Pink Dollar Technologies Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company will launch an app to monitor friendliness and efficiency of shop keepers versus Gay and lesbian consumers. The decision will certainly raise controversies about shops and restaurants owners labelled through the app.
BANGKOK- UK-based Gay Star News talked in its May issue with Paul Ramscar, owner of Pink Dollar Technologies Ltd, and the creator of a new app that harnesses LGBT spending power in Hong Kong. Launched at the end of July, “Pink Dollar” will permit rating Hong Kong businesses on gay-friendliness.
The idea came following a survey published in 2010 by the advertising company Leo Burnett survey which revealed that 95% of the people surveyed would distrust or boycott a brand if they felt that the brand was not gay friendly. The app will all look at places where LGBT might feel comfortable to shop, eat or socialize. According to Mr. Ramscar, LGBT community will go places and rate them.
The idea has since been embraced by some business. “We are in a conversation with a big retailer about having a Pink Dollar shopping evening where they will close down the store and it will just be our members shopping”, he explained to Gay Star News.
Asked about the attitude of Hong Kong towards LGBT, Pink Dollar creator feels disappointed with the lack of progress on legal issues in the society and the acceptance of diversity. “Hong Kong should be leading from the front and trying to do something about this because the time is now. We need more diversity in the workplace. We need legislation. Then I think something would get done”, he highlighted. Before being even launched, it seems that the app has been well received from Hong Kong gay community with many emails expressing their congratulations and satisfaction. “One of them even went so far as to say ‘this could be seen as a historic moment in the evolution of Hong Kong’s gay community’”, added Paul Ramscar.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
