S5, E11: A Cross-Country Journey That Made the World Safer (and More Enjoyable!) for Queer Travelers

In the 11th episode of Travel Tales by Dinogo, Charlie Sprinkman reveals how his adventures across 47 states inspired a career shift and the development of Everywhere Is Queer, a global map and app that connects individuals to queer-owned businesses and provides support for queer teens growing up in small towns.

Transcript

Aislyn Greene: I’m Aislyn Greene, and welcome to Travel Tales by Dinogo. Each week, we share transformative travel stories from poets, scientists, authors, entrepreneurs, and many others. This week, we explore a narrative about how travel can spark a business idea—and the reverse.

Charlie Sprinkman is the visionary behind Everywhere Is Queer, a global map showcasing queer-owned businesses. In early 2024, he introduced the app version for both iOS and Android, simplifying the process for queer individuals and allies to discover welcoming spaces wherever they go. Interestingly, Charlie conceived this idea while traveling across the United States in his van, unsure of the journey it would lead him on.

Charlie Sprinkman: I’ve journeyed across the nation—visited 47 of the 50 states. From Portland, Maine, to Miami, Florida, from Seattle, Washington, to Los Angeles, California, I’ve explored it all. Yet, I believe one of the most extraordinary places in this country is Pewaukee, Wisconsin, where I grew up.

Pewaukee is a quaint town with a population of 12,000, located about 25 miles west of Milwaukee. Growing up there, life revolved around the outdoors. I lived near a large lake, and summer days were blissful, spent swimming and relaxing on the pontoon boat. The lake warmed up so much that you could lounge in the water for hours.

In winter, we embraced iceboating—sailing across frozen lakes on small sleds with blades. When not iceboating, my family and friends enjoyed ice skating. Geographically, it was enchanting in many ways, but . . . there were also challenges.

I was raised in a conservative Catholic environment. Lacking the confidence to openly identify as queer, I felt different, which made my upbringing difficult. In a small town where everyone knows each other, I struggled with many internal battles. Meanwhile, my family attended church twice a week, and I was enrolled in private Catholic education through my freshman year, grappling with confusion and emotions in ways I regret.

Throughout school, I was taught that being gay was a grave sin and that gay individuals were destined for hell. For nine years, from kindergarten to freshman year, I endured that message weekly. I’ll never forget a religion teacher who insisted we boycott Ben & Jerry’s for supporting gay marriage. I vividly remember the moment my friend Bridget and I stood up and walked out of class. Yet, I still wasn't out, convincing myself daily that I was straight.

I had no openly queer aunts, uncles, cousins, or relatives. In fact, there were no out family friends either, leaving me with absolutely no representation while growing up. I didn't have RuPaul’s Drag Race, nor the TVs or internet to discover those spaces.

During my childhood, my family rarely traveled. We never visited New York City or Los Angeles. Living just 25 miles west of Milwaukee, we hardly ventured into the city at all. So, it was a significant moment when I left to attend Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.

In my junior year at college, I found an incredible community and came out to my roommates. I remember sitting in our living room, sharing my truth with each of them. We cried and hugged, and it felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Though it was a challenge for my family initially, they eventually embraced me for who I am. Today, they are my strongest supporters.

Feeling more at ease in my identity after coming out, I landed my first post-college job that required constant travel. That's right—no home base, just a life on the road. I was thrilled to explore more of the country. The company provided me with a van and encouraged me to hit the road, introducing as many people as possible to our product.

I packed my bike, brought my Rollerblades, and had two bags of clothes. I hit the road, living out of various Airbnbs and hotels every night. In 2019 alone, I drove across the country three times, racking up 80,000 miles on the van. That year, I also took between 100 and 200 flights, traveling from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, from Seattle to Tallahassee, Florida, and from Charleston, South Carolina, to Los Angeles.

I explored different routes: southern, northern, and central. I fell in love with New York City, but also discovered charming small towns. In Boone, North Carolina, everyone felt like friends, eager to help one another. Meanwhile, in Boise, Idaho, I stumbled upon a co-op that had some of the best fruit I've ever tasted.

During my travels, I made it a goal to visit co-ops wherever I could. Nebraska might be famous for its cornfields, but I was captivated by a co-op in Lincoln. I bought some exotic fruit that resembled a mix between a kumquat and a kiwi—juicy and full of seeds, though I can't recall its exact name.

As I journeyed, I connected with queer individuals in every state and made it a point to support queer-owned businesses. I enjoyed delicious Chicago-style sandwiches at Sammich in Portland, Oregon, and visited Flowers & Candy, a charming shop in Portland, Maine. Little did I know, these experiences were shaping the concept for Everywhere Is Queer.

After a transformative year on the road, I took another significant step in 2021 by becoming a cabin counselor at Brave Trails. Brave Trails is a queer youth leadership camp for 12 to 18-year-olds. Being surrounded by over 100 queer individuals was euphoric, prompting me to think, How can I create a larger-scale version of this incredible experience? I realized the need to connect the queer and trans community with welcoming spaces beyond just bars and clubs.

After the camp wrapped up, I was driving back to Colorado, where I was living at the time, when the idea suddenly struck me: Everywhere Is Queer, a global map of queer-owned businesses. I pulled over, quickly googled it, but found nothing. Once home, I excitedly shared my concept with my two roommates.

Six months later, I launched my venture. A queer designer in L.A. created my logo. I took to Instagram to announce that I was building a worldwide map of queer-owned businesses. By searching the hashtag queer owned, I discovered over 180,000 instances. I reached out to organizations to inform them that joining our global map was free, and nearly all of them signed up immediately.

I then expanded my search to include hashtags like lesbian owned, gay owned, trans owned, intersex owned, asexual owned, and two-spirit owned. There were countless organizations to connect with. The momentum grew as organizations posted about their acceptance, encouraging even more local entities to apply. Within three months, major media outlets started picking up on my work, and my platform began to expand rapidly.

At that time, I still held a full-time job, but I persevered, and in just two years, our map boasted over 7,000 listed organizations.

Now, it’s my full-time career. Every day, I discover something new about our country, places I want to visit, and exciting additions to my ever-growing bucket list. I've come across incredible organizations, such as People’s Inclusive Welding from Portland, Maine, which offers ‘learn to weld’ courses.

While in Fort Lauderdale, Florida—often misunderstood—I found it to be incredibly queer. The Wilton Manors area felt like a vibrant gay enclave. I met a photographer there who recommended other spots to explore. I envision my platform as a way to connect people; these locations aren’t merely markers on a map; I aspire for our map to serve as a resource for community building.

Now residing in Portland, Oregon, I can step outside my door and find a queer-owned yoga studio, a vintage shop, and a restaurant. I have a queer therapist, a queer bookkeeper, and a queer lawyer. This reality not only feels amazing but allows me to live authentically in ways I never thought possible. During calls with my lawyer, I don’t need to adjust my voice, and I can join video meetings with my accountant without worrying about my painted nails. I shouldn’t have to think twice about being myself, and that’s a life everyone deserves.

My greatest aspiration is to connect with rural America. I adore cities like New York, San Francisco, and L.A., but there are 60 million people in rural areas, and I want to ensure that queer individuals among them feel recognized and valued.

Recently, I received a message from someone in Bend, Oregon. They shared that their trans nephew visited, and thanks to my platform, they were able to take him to trans-affirming spaces—a plant shop, a coffee shop, and a queer-owned restaurant. Now, their nephew is eager to visit again.

I’ve heard countless similar stories. A hair salon in rural Texas told me they gained 15 new clients within just a month of being listed on Everywhere Is Queer. Others have mentioned that our platform has inspired them to embark on cross-country road trips, just like I did.

I often wonder what it would have been like to have this app during my road trips across the country or even in my childhood, growing up in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. How incredible it would have been to relax at a queer-owned coffee shop and witness queer people simply living their lives.

While young Charlie lacked these resources, today's kids in my hometown actually do have access: My map, which took two years to develop (and a lifetime to gain the confidence to create), now features over 10 queer-owned businesses in the Pewaukee area—including a coffee shop, of course.

Aislyn: That was Charlie Sprinkman. His journey continues to thrive. During our companion interview, available on YouTube, he celebrated reaching 100,000 downloads of the app. Applications from queer-owned businesses worldwide keep flooding in. So, if you own a queer business or know one, reach out! Find out more at everywhereisqueer.com and follow on Instagram at @everywhereisqueer.

Next week, we’ll bring you a story from the man who traveled around the world with his dog, Savannah, by his side.

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This has been Travel Tales, brought to you by Dinogo Media. The podcast is produced by Aislyn Greene and Nikki Galteland, with music crafted by Strike Audio.

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