Google Pride 2021 | Space to Belong
For spaces that serve LGBTQ+ communities, the pandemic’s effects weren’t just economic; queer folks were isolated from the spaces they rely on for belonging, strength and community. Google set out to put their allyship into action, supporting queer spaces on the road to recovery with $3M in cash and Ad Grants, and tools in Google Maps and Search to help people discover safe, welcoming businesses, including badges in Google Maps so SMBs could list themselves as LBGTQ+ friendly and as transgender safe spaces.

To support these efforts, we created a spot for Pixel to encourage people to visit and support queer spaces in their communities. We also took viewers on a virtual road trip to 14 beloved queer spaces across the globe. Called Space to Belong, the digital experience paired audio interviews from LBGTQ+ SMB owners with photography and video shot by queer artists and photographers. The campaign shined a light on everything from historic gay bars that predate the AIDs crisis and feed homeless LBGTQ+ youth, to art studios centering the work of up and coming queer artists, to nonprofits uplifting the lives of Black trans women in Detroit.