As Pride Month celebrations get underway across the globe, we here at Wisetek have been thinking about inclusion, connection, and sustaining relationships.
Our conversations have taken us from the beginnings of the LGBTQ+ movement to the present day, and while the world has changed, one major part of the LGBTQ+ movement we keep returning to is community.
Community, of course, in the modern world can mean many things, such as weekly events and group meetings, to safe online spaces. One thing we’ve seen become more popular in recent years is the availability of LGBTQ+ apps that inspire connection and friendship. Here, we look at some of our favourite LGBTQ+ apps and why sustaining relationships and community are at the heart of it all.
What Does it Mean to be Part of the LGBTQ+ Community?
Being part of the LGBTQ+ community and connecting with others is essential for a person’s wellbeing, sense of belonging, and overall health. As one study found, a “sense of acceptance, belonging, physical and emotional safety, and opportunities to engage in activities and socialise have been identified as protective factors for the LGBTQ+ community.” On the topic of “belonging”, the same study stated that “belonging encompasses aspects of emotional safety and freedom, as well as a felt sense of connection.”
It’s easy to see why apps that focus on safe spaces whilst fostering friendships are so important. The sense of belonging allows people to be themselves while safe spaces free people from fear of judgement or intimidation. As the resource spunout put it, “Regardless of how accepted the LGBT+ community becomes, it's still important to have a safe space.”
Apps play an important role in the LGBT+ community as many are usable across the world. So, if someone is on holiday in San Francisco from Ireland, they can use an app to track down safe bars and restaurants or find fun events to join at the tap of a button. Not only that, but if someone ever needed to chat with anyone, there are apps full of resources and support to reach out to.
Below, we list the five LGBTQ+ apps that have caught our eye recently.
Our Five Favourite LGBTQ+ Apps
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Spectrum: Spectrum helps its users find queer-friendly businesses, events and information through its Library. Users can also log their experiences and find emergency services if needed.
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Out x Out: Combining queer travel expertise with countless destinations, Out x Out offers its users a list of LGBTQ+ venues and businesses. It also operates as a social community for creating connections.
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Lex: A social network for LGBTQ+ individuals to meet new people, find friends and events, Lex encourages community in everything it does.
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Stand in Pride: Stand in Pride acts as a platform for members of the LGBTQ+ community to connect with people across the globe to find emotional support.
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Everywhere Is Queer: EIQ connects people with over 17,000 safe and supportive queer-owned businesses.
These five apps are great when helping members of the LGBTQ+ community to find events and make friends in new cities, with safety and support an important part of each.
An Inclusive, Sustainable Future For All
LGBTQ+ apps are all about inclusivity and forming long-lasting connections with like-minded people. At Wisetek, we understand the importance of inclusivity and sustainability and adhere to these principles daily. For instance, our 0% landfill policy ensures all materials received are either repaired, refurbished or recycled, as we want to do our part when caring for the Earth. This also ensures that all devices are 100% more sustainable than buying a brand-new device.
It's this kind of business practice that helps us build trust with our customers and, in turn, better relationships that last into the future. The proof lies not only in our relationships with individual professionals and SMEs, but in that we also help some of the world’s largest IT companies with their used and excess IT equipment. So, whether we’re sustaining the planet or relationships with our customers, Wisetek always has inclusion and friendship on its mind.