GayFOLs is a global online community of LGBTQIA+ Fans of LEGO. We began in September 2015 as a group of 3 friends. Reborn out of a need for a safe space for LGBTQIA+ AFOLs, GayFOLs’ membership experienced a surge beginning in June 2018. Within a year we had 200 members. As of this writing, our membership is over 2000. We are a diverse group, varying in gender expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, and interests, and spanning over 41 countries.
After an uptick in homophobia on Facebook pages during Pride Month 2018, it became apparent that the LGBTQIA+ AFOL community needed a safe space to meet and share their love of the hobby. It has since become a gathering place for members and allies to bond, share their creations, compete in contests, and support each other.
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Brickset Article (“EveryFOL is Awesome”) June 2019 https://brickset.com/article/44991/everyfol-is-awesome-an-introduction-to-gayfols
“A to Z of Awesome” Campaign (6/1/2022) https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2022/may/the-a-z-of-awesome-because-self-expression-and-identity-matter?locale=en-us
WEHO PRIDE STORIES: Bruce Heller – “Everyone is Awesome” (6/3/2021) https://wehotimes.com/weho-pride-stories-bruce-heller-everyone-is-awesome/
YouTube: “LEGO GayFOLs - An Awesome New Organization” (2019)
YouTube: “LEGOPride - Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with LEGO” (2019) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD0sSiGT_t8
“For The Love Of Brick” podcast: Bruce B. Heller — GayFOLs (7/1/2021) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bruce-b-heller-gayfols/id1507321119?i=1000527553485
Pride & LEGO (Brothers Brick) (6/26/2020) https://www.brothers-brick.com/2020/06/26/pride-lego-lgbtq-lego-fans-in-their-own-words-feature/
YouTube: 2nd Annual Virtual Pride Parade & Contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuIKuWNoUME&t=98s
YouTube: 3rd Annual Virtual Pride Parade & Contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRdZWoElUwo
YouTube: 4th Annual Virtual Pride Parade & Contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kihiQiM1vic&t=1s
