Google Maps to help users find LGBTQ+ safe spaces

June is Pride month and as well as being the month when faceless corporations proudly display their LGBTQ+ credentials, it is also a time to think about the challenges that marginalized communities face. It is important to try and put yourself in other people’s shoes so that you can better understand the challenges they face and how they could influence the challenges they make. Fortunately, in the true spirit of Pride month, Google has launched an update for Google Maps that offers us the chance to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s take a look.

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Google is introducing a new feature to Google Maps that will allow merchants with verified business profiles to add an LGBTQ+-owned attribute to their profiles. This builds on Google’s inclusivity offering which already allows businesses to add Black-owned, Latino-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned attributes to their Google business profiles.

Feeling to be part of a community is more important than ever these days and life serves up more and more challenges to the average person every day. Being able to identify businesses that proudly proclaim who they are owned by allows people to identify and find entry points into the communities that will offer them support and friendship.

In fact, with the LGBTQ+ community representing almost 8% of the total adult population in America, this move from Google goes beyond offering business owners badges for their Google Maps profiles. In the post announcing the move Google said:

“… there are 1.4 million LGBTQ-run companies in the U.S. Over the past decade, Google has partnered with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and 30 local affiliate chambers to support and grow LGBTQ+ owned businesses and organizations.”

If this feature sounds like something that you would like to use, don’t worry as it couldn’t be easier to find the new LGBTQ+-owned badge when you are searching for businesses on Google Maps. All you have to do is select a business on the map and then look towards the bottom of the screen to see if the badge is there. If the business owner has registered with Google correctly, the LGBTQ+-owned badge or any of the badges outlined above will be displayed there.

Make sure you stick with us for all the latest Google Maps news and updates.