Our Story

Hello, I'm Topher. Bessa is owned, designed, and developed by me, a queer man doing his best to build strong LGBTQ communities open to all genders, ethnicities, ages, and abilities. I'm a full-time software engineer in Las Vegas, NV. I studied application development at Colorado State University. I create user-centric products using sound programming, strong design principles, and accessibility guidelines.

Bessa connects you with new and existing people in LGBTQ communities. Everything is designed to encourage discovering and interacting with members. You can post updates, comments, reactions, and message members directly. You can also share LGBTQ-friendly events and places with others. Guidelines and rules help to create a safer space for Bessa members.

Inclusivity

What is inclusivity and just how inclusive should our communities be? Bessa is an experiment to see how inclusive a community can be without sacrificing the safety and culture of the group.

I became infatuated with the idea of communities while living in Oakland, CA where I was witness to a wide range of communities. Each of them created a safe space for its members to grow, be themselves, and embrace their culture. I realized that some were very accepting to newcomers and some were more restricted. Toying with the pros and cons of both, I began to think about which style of community is better: a tight-knit community, completely inclusive, or somewhere in between.

As a queer bisexual man, I decided to start with the LGBTQ community. I created Bessa to see how inclusive to a variety of genders, ethnicities, body types, ages, and more it could be. While its members remain safe, I hope that Bessa will grow into the most inclusive online LGBTQ community and reach people all across the globe.