Amelia Crawford and Lucy Claxton are some pretty smart cookies. After feeling uninspired in their respective careers and recognising the severe lack of queer representation in both corporate settings as well as creative industries, the pair decided to launch refleQt – a space designed to highlight and connect queer artists, creators and professionals to their wider community. We sat down with Amelia and Lucy to discuss how refleQt came to be, and why it's so important to raise up the talented peeps of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Howdy! Who the heck are you guys? Lucy: We are the proud founders of refleQt – a queer business directory. We're life partners, business partners, and somehow still best friends! Amelia is a freelance videographer and video producer, and I work in finance – kind of the perfect match for running a business together.

Amelia: Our main goal is to shed light on the diverse narratives within the queer community. We wholeheartedly believe in the power of storytelling and its ability to foster unity and promote understanding, which is why our focus is on written and video pieces. We hope that people can visit our page or attend our events and feel connected, educated, and inspired by our talented community.

What inspired you to start refleQt? Amelia: It all began a few months after we moved to Melbourne. We were sitting at our local wine bar and we thought, "Wouldn't it be great to have a space where we could connect with queer business owners, and hear their stories, too?"

Lucy: Amelia's background in the film and media industry took things to the next level – she realised that we could make these stories even more powerful by capturing them on video. The vision was crystal clear in our minds: an online platform where queer individuals could be celebrated, connected and uplifted.

You are currently working as a power duo. What's it like working small? Amelia: Going into business with your partner is traditionally a bit of a no-go zone. We've had many hour-long disagreements about what colour the background of an Instagram post should be. But truly, as cliché as it sounds, communication has been the key to making it all work for us.

Lucy: It's pretty exciting to have so much creative control, but it can definitely get overwhelming at times. Working side by side and being able to bounce ideas off each other has been incredibly inspiring. It's like having a constant source of motivation (and love) beside me.L: Lucy Claxton R: Amelia Crawford

What are the biggest challenges for queer creators today? Lucy: It's important for us to acknowledge that the experiences of queer creators are so incredibly diverse. If you look at what's happening around the world, the voices of queer people – especially trans and non-binary people of colour – are being silenced. Not every queer creator is afforded the same privilege as us, where we can freely express ourselves on a platform specifically dedicated to sharing queer stories.

How did your previous job experiences prepare you for your current role? Amelia: I've always struggled with the idea of ​​a corporate 9-to-5. I had a job like that for about eight months – commuting every day, doing the office small talk – and honestly, I take my hat off to anyone who can bear it.

Lucy: I've also had many jobs that left me feeling uninspired, which probably fuelled my determination to create something special with refleQt.

What would you be up to if you weren't running refleQt? Amelia: I'd definitely still be doing something creative, because I wouldn't be able to function if that part of me wasn't able to be exercised.

Lucy: Unfortunately, I don't possess the same natural flair for creativity as Amelia does, but I do have a deep love of learning. If given the chance, I'd probably be focusing on furthering my studies with the aim of finding new ways to connect community.

What's your proudest moments with refleQt so far? Lucy: Our launch event in May was an absolute highlight for us. We were so afraid that we'd struggle to sell more than 10 tickets, but all 75 sold out and it was a full house! There was a moment halfway through the night when the room was near capacity that we took a moment to stop, look at each other and just take it all in. Proud doesn't even begin to cover it.

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