People Like Me – an app for the LGBT population
What began as a master’s thesis at Michigan State University is now developing into a location-based mobile application for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. People Like Me aims to help individuals in their quest for “voting with their dollars” by patronising businesses demonstrating equality toward their customers.
As a member of the LGBT community, designer Emily Brozovic was interested in creating an application that answered the question: “Where can I find businesses that support my community?” While the Human Rights Campaign offers an annual Buyer’s Guide that helps navigate the treatment of LGBT employees by corporate America, it is not tailored to simple, everyday use for patronising small businesses.
The primary objective of People Like Me is to help individuals of the LGBT community — and their supporters — identify and locate LGBT-friendly businesses based on both their own experiences as well as referencing the experiences of others. This will help building awareness and support for one’s local community while also serving as a guide when traveling.
“People Like Me is intended to be a place where members of the LGBT and ally community can speak their minds and share their experiences about where they will and will not spend their money in a particular community — and why,” Brozovic said. “I find I’m always made aware of
the businesses I shouldn’t support due to mistreatment of LGBT employees or customers, but I hear less about businesses I should support because of their openness to equality — supporting people like me.”
As People Like Me begins development, Brozovic will be reaching out to members of greater Lansing’s LGBT community and beyond to shape and build the app.
Stay up to date on the progress of People Like Me online at www.peoplelikemeapp.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PeopleLikeMeApp.