Rethinking Business for the LGBTQIA+: One Student’s Mission to Build Queer-Friendly Spaces 

Defining Queer-Friendly Spaces is a Tricky Thing 

In 2019, during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, many members of the LGBTQIA+ community suddenly faced the daunting reality of returning to their childhood homes. For some, coming home meant concealing their identities, navigating daily misgendering, or being denied emotional and financial support simply for being who they are. The crisis exposed a painful truth: safe, affirming spaces for queer people remain scarce—and for many, they are a matter of survival. 

For Roanne Carreon, this reality hit close to home. A student of the Master in Innovation and Business (MIB) program at the Asian Institute of Management, Roanne experienced a deeply difficult period in 2017 that left her confronting her own mental health struggles. That turning point inspired her and her life partner to create Queer Safe Spaces (QSS), a nonprofit dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of LGBTQIA+ Filipinos. What began as a modest Facebook group for authentic self-expression has since grown into a 17,000-strong community, recognized by Meta, Women’s Fund Asia, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. 

With the support of the MIB program, Roanne is working to take Queer Safe Spaces to new heights—anchored by her long-term vision of building the Safe Space Center. Envisioned as a one-stop hub, the center would serve the diverse and evolving needs of queer Filipinos by offering access to inclusive mental health services, elevating queer-owned small enterprises through visibility and support, and acting as a resource center where grassroots organizations can seek funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance. 

Business as an Ally 

To realize her dream, Roanne is actively expanding QSS through programs that reflect its three core advocacies: gender equality, queer mental health, and socioeconomic empowerment. For her, these pillars form the foundation of a more inclusive and sustainable future—one where queer individuals are not just accepted but equipped to thrive. At the heart of these efforts is The Safe Space Project, a flagship initiative that works with food establishments to provide gender-sensitivity training for their staff. The goal is to reduce day-to-day discrimination and make dining spaces genuinely welcoming. Establishments that complete the training receive a “Safe Space” seal that signals to the community their commitment to inclusivity. Some have taken it even further by redesigning restrooms to be all-gender and updating staff nameplates to include pronouns, signaling safety and respect from the moment a customer walks in. 

Beyond just physical spaces, QSS is also building economic pathways for the community. Through SULONG, a financial literacy program tailored for queer women entrepreneurs, QSS helps participants gain the tools and confidence to manage and grow their businesses. Meanwhile, SIBOL, an online panel series, provides a platform for queer founders to share their journeys, challenges, and strategies for resilience. These conversations foster visibility, build networks, and offer practical insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how inclusive business practices can shift systems, open doors, and uplift marginalized voices. 

The Importance of Mental Health and Celebrating Identity

To support mental health, QSS created TeleQueer, a program offering mental health subsidies and online teleconsultations in partnership with YMP LeaD. Through this initiative, LGBTQIA+ individuals gain access to affirming and affordable care from licensed professionals—an especially vital service for those who may not feel safe seeking help in traditional settings. Complementing this is MUSTA, Roanne’s capstone project for the MIB program. Designed as a digital platform, MUSTA uses artificial intelligence, digital diagnostics, and guided counseling to help organizations detect and respond to workplace burnout. These efforts reflect QSS’s broader commitment to holistic well-being—one that includes not just mental health, but also the freedom to express one’s identity without fear. That same spirit fuels Queer Prom, a Pride Month event that reimagines the traditional prom experience as an inclusive celebration of self-expression. While prom is a cultural milestone for many Filipino youth, it has often excluded LGBTQIA+ individuals or forced them to conform to heteronormative standards. Queer Prom creates a space where everyone can be seen, celebrated, and authentically themselves.

Closing the Loop 

For Roanne, the MIB experience has given her more than just business tools; the program gave her a new lens for imagining what community care can look like at scale. Through QSS, her courses, capstone project, and collaboration with fellow changemakers, she’s learned to translate empathy and ideas into impact. It’s a journey that began with her own search for safety and belonging, and has since grown into a movement of support, empowerment, and innovation. By combining her lived experiences with the program’s training, Roanne is learning how to build structures that not only support the LGBTQIA+ community—but truly understand it, respond to it, and grow with it.