Gay barber

What do you picture when you think of a barbershop? A row of men in leather chairs, chatting about sports over the hum of beard trimmers? Gay has offered haircut services since Februarywhen he opened the shop. Embracing his business as a "queer establishment," he said, has allowed him to reimagine the hypermasculine standard often associated with barbershops.

They feel very ostracized from that," he said. The year-old barber says entering the hair business was a "pandemic decision" and a means to make his own way in an industry defined by gender. He has long wanted to go into barbering but, as a gay man, he felt he didn't fit into the barbershop mold for men nor the cosmetologist mold for women.

Once he took the leap to attend a Paul Mitchell Hair and Beauty School, he incorporated teachings from both the barbering and cosmetology programs to find a style uniquely suited to him.

That Queer Barber in Fort Thomas is redefining barbering one haircut at a time

He's noticed the hair industry is changing for the better and he's happy to be a part of that change. Check out our full conversation with Funel in the video featured below and on our TikTokand keep an eye out for future installments of this series. Grace Tucker Cincinnati Enquirer.