‘Clearly unintimidating, obviously gay’: the queer tattoo artists imagining a more welcoming space

At Fruit Camp in Baltimore, Geo Mccandlish and Emi Lynn Holler are breaking through the old boys’ club tendencies of the tattoo industry to make LGBTQ+ clients feel welcome

Tattoos are everywhere nowadays – peeping out of shirtsleeves during office meetings, adorning the shoulders of neighborhood baristas. Nearly a third of Americans are tattooed, according to the Pew Research Center. And more than half of lesbian, gay or bisexual Americans are inked, according to data from the same organization.

Tattoos can discreetly signal identity – for example, lesbians in the 1940s got nautical stars inked on their wrists that were cleverly concealed with wristwatches during the day and on display at night. But the tattoo industry isn’t always welcoming towards the LGBTQ+ community.

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