How the 'Everywhere is Queer' app is helping LGBTQ+ people find queer-owned businesses

In war zones, people have a difficult time finding clean water and safe areas to inhabit. Social media, smart phones, and technology applications are aiding in people’s survival. In Aleppo, Syria, the International Committee of the Red Cross posted a map on Facebook to show alternative sources of clean drinking water that reached approximately 140,000 people.

The city of Detroit is offering business services to entrepreneurs who want to bring their business online in the aftermath of the pandemic. Digital Detroit is the name of the program offering content creation and website development completely free of charge for a variety of businesses. Over 100 businesses were selected for the five-week program, helping the entrepreneurs to move their services online, creating, and launching websites as well as establishing social media presence, all of which has gone a long way in increasing sales and profits.

#Agtwitter provides a space for social connection among farmers. What started as a hashtag to disseminate advice about farming practices and farm equipment has grown into a digital space where people can connect and even vent about their personal challenges. In a region characterized by high suicide rates, Agtwitter helps lessen the often-isolating expanses of America’s mountain west.

The legal process for changing your name and gender on drivers' licenses or birth certificates was—and, to a degree, still is—convoluted, expensive, and time-consuming. A grassroots movement started after the 2016 Presidential Election that used GoFundMe, Facebook, and public support to help Madeline Snyder and other trans people from Tyler, Texas change their legal documents all at once. The process wasn't always straightforward, but it had about a 75% success rate and brought with it a groundswell of support from the trans and ally communities.

Genderdoc-M (GDM) partners with a local lawyer to offer legal support to members of the LGBTQ+ community in an effort to promote human rights and continue to work toward a more inclusive society. Every year, about 40 people seek legal advice from GDM on matters ranging from workplace discrimination to physical abuse.

Groups like Portland: Neighbors Welcome and Black & Beyond the Binary Collective aims to provide safe, affordable housing to people in crisis — specifically members of the LGBTQ+ community. The group partners with other local organizations to raise funds through donations and events like drag shows to help address extreme rates of homelessness and housing discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community. These groups have helped more than 200 people access housing in the past four years and are continuing to acquire funds to expand their services.

Sexual orientation and gender identities 123 or SOGI 123 is an optional resource educators can use to provide grade-level appropriate materials that help create safe, inclusive learning environments for students. All 60 school districts in the province are part of the SOGI 123 Educator Network, which allows educators to work together to design programs that foster inclusion in schools. Schools that integrate SOGI 123 have seen a positive impact on students’ mental health, as well as their sense of belonging and willingness to engage.

gods closet is a pop-up shop that aims to create a community experience around fashion for LGBTQ+ people who often struggle to find clothes that fit their gender identity and expression. gods closet provides the clothes and services like styling free of charge.

The João W. Nery Outpatient Clinic provides medical and transition-related care for the area’s trans community. The Clinic provides patients access to social workers, psychologists, endocrinologists, nurses, and general practitioners who help patients get prescriptions for hormones, referrals for gender-affirming surgery, and advice on legally changing their names, all of which are offered for free.

The Lavender Courtyard is an income-restricted, three-story complex designed to serve LGBTQ seniors by providing safe, inclusive and affordable housing. It has 53 units and serves seniors ages 62 and up who pay affordable rents based on income as determined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines, which caps rents at 30% of their monthly adjusted income.