Just over a year ago, on December 7, 2017, Parliament voted overwhelmingly to legalize same-sex marriage in Australia, following a national referendum that showed strong support from the public.

Soon afterward, marriage celebrant Stephen Lee married the first male same-sex couple since marriage equality was legalized.

Stephen says that 2018 has been his busiest year ever, with 40 percent of his business coming from same-sex weddings.

Stephen is active on Google My Business, which lets him manage his listing on Search. GMB includes an attribute that business owners can add to their listing to let potential customers know that they’re an LGBTQ-friendly business.

While marriage equality has been legal in Australia for over a year, finding businesses that are open to everyone hasn't always been easy for members of the LGBTQ+ community. But little things can make a difference. The LGBTQ-friendly attribute on Google My Business is one way that business owners can let customers know they're welcome.

Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is a milestone event for the LGBTQ+ community, attracting over 500,000 individuals from across the world to celebrate. Rather than using this as an opportunity for self-promotion, Google was able to meaningfully contribute to the LGBTQ+ community through education - humbly contributing to the celebrations and conveying our values & mission as a company.