Yelp Simplifies Support for LGBTQ-Owned Local Businesses

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As June approaches and Pride Month draws near, Yelp has rolled out a new feature that makes it easier to discover LGBTQ-owned businesses in your area. If you’ve been using Yelp to find and support small businesses during the pandemic, you’ll be excited about this latest update.

With the introduction of a self-identification option for business owners, customers can effortlessly locate LGBTQ-friendly establishments, ensuring they are supporting the community and finding welcoming spaces to celebrate Pride. This feature enhances the existing “Open to All” search filter, which allows users to find various businesses—such as beauty salons, restaurants, and nightlife venues—that promote inclusivity.

In collaboration with a non-profit of the same name, Yelp has previously implemented a search attribute to help businesses identify themselves as safe and welcoming to everyone, regardless of their background. Now, business owners can opt to specify that they are LGBTQ-owned, providing clarity to users about their commitment to inclusivity. Starting June 1, these businesses will be marked with a rainbow pin on Yelp’s map view, highlighting them as supportive spaces for community members.

Additionally, Yelp has pledged to actively monitor for hate speech targeting the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring harmful content is removed to foster a safer environment. Miriam Warren, Yelp’s Chief Diversity Officer, expressed the hope that these new tools will empower LGBTQ businesses and encourage consumers to directly support them, particularly as hate crimes rise across the nation.

LeAnn Foster, owner of Rainbow Café, shared her enthusiasm for the new attribute, stating that it will make it easier for individuals to discover her business and feel secure while they’re there. Recent data indicates a significant increase in user searches for LGBTQ-owned businesses, with Yelp reporting a 150% surge in April 2021 compared to the previous year.

This is a vital step towards supporting marginalized business owners, especially as the need for inclusivity and safety continues to grow. More than 581,000 businesses on Yelp have identified themselves as “Open to All,” contributing to a more inclusive marketplace.

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