Virginia Buckworth
Virginia Buckworth is the founder of Gayle, the first independently-owned LGBTQ+ beer and cider company in Australia — and the world! Buckworth started the company in her home country in 2017 after the nation legalized gay marriage and was brimming with proud anticipation — a moment that Buckworth referred to as “a perfect time for us all to raise a glass and celebrate unity and the LGBTQ+ community with friends and family.” At LA Pride, Gayle (a play on words for “Gay Ale”) launched worldwide and continues to be a brand focused on the celebration of acceptance, diversity, and love. But Gayle isn’t Virginia’s first time in the world of entrepreneurship; she also ran a Sydney-based, women-only nightclub called “The Playground” in the ‘80s. Her entrepreneurial spirit comes from her love of building and supporting communities and is truly at the heart of everything she does. “The most rewarding aspect of my work is to be able to, in a small way, sponsor a range of LGBTQ+ events throughout Australia, SE Asia, and The UK,” Buckworth says, “and support the communities by donating a percentage of profits back.” —GP
