Michael Stuckey’s personal commitment to equitable treatment for all people made a Pride Month initiative for Kansas City distillery Lifted Spirits a no-brainer, he said — even as multinational brands like Bud Light and Target have seen backlash to pro-LGBTQIA+ campaigns.

Just a half-mile northeast of downtown Kansas City is the wildly popular Crossroads Arts District, and within this cultural mecca is the East Crossroads Craft Beverage District.