26-05-2025
Who needs Twitter when a queer woman just created a social app for the LGBTQ+ community?
Finding ways to connect and hold onto queer joy is tricky in 2025, and while you may think another app is the last thing you need to accomplish this, J. Zakira Wise thinks technology may be the key to bringing LGBTQ+ people together.
On May 14, Wise launched MyPride, a LGBTQ+ community-driven app built by and for queer people to connect people to mutual aid, local events, and 'meaningful social connection during Pride Month and beyond.'
Think Bluesky, but with ways to connect you to events and organizations that matter to queer people.
The combination of giving birth to her first child and the changing political landscape that has particularly impacted queer youth, led Wise to create MyPride, a LGBTQ+ community-driven app built by and for queer people to connect people to mutual aid, local events, and meaningful social connection, not just during Pride Month, but all year round.
'Given the current political climate, I wanted to create a digital community space for people to share queer joy, news, resources, and events,' Wise tells PRIDE. 'As the major platforms roll back protections for the LGBTQ+ community, it feels more important than ever to have a social space built by us and for us.'
Courtesy of J. Zakira Wise
MyPride
Back in 2019, Wise created Mesh, a company that creates custom social networks, but by the time the end of 2024 had rolled around she was no longer satisfied and wanted to 'focus full time to support the LGBTQ+ community.'
MyPride was born from one queer woman's desire to use the technology she had already created for Mesh to provide tools for organizers to find, build, and grow their communities.
On the MyPride app, users can join private or public groups based on shared interests, identities, or location, discover everything from Pride Month festivals to educational workshops in their area, get a curated and verified news feed with timely updates on issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, and get crucial access to health, advocacy, and educational resources.
And unlike X (formerly Twitter), the social app is committed to content moderation and safety. Members are even given tools to report hateful content or accounts, control who sees their content, and managed who can join their groups and events.
"My hope is that MyPride will become the digital hub for queer people and organizations to connect with each other, share news impacting their local communities, and celebrate their Pride,' Wise says.
MyPride is available now for free on iOS and Android devices.
