Meet Meghan Keane | Founder & CEO (Double Standard)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meghan Keane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea behind Double Standard came from noticing a gap between identity and value. I identify as a lesbian, but I also value caviar and champagne—and for some reason, those two things weren’t seen in the same room. It always felt like it had to be one or the other. I wanted to create a space where I could be all of myself, surrounded by people who felt the same way.
Double Standard isn’t about a “gay agenda.” It’s about gay “and”. What comes after the “and” is the focus. We’re entrepreneurs, creatives, executives, and leaders. Being gay is a layer we share. Even more so, Double Standard isn’t just about my experiences—it’s about breaking open the boxes we’ve all been put in. Everyone has faced a double standard, and my vision is to create a space where those double standards aren’t just acknowledged, but put on display and smashed to pieces.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’ve been in restaurants most of my life—starting young in a snack bar on the Jersey Shore and eventually building my career in Los Angeles. Operations became my lane: not just cutting costs and building teams, but creating an energy in the room that people can feel. At the same time, I poured that energy into the queer community, collaborating with producers to host events across LA and even bringing one of our most popular collaborations to New York. Seeing the success of these events gave me the final boost to launch Double Standard.
Since April, I’ve hosted a series of Double Standard pop-ups across Los Angeles, each intentionally different—partnering with nonprofits, collaborating with artists, and building activations that generate conversation. For me, it’s about creating spaces where connection and discovery happen organically, not just another room to eat and drink in.
Getting here hasn’t been easy. Every leap in my career, including Double Standard, has come with risk. But I’ve learned that the bigger risk is staying comfortable and letting opportunities pass you by.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, they wouldn’t expect an itinerary—we’d bounce from a glass of wine here to an appetizer there, catching up with friends or striking up conversations with strangers along the way. After 15 years in hospitality, I’ve learned that no two days are ever the same, and that’s probably why I live this way. The magic is in the people—the unpredictability of strangers who can plant a new idea, an introduction, or a fresh perspective.
That’s also the foundation for Double Standard—endless opportunities that blur the line between planned and unexpected, turning connection into something magnetic and unforgettable.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to Marilyn Minter. She’s an iconic artist who’s aesthetic really spoke to me throughout my creative process with Double Standard. Beyond just the visual though- her work has pushed at the edge of what’s considered beautiful, sexy, or acceptable—and that tension is exactly what inspired Double Standard. She shows us that contradictions aren’t flaws, they’re the point. Marilyn’s art reminds me that the most powerful statements come from refusing to edit yourself down—and that’s the energy I want this brand to carry.

Website: https://doublestandardla.com/

Instagram: @standard_double

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-keane/

Image Credits
Chris McWhorter (@mcwhorterphotography) and Ashley Randall (@ashleyrandallphoto)