Queer owned business finds home in Ste Anne

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This article was published 28/09/2025 (234 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There are more than 100,000 LGBTQ owned and operated businesses in Canada generating $22 billion in economic activity and one of those businesses is located in the Town of Ste Anne.

“I’ve never been able to fit into a box myself, and I don’t think hair does either,” said Hair by Taylor Jaeden owner Taylor Friesen.

Friesen opened her salon in March after working in various salons for seven years. The 26-year-old said she wanted to do her own thing and that included offering non-gender based pricing.

“I think you come in and based on the time I spend with you and the product we use, that’s how much you pay, and I think that’s really important,” she said.

Friesen said being known as a queer-owned business is “not exactly the most widely accepted thing.” She admits that she has lost clients because of her identity and for being a safe space.

She shared that she had a promotion for June’s Pride Month to give a discount to people who wanted to dye their hair in vivid colours. She said the backlash she received on social media for that promotion was shocking.

“In 2025, I would have thought maybe a little more further progressed in some of those areas. It’s just unfortunate because I think hair is one of the things that’s, like, it’s very artistic, it’s very open…I just don’t see why there’s an issue with that.”

According to Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce one in four LGBTQ entrepreneurs have lost out on business opportunities because of their LGBTQ identity; and one in four have experienced discrimination in the past because of their LGBTQ identity.

“Although a lot of progress has been made in recent years, queer entrepreneurs still face unique challenges,” said Jenny Steinke-Magnus, executive director of Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce, in a previous interview.

Steinke-Magnus said some of the questions LGBTQ entrepreneurs and business owners face is whether they should “reveal their true identities” to their clients.

“Nearly one in three entrepreneurs have intentionally hidden the fact that their business is queer owned. Twenty-five percent of entrepreneurs that were surveyed lost out on business opportunities because of their identity or they’ve maybe experienced discrimination in the past because of their identity, all of these maybe barriers to having a successful business. So, we really wanted to offer a space where it would be safe for queer entrepreneurs to come together to build those strategies to succeed in the business world.”

Manitoba LGBT* Chamber of Commerce just launched its EMERGE program, which helps LGBTQ entrepreneurs grow their business.

Friesen said the reason she wanted to come out as a queer-owned business was because she wanted “everyone regardless of identity/sexuality to feel safe and secure in my chair.”

“I struggled to find that growing (up) or find a stylist that could do what I wanted, so I decided to become that alternative stylist I needed back then. Whether you’re straight, queer, alternative, not all or somewhere in between I want to make you feel great and give you the hair of your dreams with only good vibes.”

She said there are advantages to being a queer owned business such as offering a safe space for clients.

“Queer-owned businesses, I feel like a lot more people feel safe, unfortunately, as sad as that is…You know, and I think that’s important – really important – to just be able to get a service done, be happy with what you’re getting done, and feel good about yourself after, and also be in a space that you feel comfortable in. Because I’m very big on it’s open for everybody, you know, all walks of life.”

Friesen was asked what her thoughts were on the recent cancellation of Steinbach Pride on Sept. 13. For her, it is a simple matter of if you don’t agree with it then don’t go.

“But if anything, kind of all the hate and animosity towards it is kind of understandable why we have Pride events, isn’t it? Because it’s not as accepted as it should be, and there is still a lot of hate and prejudice and just a lot of unfairness towards the whole thing.”

Friesen added that beliefs don’t have to align 100 percent of the time but that at the end of the day love and acceptance is really important.

“I think everybody can agree with that,” she said.

She said she loves making people feel good as it makes her feel good.

“I take pride in my work. I don’t let anything leave my chair that I wouldn’t want to wear myself. And it’s just like the reaction when you spin that chair around.

The young entrepreneur said she has found nothing but acceptance in Ste Anne and that the community has been very good to her.

“I felt really accepted. Yeah, it’s been great. I’m very happy with my decision (to open my own salon), and I want to keep doing it for as long as I can.”