LoginA call to remember the effectiveness of Grassroots efforts
So... My wife and I founded RainbowWeddingNetwork.com 25 years ago to assist LGBTQ+ couples in finding vendors they could trust to treat our community with respectfulness, safety and joy. And, secondarily, to provide a bridge for LGBTQ+ friendly business professionals to reach out effectively to this particular niche market, because it's a lucrative market, an under-served market... and frankly, a really awesome market (as most of our vendors tell us lol!)
In the course of our workday, we spend much time on outreach: outreach to couples, to continue spreading the word about our resources... and outreach to vendors, to invite them to participate with our expos and RWN's online opportunities.
Depending on the political cycles and other similar factors, the disdain and hatefulness we receive in reply to our outreach spikes. These days of course, as I write this in late July 2025, there's a noticeable spike. Here are just a few comments from yesterday that either landed in our inboxes or were posted to our social media feeds:
*DISGUSTING
*Why not just a "wedding expo" i thought we were done with the alphabet soup bullshit.
*Trash
*Sickening
*Gross
*Nope not right
*Fagotry should be shamed again
*Mentally deranged expo
*You people are the trash that is destroying this country
*Go back to the closet
*No such thing as same sex marriage just two brain dead people wishing they were normal
*Scumbag degenerates
I guess we should be grateful there were no direct death threats yesterday, but still, it's not pleasant to shoulder such comments and such negative energy day after day.
I share this because, well, sometimes it's helpful to share. Here at RainbowWeddingNetwork, we are a very small team, so there's no way to thin out the unpleasant energy associated with these kinds of comments. And sometimes, we think it's important for our couples, vendors and other users to be reminded that yes, we've chosen to take on much of this contemptuousness, so that hopefully our LGBTQ+ couples experience a little less of it as they themselves plan their weddings and committed lives together. But in choosing to shoulder such comments, we do occasionally ask for some help with it.
And these days, given the latest political mandates, the anti-DEI policies, etc... which seriously affect RWN's ability to communicate with our target audiences about utilizing our services (that includes both couples and vendors alike)... We NEED HELP. We need a return to grassroots marketing efforts. We ask simply that those who make use of our resources consider sharing a post on social media about our tour of LGBTQ+ Wedding Expos, or our trusted Online Directory, or our Honeymoon Registry, or LGBTQ+ Planning Tips, so that our brand can continue to expand rather than struggle - particularly at a time in history when perhaps more LGBTQ+ folks than ever can benefit from safe and legit resources such as those offered by RainbowWeddingNetwork.com.
Our services are not perfect. But they are authentic and real and we produce everything we do with Love and a Win-Win ideal in mind. And we sincerely appreciate any help you may care to offer with regard to helping the brand of RainbowWeddingNetwork.com to reach new couples, vendors and advocates out there... and for you to consider utilizing our services yourself as much as possible, whether you're planning a wedding or not.
Check out our Online Directory for a variety of services, beyond wedding planning... RSVP to one of our Expos and network with the businesses and sponsors as you plan your next birthday party or corporate event, or seek out a lawyer, realtor or fertility specialist for your future plans. Share one of our Wedding Tips with hashtags so that we continue to grow our online presence exponentially.
Small businesses like ours, and community organizations (whether non-profit or not) need the help of our savvy and caring consumers right now. Enthusiastically and repeatedly.
THANK YOU!
