What began as a master’s thesis at Michigan
State University is now developing into a location-based mobile
application for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
community. People Like Me aims to help individuals in their quest for
“voting with their dollars” by patronizing businesses demonstrating
equality toward their customers.
As a member of the LGBT community, designer Emily Brozovic was
interested in creating an application that answered the question:
“Where can I find businesses that support my community?” While the
Human Rights Campaign offers an annual Buyer’s Guide that helps
navigate the treatment of LGBT employees by corporate America, it is
not tailored to simple, everyday use for patronizing small businesses.
The primary objective of People Like Me is to help individuals of the
LGBT community — and their supporters — identify and locate
LGBT-friendly businesses based on both their own experiences as well
as referencing the experiences of others. This will help building
awareness and support for one’s local community while also serving as
a guide when traveling.
“People Like Me is intended to be a place where members of the LGBT
and ally community can speak their minds and share their experiences
about where they will and will not spend their money in a particular
community — and why,” Brozovic said. “I find I’m always made aware of
the businesses I shouldn’t support due to mistreatment of LGBT
employees or customers, but I hear less about businesses I should
support because of their openness to equality — supporting people like
me.”
As People Like Me begins development, Brozovic will be reaching out to
members of greater Lansing’s LGBT community and beyond to shape and
build the app.
Stay up to date on the progress of People Like Me online at
www.peoplelikemeapp.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PeopleLikeMeApp.
