In an exclusive conversation with Deccan Chronicle, Papri Dev, Vice President of Communications for APAC at Tinder, reveals the motivations and impacts of Tinder's Queer Made Weekend, an initiative dedicated to supporting and celebrating LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs in India. Through this insightful dialogue, we explored Tinder's broader commitment to inclusivity and acceptance, the tangible effects of Queer Made Weekend on participating businesses, and future plans for this vibrant event. In 2021, Tinder launched Queer Made in partnership with Little Black Book and Gaysi Family, to provide a digital space for over 100+ LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs and business owners.
It is a space dedicated to celebrating, supporting and amplifying businesses and products made, owned and/or run by India’s LGBTQIA+ community. The aim was to empower entrepreneurial voices, foster discovery, and inspire users in-app and online to deepen their allyship, a commitment that continues today. The initiative expanded IRL in 2022, where Tinder organized a two-day festival, Queer Made Weekend in Delhi and last year, Tinder expanded the festival to Delhi and Mumbai, with a footfall of 30k+.
This year, over 30 LGBTQIA+ owned businesses from diverse categories such as Fashion, Art, Merch, Accessories etc., from across India were featured at Tinder’s Queer Made Weekend, along with 10+ artist line-ups in both cities such as Sushant Divgikar, Kofi Kofi, Anika Singh, among many more from the community. As a strong al.
