Meet One Of TikTok’s 2024 LGBTQIA+ Visionary Voices: Rainbow Certified

TikTok’s diverse LGBTQIA+ community has always been a beacon of creativity, advocacy, and joy – creating safe spaces for people to express themselves authentically. Every day, LGBTQIA+ creators educate, inspire and fearlessly advocate for their communities on TikTok. The 2024 TikTok LGBTQIA+ Pride Visionary Voices List recognizes 15 extraordinary LGBTQIA+ creators, industry disruptors and small business owners who champion the LGBTQIA+ community. Among the recognized Visionary Voices: @rainbowcertified of Ontario. Sarah Couvillon and Rachael Newby are the creators of Rainbow Certified. Combining their love for creativity and their passion for the LGBTQIA+ Community, they created a brand that celebrates Pride 365 days of the year by creating apparel and accessories. We chatted with them to learn more. —Vita Daily

Can you share your journey of becoming a content creator on TikTok and what inspired you to start creating content that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community?

Funny enough, we weren’t convinced about TikTok when the platform started to gain popularity. We always thought the app was geared towards a younger audience and that we wouldn’t fit in. Then my (Sarah) younger brother, Alex, who is Gen Z, mentioned how small businesses were gaining significant reach on the app and suggested we give it a try. So, I downloaded it and was immediately hooked!

We started creating content for our business and learned as we went along. We’ve been learning from other LGBTQ+ creators, fellow businesses, our followers, and everyone on the platform about how to improve and amplify our voices and business presence.

How has your experience as an LGBTQIA+ creator on TikTok helped you connect with and build a supportive community?

Creating content about our LGBTQ+ business and ourselves as a queer couple has allowed us to connect with incredible people worldwide – people we might not have reached otherwise. We’ve been able to build a community of supporters for both our business and the LGBTQ+ community. It’s truly beautiful to witness how the LGBTQ+ community and its allies can come together and support each other.

What impact do you hope your content has on your audience, especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community?

We hope that people in the LGBTQ+ community can see that queer individuals belong in all spaces and aspects of life. You can be queer and be a business owner, be in a happy relationship, and that the world is better because you are in it. In a world often filled with negativity and numerous attempts to pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, representation of our community is now more crucial than ever.

Can you talk about any challenges you’ve faced as an LGBTQIA+ content creator and how you’ve overcome them?

Unfortunately, being part of the LGBTQ+ community and openly sharing our lives online often attracts negativity and hateful comments. However, this only strengthens our determination. These individuals and their hurtful comments are precisely why we continue our work. They fuel our commitment to advocate for safer spaces, love, and equality.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for your content and your advocacy within the LGBTQIA+ community?

We want everyone to feel that their voices and identities are heard and acknowledged! In our business, we strive to create apparel and accessories that cater to all genders and sexual identities, which we then share with the world through our website and content.

It makes us so happy when people leave a note saying how ecstatic they are that they see their flag and how it may be hard to find elsewhere – providing that sticker or pin can truly brighten someone’s day.

That’s why we remain dedicated to this cause! Our goal is to use our platform to consistently uplift those who feel marginalized and ensure they feel seen and appreciated.

Finally, who are some of your favourite content creators to follow on TikTok?

Some of our favorite LGBTQ+ creators are: 

• Hannah Lewis – @lesbimum
• Laura Orgill – @lauraorgill
• Pierre Amaury Crespeau – @itspierreboo
• Chris Olsen – @chrisolsen