Gay it Forward, a coupon site similar to Groupon or LivingSocial, is launching in Charlotte, sending out deals for discounts at gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses.
Co-founder Dan Mauney said the aim is to support businesses that support the LGBT community. "If you support our community, we'll support yours from a business standpoint," he said. "We've got your back if you've got ours."
Mauney is one of the people behind Takeover Friday, a 10-year-old event that was designed to get the LGBT community into new social venues. Gay it Forward has an extensive list of contacts, both gay and gay-friendly people, Mauney said, from Takeover Friday that it will be able to use to promote the new business.
"The Groupons of the world are great, but they don't always cater to our community, or who we want to do business with," said Mauney. On Gay it Forward, the business will work the same way as Groupon (consumers buy a certificate for a steeply discounted deal, then redeem it with the merchant).
Mauney said businesses can use the site to promote their businesses to a very focused, loyal demographic.Gay it Forward will also be giving consumers the option of donating to gay-focused charities, including Time Out Youth, the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network and the LGBT Community Center.
The first deal to be offered on the site is a coupon for The Wine Loft, at 2201 South Boulevard, Mauney said. He said Gay it Forward has commitments from multiple local businesses to offer deals on the site.
With Charlotte as its launch pad, Mauney said he hopes to expand Gay it Forward to Raleigh, Atlanta, and nationwide. The launch of the site is especially significant in the wake of Amendment One's passage, which constitutionally defines marriage as between only a man and a woman in North Carolina.
"It's unified our community," Mauney said. "I'm staying in North Carolina. I'm not going anywhere, and I choose to do business in North Carolina."