• Log in
    Out.comFashionEntertainmentDesignLifestyleTravel & NightlifeOut ExclusivesNewsPrintWeddingsVideo
    ADVOCATEPrideOut TravelerPLUSADVOCATE CHANNEL
    Email NewsletterSubscribeSubscriber Services
    CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    Out MagazineOut Magazine
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    Everyone Deserves Good Cake: Chicago's Trans-Owned Bakery Open for All

    Molly Sprayregen
    | 05/30/17

    Everyone Deserves Good Cake: Chicago's Trans-Owned Bakery Open for All

    Jenne Vailoces has created an inclusive, delicious space at Boystown's Jennivee's Bakery.

    Walking into Jennivee's Bakery in Chicago's LGBTQ-friendly Boystown neighborhood feels like being transported to a quaint, French boulangerie.

    With its whimsical, gold-rimmed seating, vintage picture frames over exposed brick, beaded chandeliers and a colorful chalkboard menu, the bakery offers a comfortable, vintage feel. And, of course, its drool-inducing pastel cakes, cupcakes and other treats line the counters and front window, beckoning anyone with a sweet tooth inside.

    Jennivee's is a cozy, chic place, which is exactly what its owner, Jenne Vailoces, was hoping to achieve. Vailoces, who identifies as transgender, opened her bakery with the goal of creating a welcoming space for the queer community and allies alike.

    Anyone is welcome at Jennivee's, regardless of their identity, Vailoces emphasizes. After all, "everybody deserves to have good cake," she says.

    Vailoces immigrated to America from the Philippines almost 10 years ago.

    Jennivees-bakery-5418

    She's a physical therapist by trade, but baking has always been her passion. She started at 6 years old helping her mother in the kitchen, and now, at 34, her longtime dream of running a bakery has at last come true. Jennivee's has only been open a few months, but business is already booming.

    "I'm so thankful that it's doing really well," Vailoces says, well-aware of the high rate at which food-based businesses fail. She's showing her gratitude by doing what she can to help others in the community, especially transgender youth.

    Boystown, where the bakery lives, has become a haven for homeless LGBTQ youth who come to the neighborhood in search of a safe, accepting environment. At any given time, blocks away from the bakery, homeless queer youth could be out looking for places to sleep and eat.

    Vailoces is working to hire new employees through TransWorks, an organization that prepares transgender youth for the workplace. She hopes to help other transgender people circumvent the violence, homelessness, depression and high suicide rates that too often afflict the community. The message she hopes to send with her success: "There is hope, and you can still be happy and fulfilled. You don't have to live a life of hopelessness and darkness."

    Vailoces' best friend, Dakota, died by suicide a few years ago. She opened Jennivee's in part as a way to honor his memory. Dakota, a gay man, left home at 17 after his family wouldn't accept his sexuality. While he was able to build a life for himself, Vailoces says his emotional scars never healed. Dakota always encouraged her to pursue her bakery dreams, so she named Jennivee's after the nickname he called her. His framed photograph hangs behind the counter, watching over Vailoces while she works.

    Raised Catholic and still a person of faith, Vailoces also felt stirred to open the bakery after hearing stories of Christian-owned bakeries refusing to serve LGBTQ couples. "It saddens me when I hear stories of people using religion as a justification to discriminate and to exclude people like myself," she says.

    Vailoces and her family knew she was transgender very early in her life. "My mom said I was different even when I was inside her womb," Vailoces says, adding that she's been lucky to have such strong familial support. She says Dakota once asked her what she'd want if she had the chance to be born again. "I said I would still choose to be trans because a lot of the experiences I've lived through in my life, although they've been difficult and challenging, I wouldn't have had it any other way."

    Jennivee’s is quickly becoming a neighborhood staple,

    Jennivees-bakery-5423

    not only because it's an inclusive place, especially for transgender people, but because of Vailoces' tasty cakes. Among her bestsellers are the Mango Creme Cake and the Purple Velvet. She serves a few authentic Filipino desserts, though she's especially interested in classic American ones. Many bakeries, Vailoces says, focus on European styles, but she is most excited by American cakes like the Lady Baltimore, the Mississippi Mud and the Southern Style Coconut--"Cakes that grandmothers would make and bring to church meetings," she says.

    Right now, Vailoces is looking forward to Chicago's Pride Parade in June. Everything will be rainbow-colored, she says, and her friends, dressed in drag, will be dancing on the patio, passing out cupcakes to passersby.

    "Hopefully this bakery will be a mainstay for the LGBTQ community," Vailoces says. "I feel like Chicago needs a bakery that the LGBTQ community can proudly call their own."

    Latest Stories

    9 Celebrities Who Came Out As Bisexual in 2023
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    9 Celebrities Who Came Out As Bisexual in 2023

    16h
    Bi-Themed Gear for You & Your Home to Celebrate Bisexuality Day
    Lifestyle
    Badge
    gallery

    Bi-Themed Gear for You & Your Home to Celebrate Bisexuality Day

    September 22 2023 12:53 PM
    Beyoncé Rights Airline's Wrong, Helps Disabled Fan Attend the Renaissance World Tour
    Music
    Badge
    gallery

    Beyoncé Rights Airline's Wrong, Helps Disabled Fan Attend the Renaissance World Tour

    September 22 2023 11:50 AM
    Wesley Campbell
    Sports
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet Wesley Campbell, Out Gay Figure Skater Who's Now Coaching

    September 21 2023 4:52 PM
    Sandra Diaz-Twine; Peppermint; Janelle Pierzina
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet the Reality TV Legends Competing on 'The Traitors' Season 2

    September 21 2023 12:32 PM
    9 Movies to Watch If You Loved 'Red, White & Royal Blue'
    Film
    Badge
    gallery

    9 Movies to Watch If You Loved 'Red, White & Royal Blue'

    September 21 2023 9:47 AM
    Choriza May
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Choriza May Accuses Uber Driver of Discriminating Against Her in Drag

    September 20 2023 11:31 AM
    Sustainable Products to Celebrate National Recycling Week
    Lifestyle
    Badge
    gallery

    Sustainable Products to Celebrate National Recycling Week

    September 19 2023 2:20 PM
    Layton Williams; Nikita Kuzmin
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet Layton Williams & Nikita Kuzmin, 'Strictly's New Same-Sex Dance Couple

    September 19 2023 1:41 PM
    Kyle Krieger
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    30 Steamy Pics of Kyle Krieger That Will Definitely Turn Up the Heat

    September 18 2023 1:45 PM
    Luke Evans' Steamy New Insta Pic Reminds Us Why He's the Speedo King
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Luke Evans' Steamy New Insta Pic Reminds Us Why He's the Speedo King

    September 16 2023 12:57 PM
    Zane Phillips for Dsquared2
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    Zane Phillips' Buns Are Peeking Through His Briefs in New Dsquared2 Pics

    September 16 2023 12:34 PM
    32 Football Players Who Came Out of the Closet
    Sports
    Badge
    gallery

    32 Football Players Who Came Out of the Closet

    September 15 2023 4:27 PM
    Queer-latine-latino-latina-latinx-celebrities-00-lead-hispanic-heritage-month_750x422_creditonimage
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    30 Queer & Trans Latine Celebrities We Stan

    September 15 2023 4:09 PM
    Photographic Proof Jacob Elordi Has the Best Taste in Bags
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    Photographic Proof Jacob Elordi Has the Best Taste in Bags

    September 15 2023 3:07 PM
    Kennedy McDowell
    Sports
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet Kennedy McDowell, Colorado State's Out Gay Football Player

    September 15 2023 11:45 AM
    30 LGBTQ+ Celebs You Can Follow on OnlyFans
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    30 LGBTQ+ Celebs You Can Follow on OnlyFans

    September 13 2023 3:30 PM
    These Are All the 'Drag Race' Queens Who Won Crowns in 2023 (So Far)
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    These Are All the 'Drag Race' Queens Who Won Crowns in 2023 (So Far)

    September 13 2023 2:01 PM
    Harry Jowsey; Jason Mraz; Tyson Beckford
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet the Contestants of 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 32

    September 13 2023 11:45 AM
    15 Men Who Didn't Wear Boring Black Suits to the 2023 MTV VMAs
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    15 Men Who Didn't Wear Boring Black Suits to the 2023 MTV VMAs

    September 12 2023 9:03 PM

    Trending stories

    30th Annual Long Beach Qfilms Festival Features ‘Big Boys’ This Weekend

    George R. R. Martin and Other Famous Authors Join Lawsuit Against OpenAI

    Ghana's Newest Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Sparks Protests

    Life is Beautiful Celebrates 10 Years By Announcing LGBTQ+ Parties

    This HIV Ally Is Spicing Up Sexual Health

    Missouri Transgender Girl Wins Homecoming Queen and the Right Loses It

    Tropical Storm Ophelia Closes In on the East Coast

    Meet Two Amazing Activists Speaking Up About Black Women and HIV

    Kylie, Doja, Slayyyter & More Bless The Gays On New Music Friday

    Republican Infighting Pushes Government Towards Shutdown

    Arrests Follow HIV Funding Protest at Speaker McCarthy's Office

    10 Bisexual Celebrities You Have To Follow On Instagram & TikTok

    10 Albums & EPs Released By Drag Queens In 2023 (So Far)

    Las Vegas Brings The Fright With Provocative New Show 'Abandon'

    Jann Wenner's Legacy: Janis Joplin Lamented Rolling Stone Story Days Before Death

    Este Aliado del VIH Está Condimentando la Salud Sexual

    'Fellow Travelers' Creator Had 'Rules' For Spicy Scenes On Set

    Sarah Ann Masse Opens Up About Coming Out as Bisexual, Accepting Herself, Curls and All

    Sarah Ann Masse Comes Out as Bisexual in Heartfelt Essay

    New 'Loki' Season 2 Teaser Shows Our Hero Running Out Of Time

    Country Star Adam Mac Bows Out of Kentucky Festival After Homophobic Treatment

    6 Great American Road Trips Perfect for Fall Colors

    Check Out These Delicious Dishes At Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse

    Pete Buttigieg Explains the Difference Between Climate Change and Seasons to Republican Lawmaker

    Alabama Band Director Tased by Police at Football Game Speaks Out

    Most Recent

    19 Sizzling Photos from Folsom Street Fair 2022 by Gooch

    Stewart Taylor Releases New Breakup Anthem "Favorite Ex"

    Lisa Rinna Does PTown

    New 'Drag Race' Host Is a Legendary Activist Living With HIV

    How to Honor Senior Survivors of HIV

    Alexis Michelle Responds To Haters, Reveals Her 'All Stars 8' Crushes

    35 Bisexual Politicians You Should Know

    Get Ready for Provincetown’s Third-Annual Washashore Festival Featuring a Rising Tide of Queer Musical Talent

    SF Leather Week Opens with Inauguration of World’s First Leather and Queer History Public Space

    Provincetown Brewing Co. Presents Annual Jockstrap Bike Ride: 'Letting Loose for Townie Summer Kickoff!'

    Canada Has Some of the Highest Mpox Rates in the World

    Virginia Beach Parents Sue to Force Schools to Adopt Glenn Youngkin's Anti-Trans Policies

    Dr. Randa Jaafar on Her New Practice & Helping Women Feel Their Best

    George W. Bush Calls Out Republicans Trying to End HIV Program PEPFAR

    25 Steamy Pics of Viral Comedian & Actor Jordan Firstman

    Travis Scott Investigated For Assault and $12,000 in Property Damage

    Sophie Turner Spotted With Taylor Swift In NYC Again

    DACA Immigration Policy Ruled Unlawful, But Allowed to Continue

    'The Ultimatum: Queer Love' Season 2 Is Now Casting Couples

    HIV Warrior Ronnie Grace Battling Stage 4 Cancer

    They Live in the US, but These LGBTQ+ Couples Can’t Get Married. Here's Why

    Will Lachlan Murdoch Bring a New Era to Fox News or the Same Hell?

    Lady Camden Unleashes Her 'Dirtiest Secrets' In New Music Video

    Grace Van Dien, Stranger Things Actor, Says She's Turning Down Roles Over Sexual Harassment

    Recommended Stories for You

    19 Sizzling Photos from Folsom Street Fair 2022 by Gooch

    Stewart Taylor Releases New Breakup Anthem "Favorite Ex"

    Lisa Rinna Does PTown

    New 'Drag Race' Host Is a Legendary Activist Living With HIV

    How to Honor Senior Survivors of HIV

    Alexis Michelle Responds To Haters, Reveals Her 'All Stars 8' Crushes

    35 Bisexual Politicians You Should Know

    Get Ready for Provincetown’s Third-Annual Washashore Festival Featuring a Rising Tide of Queer Musical Talent

    SF Leather Week Opens with Inauguration of World’s First Leather and Queer History Public Space

    Provincetown Brewing Co. Presents Annual Jockstrap Bike Ride: 'Letting Loose for Townie Summer Kickoff!'

    Canada Has Some of the Highest Mpox Rates in the World

    Virginia Beach Parents Sue to Force Schools to Adopt Glenn Youngkin's Anti-Trans Policies

    Dr. Randa Jaafar on Her New Practice & Helping Women Feel Their Best

    George W. Bush Calls Out Republicans Trying to End HIV Program PEPFAR

    25 Steamy Pics of Viral Comedian & Actor Jordan Firstman

    Travis Scott Investigated For Assault and $12,000 in Property Damage

    Sophie Turner Spotted With Taylor Swift In NYC Again

    DACA Immigration Policy Ruled Unlawful, But Allowed to Continue

    'The Ultimatum: Queer Love' Season 2 Is Now Casting Couples

    HIV Warrior Ronnie Grace Battling Stage 4 Cancer

    They Live in the US, but These LGBTQ+ Couples Can’t Get Married. Here's Why

    Will Lachlan Murdoch Bring a New Era to Fox News or the Same Hell?

    Lady Camden Unleashes Her 'Dirtiest Secrets' In New Music Video

    Grace Van Dien, Stranger Things Actor, Says She's Turning Down Roles Over Sexual Harassment