App promotes gay-friendly business
Agay-queer Aucklander aims to break prejudice barriers in every business area with his new rainbow-friendly mobile app.
Former Pride board member and Outline volunteer James Bennett, has spent the past year taking his Rainbow Pages advertising platform from idea to product.
When a colleague struggled to find a plumber who would not look twice at his queer lifestyle, Bennett realised the need for a nationwide, rainbow-friendly business directory.
The dating-site-like app is location based, so LGBTQI-plus people can find profiles of businesses that would not judge their sexuality.
Bennett said he would not be
The religiously educated only-child came out just after his mother did.
surprised if Rainbow Pages is home to more than 4000 advertisements in its first week.
HIV awareness organisations Body Positive and the New Zealand Aids Foundation, registered early to list on the app that launched on Saturday.
The religiously educated, only child says he came out of the closet just after his mother did.
Bennett said his mother cried when he told her because she understood the lonely life homosexuality can lead to.
‘‘But, she was more worried about not having grandchildren,’’ Bennett said.
He has spent his career working in the financial services industry and in varying corporate roles, with a two-year stint managing Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
He hung up his corporate career to pursue his Rainbow Pages venture.
Rainbow Pages’ launch coincided with Auckland’s Pride Festival that saw Ponsonby Road closed and coloured on Saturday night.
Bennett has placed priority on giving back to his support network — 10 per cent of the app’s revenue will be given to rainbow community organisations.
‘‘We do need to support each other and that’s what Rainbow pages is all about …[businesses] putting their hand up to say they are Rainbow-friendly,’’ he said.