Beautician helps found trans-friendly directory
A Sunderland beautician has helped set up an online index for local businesses that are ‘LGBTQ+-friendly’.
Louise Watson, who runs the Angelic Beauty salon in Roker, says she is a cofounder of the directory for ‘trans-friendly’ businesses on Wearside and the surrounding area.
The Transfriendly website refers consumers to North East businesses that have pledged to observe and promote practices that are ‘friendly’ to the trans and non-binary gender communities, Ms Watson says.
Besides appearing in the online directory, businesses like Ms Watson’s are provided with a ‘trans-friendly’ sticker to display at their premises.
Ms Watson says she looks forward to welcoming as wide and diverse a clientele as possible to the site her business operates out of on Mere Knolls Road.
"It’s sort of sad that people have to go to a page specifically called ‘Transfriendly’ to find businesses that are trans-friendly,” she told The Echo.
"I’d never really thought about it before getting involved in setting up the directory. But maybe there are a lot of transgender people in the area who do feel uncomfortable coming into a salon or in that kind of environment.
"I think I’ve always been an understanding, open and non-judgmental person. And I’m just really looking forward to meeting more interesting people and hearing their stories – that’s one of the things I love most about my job.
"I want my business to be accessible to everybody – no matter who you want to be.”
The directory is due to launch on Saturday.