A new nonprofit digital platform designed to strengthen one of the nation\u2019s most vibrant LGBTQ communities is launching in Wilton Manors and Greater Fort Lauderdale.\u00a0OUTLGBTQ, the first of its kind interactive directory and \u201cthings to do\u201d app designed to connect the community with local businesses, cultural organizations, and nonprofit initiatives goes live on April 13, and invites the public to become its first Founding Members.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Businesses that wish to be listed on\u00a0OutLGBTQ\u00a0can pre-register\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n Anyone wishing to join the\u00a0OutLGBTQ\u00a0platform can pre-register\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n While the platform launches from Wilton Manors, it has been designed as a national LGBTQ resource that will expand into major cities across America, allowing users to explore LGBTQ businesses, nonprofits, and cultural life in communities throughout the country. The platform is already being likened to a modern \u201cgay Yellow Pages,\u201d giving both residents and tourists one place to plan their visits \u2014 from making accommodation reservations and arranging transportation to discovering restaurants, nightlife, cultural events, and the broader social landscape of the community they are visiting.<\/p>\n Created by longtime community connector Norman Extract,\u00a0OutLGBTQ\u00a0brings together a centralized community events calendar and a comprehensive directory of LGBTQ and allied businesses in one easy-to-use digital platform designed to make it easier for residents and visitors to discover events, support local organizations, and connect with the people and institutions that shape the region\u2019s cultural life.<\/p>\n The platform is designed to be more than just a listings site.\u00a0OutLGBTQ\u00a0encourages active participation from the community by allowing members to explore events by month, week, or day, connect directly to ticketing and reservation links, and discover a wide range of local services ranging from restaurants and nightlife to healthcare providers and professional services. For visitors, the platform also serves as a planning resource to help experience the full scope of Wilton Manors\u2019 thriving LGBTQ community, just like a local would.<\/p>\n What sets the platform apart is its built-in philanthropic model. Unlike traditional directories or event calendars,\u00a0OutLGBTQoperates as a nonprofit initiative designed to generate ongoing support for local arts organizations and community nonprofits. When donations are made through the platform, half goes directly to the nonprofit selected by the donor, while the remaining funds are equally distributed across participating nonprofit partners, helping strengthen the broader cultural ecosystem that defines Wilton Manors and Greater Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n \u201cOutLGBTQ\u00a0is about connection and participation,\u201d said Extract. \u201cIt gives the community one place to discover what\u2019s happening, while directly supporting the nonprofits and cultural organizations that make Wilton Manors so vibrant.\u201d<\/p>\n The initiative has already received endorsement from several prominent organizations within the South Florida LGBTQ community, including\u00a0The Pride Center at Equality Park,\u00a0HRC,\u00a0Stonewall National Museum & Archives,\u00a0OutClique Magazine,\u00a0Hotspots Magazine,\u00a0OUTSFL, and\u00a0Center for Spiritual Living, reflecting the platform\u2019s collaborative mission to serve as a shared digital resource for the region.<\/p>\n The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations currently benefiting from the platform include\u00a0Ronnie Larson Presents \/ The Foundry, Island City Stage, Les Thespians Theater Company, Arts United Gallery, Gay Men\u2019s Chorus of South Florida, Grey Box Theatre Project, Katumba Theater Project, Stonewall National Museum & Archives,\u00a0and\u00a0Art Walk Wilton Manors.<\/p>\n During the launch phase, residents and businesses are invited to become Founding Members of\u00a0OUTLGBTQ, helping establish a strong foundation as more organizations, businesses, and events join the growing network.<\/p>\n Businesses that wish to be listed on\u00a0OutLGBTQ\u00a0can pre-register\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n