NEW YORK, NY, June 24, 2024: For the first time LGBTQ+ people and their allies across the globe can plan and promote their events in a central place, using the Kiki app, technology created by Freshfruit, a queer-owned company.
“It's often a challenge for queer people to find activities and events at home or when they travel,” said Wesley Wade, Freshfruit’s founder and CEO, “especially in places that are hostile to queer folks. There are also few resources that are definitive or trustworthy, and the information is largely too fragmented.”
Whether in-person or virtual, free or paid, public or private, Kiki empowers the queer community to curate, promote and sell tickets to parties, conferences, festivals, concerts, marches and much more.
“We’ve engineered the Kiki platform to create opportunities for the community as well. Kiki helps sole proprietors, LGBTQ+ small businesses and nonprofits to make incremental revenue and manage their business, promote their events, and grow their presence,” said Wade. “We’ve also considered the unique safety and security needs of the community in the function and design of the app, especially for folks in countries that still criminalize same-sex love and public queer identification.”
Mr. Wade, a Black, gay, immigrant founder, and an alum of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, is well aware that, contrary to the app’s tagline, however, not all is fun and games: “When blood relatives turn their back on us, we sometimes find new kin at a bar or on the dance floor. For many, queer events aren’t merely an opportunity to have a good time, they are also occasions for building life-sustaining bonds and camaraderie. Sometimes we are all that we’ve got.”
It is in the backdrop of the current climate when LGBTQ+ people and allies, especially trans folks and drag performers are under attack across the country with discriminatory policies, Freshfruit will show leadership in how to create an inclusive environment where everyone can feel seen and safe. Kiki’s Community Guidelines makes that known most poignantly: “Kiki is a safe space that is free of discrimination, hatred, and bigotry. We don’t condone violence, vandalism, or harm to others. We don’t allow ableism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, racism, or xenophobia. We are a body-positive space, and one that appreciates ideas about gender outside of the binary and of heteronormativity.”
Learn more about the Kiki website and our forthcoming app!
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About Freshfruit
Freshfruit revolutionized the queer landscape in media and marketing with game-changing brands Kiki and Freshfruit magazine. Grounded in creating better representation and fostering connections, our innovative products showcase the rich tapestry of the community, make it easier for queer people to navigate the world, and to connect the global queer population. With queer-forward solutions, we cater to the unique needs of queer folk and prioritize discretion and safety. Our premium brands meet the moment, making the LGBTQ+ experience accessible to allies and marketers alike. We aim to reorient society to recognize the community’s historical contributions as chief cultural architects and to empower queer youth to further champion our common cause. We enshrine this ambition in our tagline, "Make bitter sweet," as a metaphor to repair the historical record, to symbolize the resilience of the queer community, and to perpetuate our enduring magic. Visit our website freshfruitinc.com or follow @freshfruithq and @freshfruitmag on all platforms to learn more.
About Kiki
A product of Freshfruit, Kiki is the hub of queer fun and entertainment. We are the first social activity network and the leading ticketing platform for in-person and virtual events, centering the LGBTQ+ experience. We make it easier for queer people to navigate the world, champion our collective progress, and prioritize discretion and safety. Accessible through both our website and forthcoming app, Kiki empowers LGBTQ+ folks and their allies to discover events and purchase tickets wherever they travel. Learn more at kiki.freshfruitinc.com or follow @kiki.freshfruit everywhere, except on Kiki where our handle is @kiki.
