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Why I Built allthethings.gay
Will Gambill, Founder
For a lot of years, I made myself small.
In doctors’ offices. In waiting rooms. In public places where I could feel people deciding who I was before I’d said a word. I got so good at shrinking for other people’s comfort that I’ve spent years since learning to undo the damage I did to myself by not always being authentically me.
What got me through was my people. My family, my support systems, and most of all my friends in the queer community, who made me feel loved and appreciated exactly as I am. Everyone deserves to know what that feels like. That’s why this exists.
I believe people are people before they are anything else, and that everyone deserves a basic level of human dignity. allthethings.gay is how I put that belief to work. It’s a home for LGBTQIA+ professionals, places, makers, groups, nonprofits, events and the allies who show up for us, not just in my own backyard in Little Rock, but everywhere.
I want it to be proof that we exist in every corner of the country, and that it’s OK to be who you are.
Where It Came From
By day, I run a Central Arkansas creative agency that builds websites, brands and marketing for small businesses. I’ve spent my career helping good businesses get found, and I’ve watched great queer-owned and queer-friendly ones stay invisible because the tools out there weren’t made for them. So I did what entrepreneurs with ADHD do: I had an idea, I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and my team and I built it.
Building something like this takes stubbornness. Every listing is checked by a person before it goes live. Every badge says exactly what we checked and when. It’s slow, unglamorous work, and it’s the only way I’d do it.
More Than a Directory
allthethings.gay isn’t just a gay search engine. It’s a safe space that puts real people first. Think of it as the friend who always knows a guy: a doctor who gets it, a barber who won’t make it weird, a bar where you can be yourself, a realtor who’ll help you move forward, and a group where you’ll belong.
It’s organized like our logo: six petals, one search.
- Servicesdoctors, therapists, lawyers, barbers, realtors and pros who get it
- Communitygroups, sports leagues, faith communities, book clubs and your people
- Shoppingqueer-owned brands, local shops and our marketplace
- Travelbars, restaurants, places to stay and trips to plan
- Eventsdrag, Pride, brunch, shows and what’s happening this weekend
- Supportcrisis lines, legal aid, housing help and nonprofits, when you or a friend needs it
Where We Are, and Where We’re Going
Today allthethings.gay has 1,196 places in 175 cities across the US, every one checked by hand, and it’s free for everyone, forever. We started in Little Rock, and we’re going city by city until we’re in every corner of the country, and one day the world.
Along the way, we’ll support nonprofits, host events, and create real opportunities for small creators and business owners to be seen and to grow. A few things will never change: badges and reviews can’t be bought, paid spots are always labeled, and we never sell your data.
Come Find All the Things
Whether you know exactly who you are, you’re still figuring it out, or you’re an ally who wants to show up, this is a place where we come together and look out for each other.
Find an event on the map. Find a realtor who can help you take the next step. Shop queer-owned. Own a business? Claim your free listing; founding businesses get 3 months free with code FOUNDING.
And while you’re here, go looking for the easter eggs. I hid a few. My ADHD hid a few more and won’t tell me where.
Thank You
With love,Will