Urban Bear Founder Launches Queerful, to Support LGBTQ+ Businesses this Holiday Season

8th December 2023 BWM Staff

Robert Valin is mainly known as the founder of Urban Bear, the organization responsible for many of New York City’s biggest and best bear themed nightlife events, but he is also the co-founder of the community focused company called Queerful and we think you should know about it!

Queerful, a social purpose startup, has officially launched with a mission to support, connect, and inspire the LGBTQ+ community. Queerful empowers visitors to support both LGBTQ+ small businesses and grassroots organizations by providing a platform for curated products, with a portion of sales going to support vital community resources.

By spotlighting products exclusively from LGBTQ+ small business owners, Queerful offers you, the consumer, a chance to shop with purpose this holiday season. The launch curation features brands such as Equator Coffee, Poured Candle Bar, Equality Vines, Omsom Asian noodles and sauces, Kafto clothing, Barb hair products, and a selection of branded Queerful merchandise. Your purchase of any one of these wonderful products will not only support a queer owned business, but a portion of the sale will also be donated to the Transgender Law Center, an organization in dire need of our assistance, especially nowadays.

“Queerful is just getting started on our journey to find new ways to strengthen our beloved community at a time when many hard-won rights are at risk,” explained Robert Valin, the company’s cofounder. Queerful’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Jim Obergefell, whose Supreme Court case legalized same-sex marriage adds, “Given the many challenges facing the queer community, the need for a social purpose brand that meaningfully offers support is greater than ever. Queerful is up to the challenge.”