The business world is changing for the better.
Thanks to the advent of streaming services, social media, and changing global norms, queer folks are being welcomed into mainstream spaces like never before. And with more people in the UK identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual than ever before, the sense of community is on the rise.
15 years ago, starting a proudly LGBTQIA+ brand would have been stacked with obstacles, it’s now a route many young, queer entrepreneurs are willing to take. In fact, stepping into a leadership role (and being your own boss) means that queer people are less likely to run into the harassment and prejudice that still exists in conventional workplaces.
A Changing Climate
The UK has been doing a lot of work to create a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQAI+ community within the world of small business, from appointing an LGBTQ Business Champion to bringing the discussion around the LGBTQAI+ pay gap and a perceived lack of safety at work into the mainstream.
This is not to stay it doesn’t still take a lot of bravery and a host of good circumstances to be queer and proud in the UK. In a Stonewall report surveying the experiences of over 5000 bisexual people in the UK, 31% claimed that they had been “insulted, pestered, intimidate or harassed” in the past year.
A Journey Can Start Anywhere
Despite these challenges still faced by the community, queer people always find a way to unite and draw closer together. The queer community is not a monolith, despite how it is often reported on in the media. Rather, it is a collection of friends, subcultures, individuals, and collectives who all find themselves united by a common cause. Taking this idea into a business setting, it’s immediately apparent that queer businesses have a chance of moving forward if they’re willing to put faith in their product.
When it comes to creative ideas, anything can start from a small action. Queer musician and artist Clairo started making music after she posted a rough cut of a music video, she made on her MacBook to YouTube. According to the Guardian the video racked up more than 1.5 million views almost overnight. Now she has millions of inspired fans, and some musicians are even posting videos of themselves learning to play ukulele versions of her early tracks online, and teaching others to do the same.
Find a Niche And Stick To It
A lot of Queer brands focus on traditionally ‘queer’ interests: a look through any ‘Top 20 Queer Brands You Should Support” will deliver a line-up of makeup, beauty products, perfume, and similar items. But you don’t need to follow that formula to succeed as a queer entrepreneur. Look at the example of Bokksu, a Japanese snack delivery service founded by LGBTQ business owner Danny Tiang. Tiang simply wasn’t impressed by the lack of Japanese snacks available in New York and decided to do something about it. Now he’s been featured in Rolling Stone.
Ultimately, despite the challenges, there are so many opportunities for young queer entrepreneurs. Simply being authentic and making connections in the community are a great start for a brand, especially in a world where support for the queer community continues to grow.
