You’re in the right place. Everywhere Is Queer is a public resource (and ever-growing searchable map!) created for the LGBTQIA2S+ and ally community to find welcoming, queer-owned spaces to shop, connect, eat, learn, and grow all over the world… even in your own neighborhood!
Your community is waiting for you just around the corner.
Get to know EIQ
who is eiq?
take a peek behind the curtain
You and I live in a world that is becoming more and more connected by the day, but finding a community where we feel safe, supported, and understood requires a little bit more help. As new queer-owned businesses and supportive spaces emerge, our goal is to connect them to the people who need them the most. That’s a win for you, for our business owners, and for this growing community!
Our worldwide, online map was formed when Everywhere Is Queer founder, Charlie Sprinkman, struggled to find places they felt represented and safe during a 50 state road trip across the US. (Read more about that below!) He wished he could spot queer spaces easily, no matter his location. That’s when the idea for our digital map was born!
That’s what we’re constantly working towards with every new business added to the Everywhere Is Queer map! Because we take the words “everywhere is queer” both as a present reality and a future vision. We know there are amazing queer-owned businesses out there that we’re so excited for you to discover, and we also envision a world where those gaps in the map continue to be filled. Where queer people feel safe everywhere and anywhere they want to go. We choose to provide spaces and hold space for hope that the future of our world is queer, too!
What started with 5 businesses has stretched around the planet with thousands of businesses and growing all the time. We love watching the map grow because we know that means your safe spaces are growing, too.
We’re excited about how the digital map is branching off into deeper forms of community. We have seen customers and business owners connect IRL because of Everywhere Is Queer! We have read your stories about making new friends and chosen family in your area because you’ve found safe spaces to make those connections. And we’re excited to see our social media pals jump into our Patreon Community, where we will share an online space together, learn from each other, create meaningful opportunities for work, play, and LIFE.
When you pull up the Everywhere Is Queer map on your phone to find your next favorite spot to buy a plant, do your gym workout, or grab a sandwich, we also hope that you remember that you’re also supporting a worldwide queer movement of support, security, and hope. You’re supporting that bright future we’re creating space for in the present.
Thank you for being here! We hope you stick around.
MEET CHARLIE!
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Hi! I am so grateful you have made it here. I’d love to share a little bit about myself and how this idea started and became a reality:
My name is Charlie (he/they) - founder and creator of Everywhere Is Queer and our worldwide map. I grew up on stolen Ho-Chunk land (Milwaukee, WI) and currently call the stolen land from the Multnomah (Portland, OR) home.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of traveling (i.e. sleeping at least one night) in 41 of the 50 United States and my biggest take away from that experience is the very website you’re on right now: Everywhere Is Queer! Throughout all my travels, pit stops, and visits to new places, I kept finding myself searching “queer spots in _____.” Maybe you can relate to that?
Then in July, 2021, I volunteered at Brave Trails, a queer youth camp, and driving back to Colorado where I lived at the time, I was ruminating on my road trip experience. I said, “I just wish there was a map of safe spaces for queer people!” And the lightbulb lit up. Everywhere Is Queer became an idea that I couldn’t stop thinking about, sharing with people, and eventually spending all my extra time on. I soon found myself starting to network with queer-owned businesses across the world, and I knew this was something people wanted and needed. So, we did it. And now you’re lookin’ at it!
I’m so glad you’ve found us and can not only use our map whenever you need it, but you help others find those safe spaces, too! Consider yourself a part of our EIQ community.
Our team LOVES to meet new people and are open to any ideas on how we can collaborate, and would love the opportunity to hear your story. We are here to listen, always.
If you’d like to work with me directly, I am available for in-person educational workshops and speaking engagements. Let’s talk about it!
CONNECT WITH US!
Coming Soon: IOS and android eiq app
Wow. It is people like YOU that have made Everywhere Is Queer what it is today. I (Charlie, founder of EIQ) am here to help facilitate the growth but it’s everyone a part of the EIQ community that is truly making the growth happen. Thank you for letting your community know about EIQ!
I am excited to share that SOON you will be able to download the first ever EIQ app. Our app is going to be that EASY tool you can rely on when trying to feel seen as your authentic self as you navigate throughout the whole world or look locally.
I inspire you today to reach out to the businesses in your area and try to connect with them. Maybe you become friends with them! Community is everything. Our app is going to allow you to connect with local and global businesses SO easily.
To be the first to know when our app is live, make sure to join our newsletter at the bottom of our site and follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @everywhereisqueer
So d@mn grateful you exist!
Want to
support EIQ?
THE EIQ BLOG IS WAITIN’ FOR YOU
Get ready to dive into a rad, creative pool of fresh resources on the EIQ blog where you can get to know what’s happening in the queer community across the globe, learn more about queer-owned businesses, and soak up queer joy from our collaborators. Want to be highlighted on the blog? YAS, QUEEN! Click here to go to the contact page and let us know what you’d like to write about!
IN THE (GAY) NEWS
SUM OF US FESTIVAL
Sum of Us Festival is a 4-day, 3-night, LIVE event celebrating queer interests like being outdoors, artistic expression, spirituality, personal empowerment, well-being activities, and sexual exploration.
HIGHLIGHT
Charlie’s June PICKS
I am in awe of all of the queer owned spaces in Portland, OR. I’d love to highlight a few of my favorite Portland (or Portland adjacent) spots so far with y’all!
HIGHLIGHT
Favorite Businesses
Enjoy Everywhere Is Queer founder, Charlie Sprinkman’s list of the top 6 queer-owned businesses on the Everywhere Is Queer global map.
YUP, WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER TOO!
MAKE YOUR INBOX A LITTLE MORE QUEER
Big fan of getting joy-inducing (and actually interesting) mail in your inbox? GREAT NEWS. Sign up and we’ll make sure you get only the best digital-queer-news in our Everywhere Is Queer newsletter, with freshly baked articles from our blog, featurettes of amazing new businesses on our map, and everything else we’re getting up to support your best (and queerest) life.
