17/06/2026
Pride Month at Jo’s
We’re not posting this because it’s June.
We’re posting this because this has always been part of our story.
Long before Pride Month became something brands talked about, there was Papa Jo.
Papa Jo had a gay sibling and never tolerated anyone making fun of them.
And when his child preferred Ken over Barbie, Power Rangers over Bratz, PlayStation over makeup, basketball over dress up games, and cargo shorts over dresses, he never made it a problem.
There was no “Girls don’t do that.”
There was no “That’s for boys.”
There was no “What will people say?”
There was only acceptance.
When other people questioned it, he didn’t.
When other people laughed, he didn’t join them.
When it came time for an 18th birthday and everyone expected a gown, he had no issue seeing his child wear a barong instead.
Looking back, we realize that what felt normal to us was not something everyone had.
Not everyone grows up in a home where they’re allowed to be themselves.
Not everyone grows up knowing they are loved without conditions.
Not everyone grows up feeling safe.
And that’s exactly why spaces like this matter.
Jo’s was built on the simple belief that people deserve respect.
Not because of who they love.
Not because of how they identify.
Not because they fit someone’s idea of who they’re supposed to be.
But because they’re human.
Every day, we welcome students, workers, artists, dreamers, families, and people from all walks of life through our doors.
Some come here to study.
Some come here to work.
Some come here to celebrate.
Some come here because they just need a place where they can breathe for a while.
We want all of them to know the same thing:
You don’t have to pretend here.
You don’t have to explain yourself here.
You don’t have to shrink yourself to make other people comfortable here.
This Pride Month, we celebrate authenticity.
We celebrate courage.
We celebrate the people who fought for the freedom to live openly.
And we celebrate people like Papa Jo, who taught us that acceptance isn’t a campaign, a trend, or a once a year post.
It’s a choice you make every day.
☕ Come as you are.
🌈 You belong here.
Happy Pride Month from your Jo’s family.
