Pink Wallet Blog

Hello everyone,

As 2026 approaches, I want to take a moment to look back at what Pink Wallet achieved in 2025 and share the vision for the year ahead.

A Year of Slow, Steady Growth

In case you didn’t realize it, Pink Wallet's day-to-day operations are currently done by just one person. With the support of my husband Andrew, I carve out time to make this vision a reality.

About this time last year, I was rebooting Pink Wallet for what felt like the umpteenth time. I made a personal commitment to post at least one Instagram story every single day for a full year. Today, I’m proud to say I made good on that commitment!

As a result, we have reached a major milestone: 1,000 followers on Instagram. It isn’t just about the numbers. It is about validation. It tells me that word is getting out, the mission is resonating, and people want to support our local queer economy.

First In-Person Events

2025 was a year of "firsts." We took Pink Wallet into the physical world with our first in-person events, and I want to thank the people who made them possible.

  • Break Into Your Pride: Our booth at Break Room Therapy was a highlight of the year. Being able to talk to so many of you face-to-face reminded me why this work matters. I am already looking forward to Break Into Your Pride 2026! A special thanks goes to Dawn Levian. She was one of the first people to buy a Pink Wallet membership earlier this year and she models what real allyship looks like.

  • LGBTQ+ Business Meetup @ Lotus Brew: We attempted to organize an LGBTQ+ business meetup at Lotus Brew. While the event didn't quite take off as planned, the experience taught me invaluable lessons about community organizing and timing. I am carrying those lessons forward and am incredibly grateful for Max Freeman’s ongoing support and advice.

Both Break Room Therapy and Lotus Brew offer generous discounts for Pink Wallet members. Be sure to check them out!

Challenges of 2025

I would say 2025 clearly illustrated the “why” behind Pink Wallet. The need for LGBTQ+ solidarity has never been more pressing. But it was also the most challenging year for the "how." Inflation has not just raised the cost of living; it has taken a toll on many LGBTQ+ businesses. In some cases, they have had to significantly restructure or cut hours. In other cases, they have closed entirely.

You may have also noticed that Pink Wallet does not run ads on Meta, Google, or other corporate platforms. This is a conscious, ideological choice. Our mission is to keep money within our local LGBTQ+ community. Using non-local, corporate advertising to reach local members feels antithetical to that goal. We grow through word-of-mouth and community presence, even if that path is slower.

Pink Wallet’s 2026 Roadmap

With your help, I have set five clear, achievable goals for the coming year:

  1. More Face Time: Table at a local business at least three times. I have found that 1:1 conversations are the most powerful way to grow this movement.
  2. Stickers: Print our first run of Pink Wallet stickers! You have asked for them, and now that we have built up some modest savings, we are making it happen.
  3. More Materials: Print business cards to make outreach and promotion more effective.
  4. Grand Rapids Pride: We're going to Pride! Raise the remaining funds needed for a two-day booth at Grand Rapids Pride, as well as stickers and business cards. We are incredibly close to this goal.
  5. The Stretch Goal: If we exceed our targets, I want to bring Pink Wallet to Holland Pride and Lowell Pride as well.

Member-Supported

Going forward, I am reframing how Pink Wallet is positioned. Pink Wallet is a member-supported events, business, and resource directory.

Think of Pink Wallet like you would a community-supported radio station, such as WYCE. Pink Wallet remains a free resource for the entire community. There are no paywalls and there is no required registration.

But for those who choose to become sustaining members, you unlock exclusive discounts from our local partners. Your membership not only keeps Pink Wallet running, but it can also more than pay for itself in savings.

It is a win-win-win: you save money, local queer-supporting businesses get more traffic, and Pink Wallet stays sustainable.

Thank You

Thank you for supporting Pink Wallet. And thank you for helping us keep our money local and keep our money queer.

See you in 2026,

Joe LeBlanc

Founder, Pink Wallet

The following businesses just joined Pink Wallet!

Killa Styles by Kira is an independent hair stylist in Lilith's Lair, specializing in vivid hair color, alternative hair styles, and makeup artistry. Killa Styles has Pay What You Can haircuts every third Thursday of the month, and is now offering 15% off all services with a Pink Wallet membership anytime.

Morning Ritual Coffee Bar is located in downtown Grand Rapids at 150 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 101. It offers drip coffee, espresso-based drinks, teas, and caffeine-free options. Morning Ritual is open every day from 7am to 7pm.

Inkwell Archives is an independent bookstore and event space in Middleville. It offers book clubs, trade-ins on used books, and a no-questions-asked community gift card that people can use to buy books.

Please visit these businesses in our local queer community as you are able to!

Do you have a business that isn't yet on Pink Wallet? We have free and paid listing options available for you to join today.

This Giving Tuesday, Pink Wallet wants you to support our local nonprofits serving the LGBTQ+ community. We have so many organizations doing vital work of supporting the queer community through programs including (but not limited to) these:

  • food pantries
  • youth programs
  • harm reduction
  • name change support
  • gender affirming supplies and care
  • community support groups

All of this happens because of people like you, who support this crucial work. To give you even more incentive to support these nonprofits, we are offering a free Pink Wallet membership to anyone who donates $25 or more to a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit.

To claim your discounted membership, do the following:

  • create a free trial Pink Wallet account
  • screenshot or forward your donation receipt to support@pinkwallet.app
  • we'll verify your donation and activate a membership good through May 31st, 2026

Some of the nonprofits we would love to have you support include:

Thank you for supporting our local queer nonprofits!

(Mutual aid for laid-off General Wood Shop employees, contributions towards Lotus Brew’s Support The Shop fund, and support for Betka Pope Productions also count towards your $25 donation.)

This year has been rough for small businesses across the country. That is especially true for queer-owned businesses.

Shops are seeing less foot traffic. People are spending less due to inflation and tariffs. LGBTQ+ bars and third places are also at risk.

Pink Wallet exists to support the queer + ally business community in West Michigan. We do this through listing events and businesses, as well as offering exclusive discounts when you buy a membership.

We were preparing to offer a Small Business Saturday discount on Pink Wallet memberships. But given the sudden closure of General Wood Shop, we are going to do something different.

Now through December 7th, spend $25 or more at any local LGBTQ+ business and receive a free six month Pink Wallet membership. This membership gives you access to discounts at 11 local LGBTQ+ and ally owned businesses.

Pink Wallet exclusive offers include the following:

  • $1 off drinks at Lotus Brew
  • 10% off haircuts at Punch Up Barbershop
  • $5 bonus credit at The Bluestocking Bookshop

To claim your discounted membership, do the following:

  • create a free trial Pink Wallet account
  • screenshot or take photos of your receipts and send them to support@pinkwallet.app
  • we'll verify your purchase and activate your six-month membership

Thank you for supporting our local queer businesses!

(Mutual aid for GWS employees and contributions towards Lotus Brew’s Support The Shop fund also count towards spending.)

Welcome to the first edition of Pink Wallet News! This newsletter keeps you informed about events, news, and updates in the LGBTQ+ community of West Michigan.

Ponyboi is on!

The Grand Rapids Trans Foundation successfully completed a crowdfunding campaign to host a Ponyboi screening at AMC Grand Rapids 18 on December 3rd, 2025.

Ponyboi is an independent dramatic film featuring an intersex character. Synopsis from the Gathr website:

Unfolding over the course of Valentine's Day in New Jersey, a young intersex sex worker must run from the mob after a drug deal goes sideways, forcing him to confront his past.

If you backed it, you now have a reservation for a ticket! If not, there is still time to reserve tickets.

West Michigan Voices of Pride Winter Concert

West Michigan Voices of Pride Winter Concert Poster

West Michigan Voices of Pride is hosting TWO winter concerts: one on December 13th at 7pm and one on December 14th at 3pm. Both will be at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids. Get your advance tickets today!

Lotus Brew Community Dinners go weekly

Lotus Brew Community Dinner

Lotus Brew has now extendeded their regular Community Dinner & Queer Potluck to every Sunday from 6-8pm. The potluck is free and there is no need to bring anything.

If you are bringing a dish, please email lotusbrewcoffee@gmail.com ahead of time. Please include a list of allergens in the dish and whether or not pets were present in the house when you made it.

The 12th House physical shop is closing

The 12th House is closing its physical shop on December 23rd, 2025. While the physical space will be closing, The 12th House will continue to share art, readings, and intention-filled goods at local markets, pop-ups, and community events.

The 12th House is currently hosting a "Donations for Discounts" event where customers can donate goods for unhoused people and receive discounts on purchases. These goods will be distributed through organizations such as the Grand Rapids Pride Center and AYA Youth Collective.

The rebuild of Pink Wallet is now complete!

This new version improves the usability, performance, and discoverability of the site. The hope is to bring in more traffic from search engines so more people can find LGBTQ+ businesses and events here in West Michigan.

With this overhaul, I'm inviting anyone in our community who owns an LGBTQ+ friendly business to list it for FREE.

It doesn't matter if...

  • your business is big or small
  • you sell goods or provide services
  • you have a physical storefront or operate online
  • you are just starting out or have been in business for years

As long as your business is LGBTQ+ inclusive and is in West Michigan, it belongs on Pink Wallet!

P.S. For many of you who have been following from the beginning, this is the FOURTH major overhaul of the site. What you see today is the result of your feedback and input. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement; it keeps me motivated when life gets busy. xoxo