGs my entire life. Between watching the Yu-Gi-Oh anime before school as a kid and my dad being a non TCG card collector, it happened naturally. I have had a lot of bad experiences in card stores and always felt I could do better, so in 2022 I finally opened my first brick and mortar location.”
Creating a Welcoming Place: “We go above and beyond to monitor the way customers are treating each other to keep everyone feeling welcomed. We are entirely ‘progressive owned’ and our customers are aware of that.”
Inclusion Programming: “We do not advertise pride events publicly because we are in Ohio, which is a home for the Proud Boys and we are only 15 miles from a location they have attacked twice. We do host a lot of LGBTQ game nights, entirely for TCG communities. On Lorcana releases we also stay open until 2am for what has become our LGBTQ release events after the standard midnight event is over and customers begin leaving.”
Moments That Matter: “There is a transgender community member who left the game due to feeling unwelcomed by another store owner. Their gender identity never came up, but they brought it up to me that this was the first time they had felt welcomed in a store in our area. We try to make the store a 24/7 safe space but it caught me off guard that that was all it took to stand out to people in our specific area. That was when it became a personal mission statement for me to maintain that atmosphere.”
Store Name: Generation X Games and Comics | LGBTQ-allied business
Owner: Wayne McNeil (he/him)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “It means a celebration of uniqueness, self truth, positive self expression, and diverse existence. We always strive, year round and forever, to be a warm and welcoming place to folks of all genders and sexualities.”
Origin Story: “I was a successful retail manager for a large company and they wanted me to transfer out of state to become a district manager. I used that as an opportunity to reevaluate my life and what I wanted to accomplish. Having always enjoyed comic books and games, I decided to open a store. I'm happy to report that we just celebrated our 30th anniversary in October of last year! Here's to 30 more!”
Creating a Welcoming Place: “We strive to make a space that you know is welcoming the second you step in. Aside from quite a few LGBTQ+ staff members (and the rest staunch allies), we carry a large variety of LGBTQ+ positive games and graphic novels, always set up a huge pride display for June, design and make our own pronoun pins, and host the occasional community event for sex and gender minorities!”
Inclusion Programming: “Yes! We host an occasional sex and gender minority social club for like-minded folks to come make new friends, hang out, and talk about their favorite fun, geeky hobbies! In June we set up pride displays of graphic novels, dice, games, and the occasional collectibles that showcase LGBTQ+ works, stories, flags, and characters. We also eagerly participate in Wizards of the Coast's Magic the Gathering Commander Pride event!”
More About Us: “Generation X is meant to feel like home and we're always ecstatic to hear that our LGBTQ+ community feels at home with us. If you're ever in the DFW area, please stop by and say hi! Feel free to grab some table space and get in a few games. You're always welcome at Gen X!”
Store Name: Fortuna Games | LGBTQ-owned business
Owner: Ashley (she/her), Will (he/him), Hannah (she/her)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “As an LGBTQ+ owned store, we have pride every month of the year, but we love celebrating with our local community during Pride. Every other day, we focus on creating a safe, inclusive space for our friends and neighbors.”
Origin Story: “We wanted to host a space that we'd want to hang out in ourselves, so we found a perfect space in a part of the city that had no local game stores around. After years of spending time in spaces that didn't seem as welcoming to all groups, we wanted to have a space we ourselves loved and love seeing the community that's formed around our store.”
Creating a Welcoming Place: “At Fortuna Games, inclusivity isn’t just a policy—it’s painted on the wall. As a queer-owned, cozy game store, we’ve created a space where everyone can feel seen, safe, and celebrated. Our store rules proudly reflect our values of respect and kindness, and our inclusive game nights are designed to bring people together. We love all the friendships we've seen come together from our Magic, One Piece, Lorcana, and Star Wars nights.”
Moments That Matter: “Having a booth at our first pride was an incredibly powerful moment for us, both as people and as queer store owners. We had so many people come up to our booth to talk to us about games and share their stories of the first time they found our little store or how they have felt not welcome at other game stores. It was a day of shared stories and tears and queer joy and we've loved having a booth to recreate that experience every year since.”
More About Us: “We ourselves are a queer polyamorous trio who partner in Fortuna Games and in life. We love having a home/store combination in the city and love that we get to share this space with our St. Louis community. It's just the three of us that run the store, so it feels like every time people come back to the store, they're coming back because we've made them feel welcome and accepted here. It definitely feels like a dream (most days!) to be able to live and work together in this lovely, nerdy life we've created.”
Store Name: The Rogue Games | LGBTQ-owned business
Owner: James (he/him) & Mason (he/him)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “As a husband and husband owned game store, Pride means everything to us, we live our lives proud. It is a chance to celebrate who we are with our beloved guests and gamers in the shop!”
Origin Story: “Louisiana is not exactly the most inclusive part of the world. Not many places around for queer gamers of any kind here. We wanted to be able to provide a safe space for people like us that share our hobbies and interests.”
Creating a Welcoming Space: “Our store has a small yet diverse staff. Very inclusive and welcoming decorations including pride flags adorn the shop, and the signage is also kept fun yet inclusive like our restroom sign which reads ‘fairy/dragon? Whatever just wash your hands.’”
Moments That Matter: “There's a 12 year old boy that comes every week for D&D, always accompanied by his father. The father is a 6ft something, bald military man, with giant muscles, is frankly all around intimidating! The man never really says much, just sits on his laptop and works at a table while his kid plays D&D. One day all is going as usual and he randomly approaches me and asks me to step outside for a word. I'm a bit startled and have no idea what it could be about, but make my way outside to hear what he has to say. He begins tearing up and thanks me for having such a welcoming and inclusive space and for being the only place in town he felt comfortable letting his kid come wearing what he wanted to wear. At this point I was still confused as I had not even realized that his son had come into the shop that day wearing a skirt.”
Store Name: Brick City & Games | LGBTQ-allied business
Owner: Leslie Wilson (she/her)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “Brick City & Games partners with the Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance to provide opportunities for play and interaction through Lego, TCGs, RPGs, and more. We sponsor and schedule Pride events such as Magic Presents: PRIDE, a Pride Free RPG Day, a Lego Pride build day, and we participate as an ally vendor at the regional Columbia Gorge Pride Rally. We sponsor these events in June, but remain an ally and safe space for the LBGTQ+ community throughout the year. We host Queer D&D, are welcoming to all who come in for Lego and gaming, and we have numerous Queers who call our game store home. Pride Month means that we get to openly share our space with the LBGTQ+ community and allow our entire community to know that we are a welcoming and inclusive space for all in the community!”
Origin Story: "Our store opened as a place for our community to have a safe place to play. Whether it be kids exploring new games, or adults looking for a bit of self-care through gaming and play, we saw a need in our small community and wanted to fulfil that need. We are currently looking for a larger location where we can have more space for play and games and more space for our community to gather!”
Creating a Welcoming Place: “For one, our front door is almost always open. Sometimes the community will wander in just because the door is open. We greet each customer and let them know they are valued, appreciated, and welcomed to our store. Our customers have become friends and we truly care about each one of them. We do not tolerate negative talk about anyone and we are quick to shut down anyone who makes another uncomfortable with their speech or actions. Bullying is not tolerated in any fashion and we lead by example. Our store is welcoming for all because we make it fully known that ALL are welcome!”
Inclusion Programming: “We have inclusive programming year round. We partner with the Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance, as well as the local youth shelter (YES House), and the Mid-Columbia Center for Living to provide safe, inclusive opportunities to gather, play, mingle, and just be themselves. We ramp up our programming during June Pride Month.”
Moments That Matter: “We currently have a Magic player in our store who has been hospitalized due to cancer. He has a trans husband and a 7-year-old daughter. Our store and our customers and players have wrapped around him and his family providing meals, cards, flowers, balloons, and support as they walk through this time. One of our youth Magic players handmade a card for him and the whole store family has signed it, regardless of if they know him or not. The way our store family has wrapped around him and his family during this time is absolutely beautiful and makes us proud to be the store we are!”
Store Name: Common Ground Games | LGBTQ-owned business
Owner: Jamison (he/him)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “It means a time of celebration. We have been proudly queer-owned and operated since we opened our doors in 2013; and we have no plans on going anywhere! We strive to make our store a space of safety and bravery for those in our community, all year round. Pride Month for us means being even louder and more proud of that mission and everything we do.”
Origin Story: “Jamison, the owner of CGG, opened the store during what he considered his ‘mid life crisis’! He had been working corporate jobs while dreaming of board games and TCGs. Then in the spring of 2013, he and his husband (DR), opened the doors to CGG, achieving Jamison's vision of having a space where they could share his love of games with their friends and new community.”
Creating a Welcoming Place: "Our MEEPLES! Our staff's Mission, Vision, Values are to ensure we are constantly expressing curiosity and joy when anyone walks through the door.
M - Mindfulness
E - Equity
E – Ever Evolving
P – Pride
L – Listening
E – Efficiency
S – Support"
Inclusion Programming: “We have a Featured section that we pack full with our favorite games by LGBTQ+, Women, and BIPOC designers. We also host a monthly Gaymer Night for our community to come together and celebrate each other. Also, because we are one of WOTC's WPN stores, we get to host a Pride Commander day here in June!”
Moments That Matter: “I would like to think our staff makes a difference every day with our community. Whether it be through listening to their stories, giving them a space to be themselves, or giving a hand in discovering what they didn't even realize they were looking for! Our community is the heartbeat of our store. Faiz - who has become a well-known regular in our shop - has shared with us how uncomfortable he felt as a trans man in other stores, but because of us, he found a place to call home, even in a state like Texas. And even beyond our customers, the store makes a difference to us, the staff. A lot of us are part of the LGBTQ+ community ourselves. Working here gives us the peace we crave in this maddening world.”
Store Name: Coto Card Collection | LGBTQ-owned business
Owner: Gabriel (he/they)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “I find that the LGBTQ+ community is a huge part of the TCG community, however it tends to be tucked away or in the cracks. I remember coming out for the first time and feeling fear but also relief and pride, and now when I talk about who I am as a person, I am proud and confident. I want members of my community to feel that pride and confidence in any establishment. If I can be a support to others like me in the community, I will put my blood, sweat, and tears into it to make it work. Everyone deserves a safe space, not just during Pride Month. But Pride Month also helps our voices ring out just a little louder and further. I'm a Queer business owner, and I'll yell it from the widest plains, the most remote island, the darkest swamp, the highest mountain, and the densest forest (see what I did there?).”
Creating a Welcoming Place: “I make sure I let everyone know that they are welcome in my space, whether it's the online portion or the brick & mortar that's in the works –– there will be a seat for everyone who understands that everyone deserves a place so long as they aren't hurting or demonizing others. Everyone deserves a space to feel comfortable among likeminded people.”
Moments That Matter: “Having conversations with friends turned customers and seeing their comfort in approaching me not just as a store owner but as a fellow community member that is upholding the LGBTQ+ with excitement in my eyes and determination to welcome everyone has brought a lot of people I know and don't know to engage with me just knowing I'm here for them and support their existence.”
Store Name: Brickhouse Games | LGBTQ-allied business
Owner: Justin Hurst (he/him)
What Pride Month Means to Us: “Pride is a celebration of what makes my customers and employees great and our store shine.”
Inclusion Programming: “Year-round, we have a monthly event for LGBT+ community members called Brick-kiki and throughout June we will be hosting it each week, including one barbeque.”
Moments That Matter: “Meg and Shay's wedding. Meg had been a regular and for a brief time a part-time employee, when she messaged me one night asking if I, as an ordained minister, would be willing to officiate their wedding. They decided to have their wedding at my store! On Valentine's Day! I said yes of course, and with what little notice we had we set out rose petals and got some cake and flowers and took plenty of photos.”
Store Name: House of Cards | LGBTQ-allied business
Owner: Tara Penland (she/her)
Origin Story: “My little brother bought the store at age 19, we ran the store together for 8 years and cultivated the safe space where you can game for free, be seen and accepted. He then moved into a different space in life and our family wanted to keep the business and the community alive, so our dad stepped in and bought the store and has learned, grown and found his way into being an ally. It has been amazing to see our community continue to grow. A large portion of our community at House of Cards is LGBTQIA+ and it's amazing to watch everyone be so supportive, encouraging and a joyous place to be with friends and new friends!”
Creating a Welcoming Space: “No matter your culture, orientation, gender, status or lifestyle you are always welcome at House of Cards, celebrated for who you are, and loved by a community that becomes family. Lots of fun and games are had by all. We have ‘All are welcome’ stickers in several places around our store, we do appreciation months throughout the year for culture, pride and more, where we give out free items that correlate with that event.”
Inclusion Programming: “We are also excited this year –– we will have 2 booths at our cities Pride Parade, giving away items, giving "Shop Mom Hugs," showing support for our community, and more. We are doing a Halloween event in October for our local LGBTQIA+ Youth Center as well.”
Moments That Matter: “When we really saw growth and engagement in our Friday Ladies & Theydies RPG series!”