Queercraft

Sometimes, even the very best ideas take a little time to gain momentum. Don't believe me? Well, my trailblazing business venture – chemistry sets for dogs – has been trading for twenty years and still hasn't made a penny in profit. How else do you explain that?

If you're still not convinced, I've got another (much better) example for you. Back in January 2012 when Beau Hebert started Queercraft, it was a space for him and a few LGBTQ+ friends to hang out. As time went by, though, Queercraft grew into something much bigger. "In truth, I never imagined it would stick around for years," Beau tells us. "But the word spread rapidly and now we're a community with tens of thousands of members in over 70 countries. It can be hard to believe, when I really stop to think about it."

Today, Beau describes Queercraft as "a support network and virtual sanctuary" for the LGBTQ+ community, "a place where LGBTQ+ people (and allies) can spend time together, play games together, support each other, learn from each other, and just be who they are." And it's not just that the server is bigger than it was 12 years ago – Queercraft has also transformed from a ragtag group of friends to a registered nonprofit in that time. "This has allowed us to expand the services we offer, have a broader reach, and demonstrate to people that a Minecraft server is more than just a game. It's a community, creating real friendships and connections between people the world over."

So, what can you expect when you actually join Queercraft? Whether you hop straight into Survival mode or one of the themed creative worlds, you can look forward to a warm welcome. "We make an effort to greet every new member in our community," Beau explains. "Once a new member has reviewed our rules a member of our volunteer staff greets them one-on-one and offers them a tour of the server. This is one of the traditions I am most proud of, and something that makes us uniquely Queercraft. Despite seeing it literally thousands of times now, I still love watching a member of staff walking someone around our spawn area telling them all about our community."

So why has Queercraft stuck around for so long? Beau himself is quick to heap praise on the server's "incredible" volunteer staff. But another reason is undoubtedly that supportive spaces like Queercraft are still powerfully necessary. "Despite the social progress we've made in many parts of the world, the internet can still be a tough place," Beau tells us. "This is especially true for queer people and even more so for young queer people who may just be figuring themselves out and not have a support system in place. It is important that people, of all ages, have a place where they can be themselves, be supported, and be valued and loved." 

"We try our best to celebrate every aspect of this beautiful rainbow we were born into," Beau says. "And we are so very proud."