Everywhere Is Queer—and here's the app to prove it
Meet your go-to guide to LGBTQ+-owned businesses around the world.
If you’re here, then you already know that my goal for Carry On is to be the reassuring friend who can show other queer and neurodivergent travelers that there are safe spaces across the globe for them to explore.
Assuming you’re on board with that goal, you need to know about Everywhere Is Queer, the public resource and ever-growing searchable map making it easier than ever to find welcoming, LGBTQ+-owned spaces to shop, connect, eat, learn, and grow all over the world—now officially available in a free app on both iOS and Android!
To celebrate this momentous occasion, I chatted with founder and creator Charlie Sprinkman (he/they) about how EIQ came to be, what it’s been like to watch it explode in popularity, the migration from map to app, and the challenges and achievements that they’ve experienced along the way.
Behind the scenes of the EIQ app launch
What’s the origin story of Everywhere Is Queer?
As someone who grew up in rural America and was raised conservative and Catholic, I wanted to create something that would allow the queer, trans, and ally community to navigate the world locally or globally as their true, authentic selves, all while supporting entrepreneurs in the community!
I have been to 47 of the 50 states in the U.S. and can say that there truly are queer people everywhere. After I experienced a space like Brave Trails (a queer youth leadership camp for 12- to 18-year-olds) as an adult cabin counselor… And even though it was a kids’ camp, I was seen as MY true, authentic self for the first time for seven consecutive days… After that experience, I headed straight for my computer and figured out how to get an application to turn a few pins into a map.
Two years later, after launching the third rendition of our map, the free Everywhere Is Queer app is now live on iOS and Android!
What kind of businesses does EIQ feature? And how many so far? In how many places?
Everything and anything. We welcome online businesses and have built out an amazing online business section of the app to allow users to find online queer-owned businesses more easily! Right now, we have ~21 different categories on the map tab in the app as well as ~30 categories on the online businesses tab.
What inspired the migration from map to app?
Our most recent map was not the most mobile-friendly. I’ve also always wanted to create my own app as a path to monetization, and that version of the map didn't quite offer what I was looking for to follow that path.
Also… My app, my design, my choices! I currently rely on social media for monetization, and I’d like to move towards the app more and not be so dependent on social media.
Beyond the map and app, you’ve described EIQ as an online community hub. What does that mean, exactly?
My following on social media has been fully organic. Very little money has been put into promoting my posts—less than $50 total. EIQ is a collective community resource, and I feel as though I am helping facilitate it. So many folks within the community (I know you, Alicia, included!) have told folks about EIQ, and that is what I mean by an online community hub.
How do you hope that users will utilize EIQ as a resource? And how do you hope businesses will utilize it?
I hope that people will use our app locally and globally! I want to push as much support into these small queer businesses as possible.
And I hope businesses will see it as an opportunity to market to the EIQ audience. It’s a super engaged audience, and I have made an opportunity that is so much more affordable to have a featured listing in-app compared to the cost of one Instagram Reels collaboration.
How do queer-owned businesses apply to be on your map?
You will apply via the linked application in the profile tab of the app or via "Add Your Org" button on the homepage of our website! All businesses are vetted and approved by me personally.
Are ally-owned businesses welcome?
At this time our map is for only queer-owned businesses. We know the queer community would not be where it is today without allies, we are SO grateful for your support. It is on our road map to maybe create an ally-owned map one day!
If someone knows of an LGBTQ+-owned business that would be a good fit for your map, what should they do?
Please tag them in the comments of our social media posts—or let them know personally they can apply via the profile tab in the app or via the linked application on the homepage of our website! We ask that only business owners themselves apply to add their organizations to the directory. We want their consent to be on our map, so please do not add a business that you are not the owner of!
What's something you wish more people knew about running an organization like EIQ?
Most things cost money, and it’s not cheap! I just spent $1,000 to upgrade the back-end platform because we have had so many new applications come in from the app launch (which I’m very grateful for).
What have been the biggest challenges EIQ has faced as you've worked toward launching this app?
Figuring out how to turn this into a business that is sustainable for my lifestyle because holy shit, this is a lot of work! I have paid myself around $10,000 from the business total after spending more than two years working day in and day out on the platform. I have gotten (and feel like I am close to) burning out again and again. I hope one day that I get to hire a small queer team.
What has been the most rewarding part—not just of this app launch, but of growing EIQ so far altogether?
The thousands of messages I have received from queer people saying thank you. Like, ‘Thank you for creating something that allows me to feel safe to travel across the country!’ I have received so many kind messages from people sharing such positive experiences they’ve had using our map. I can't wait to hear all the connections made via our app!
In your absolute wildest dreams—if you wish for it and know it would come true (funds and time and resources be damned!)—what would the future hold for EIQ?
A beautiful, small team of queer people. We have our health, dental, and vision insurance covered. We only work Monday through Thursday. We don't burn ourselves out, and we continue every day to connect and support the queer, trans, and ally community.
What's the best way for people to support EIQ?
CS: Download the app, follow us on Instagram and TikTok, and join our email list for queer joy!
Who do you want to hear from next?
I love any opportunity to elevate others’ voices and share what they’re doing to make the world a better, brighter place. So if you know someone who’s doing cool work in the LGBTQ+ community—or cool work that’s related to travel, neurodivergence, relationships, mental health, writing, reading, or living abroad—give them a shoutout in the comments below!
How very cool! I’ve downloaded the app and will use it to find a gender-affirming hairdresser.