FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2023

Aneesha Pappy | aneesha.pappy@hrc.org 

Ferris Business Named Recipient

of Human Rights Campaign and SHOWTIME® 

“Queer to Stay,” Small-Business Funding 

FERRIS — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, and SHOWTIME announced TensOrChops as a recipient of “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative.” Supporting and uplifting small businesses that focus on LGBTQ+ people of color, women and the transgender community, “Queer to Stay'' ensures that LGBTQ+ businesses can keep their door open and serve their communities.

“Welcoming, safe spaces are at the heart of local communities—for LGBTQ+ people, these spaces are often havens for connection. As LGBTQ+ Americans navigate a national state of emergency, LGBTQ+ owned businesses are confronting extremists who are trying to threaten our lives and livelihoods, push us out of our communities and force us back into the closet,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. “Through this program, we’re investing in the futures of local LGBTQ+ business owners, employees and their customers. We’re fighting back against anti-LGBTQ+  radicals and solidifying our place in cities across the country. We’re so excited to partner with SHOWTIME once again to support LGBTQ+ employees and business owners as they continue to create inclusive spaces and brighten their communities.”

TensOrChops Entertainment LLC provides meaningful ways for LGBTQ+ young people to access information and utilize public services and resources catered to the LGBTQ+ community. TenOrChops finds ways to attack the underlying problems that lead to drug addiction, unsafe sex, homelessness, unemployment, and more. With this funding, the business will be able to invest in equipment to film the stories of LGBTQ+ people of color thriving with HIV, and other health disparities. 

 “No one is going to take care of us like we can—with so many anti-LGBTQ+ laws and bills passing, we need safe spaces to go where we know everything is going to be okay,” said Jrock Ebony, CEO of TensOrChops Entertainment LLC. “I needed the next generation to know that they are not alone in the fight for better lives and equality in America. Sharing the untold stories of our community survivors is a testimony to our resilience and hope for tomorrow.”

In June 2020, the “Queer to Stay” initiative launched its inaugural awards to 10 LGBTQ+ small businesses across the country and addressed the financial hardships faced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three years later, LGBTQ+ small businesses still are navigating the pandemic’s aftermath while also combatting a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ extremism, hateful rhetoric and targeted attacks that threaten the livelihood of business owners and the existence of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people. HRC and SHOWTIME are supporting 25 businesses this year reaching 19 states.

“We care deeply about empowering all voices within the LGBTQ+ community and are proud to continue investing in LGBTQ+ businesses in partnership with HRC for the fourth year,” said Puja Vohra EVP, Consumer Marketing, Paramount+ and Showtime. “In addition to financially supporting a diverse mix of LGBTQ+ establishments across the nation – including a clinic, restaurants, bars and shops – we’re expanding access to resources to help sustain their necessary footprints and broaden their impact.”

This year’s awardees of “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative” include the following:

Alabama Extra Mile (Tuscaloosa, AL), Amaryllis Counseling (Greenville, SC), Anchor Health (Stamford, CT), Blaque/OUT Magazine (St. Petersburg, FL), dom+bomb (Spokane, WA), The Gender Doula (Los Angeles, CA), Jonathan Carver Moore (San Francisco, CA), Kweens Klub (San Juan, PR), The Lipstick Lounge (Nashville, TN), Manny’s (San Francisco, CA), The Space Salon (Fort Wayne, IN), Outbox (Brooklyn, NY), Pride Health Clinic (Omaha, NE), Prismatic Speech Services (Greensboro, NC), Queers Remodel PDX (Portland, OR), South Press (Knoxville, TN), Southern Utah Drag Stars (Hurricane, UT), Spill the Tea Cafe (Honolulu, HI), Stories Like Me (Pittsburgh, PA),  Sugarwitch (St. Louis, MO), Sum of Us Festival (San Francisco, CA),  Sway (Little Rock, AR), TenOrChops Entertainment (Ferris, TX), Water Bear Bar (Boise, ID) and Wunderbar (Syracuse, NY). 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.