After years of experience working in the male-dominated carpentry industry, Kate Wilton and Greer Roberts — who both identify as queer — decided to create their own, queer space in the field.
Wilton and Roberts officially started their queer and trans-owned carpentry business, Splitgill Carpentry, on Oct. 3. About half of Splitgill's clientele identifies as queer or trans, Roberts said, and the pair designed the business to ensure their clients feel comfortable and safe when they hire Splitgill to work in their homes.
“It was inspiring for us to step out on our own and get started, knowing that there is a market for us,” Wilton said. “We are needed.”
Wilton and Roberts met in 2021 working for Hope Renovations, a nonprofit construction organization focused on improving accessibility for affordable prices. Wilton said their work at Hope Renovations inspired Splitgill's business model.
“Being able to work with folks who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford services like this was really impactful, and we wanted to be able to continue doing that in some way,” Roberts said.
Wilton and Roberts named their Triangle-based company after the so-called “queer icon” of the plant world: the splitgill mushroom, which has over 20,000 sexes.
Wilton said the carpentry industry is historically dominated by cisgender men and can be toxic and unwelcoming toward other genders. Wilton identifies as queer, and Roberts identifies as queer and trans.
“If it's not cis male dominated, it’s very women centered,” Roberts said. “Which is cool, and that needs to be a space. But that doesn't really fit either of us, so we needed to make our own space.”
Splitgill client Tommy White, who identifies as non-binary, hired Wilton and Roberts to renovate their shower after learning Splitgill is a queer and trans team. White said they were relieved to avoid their usual fear of discrimination when inviting strangers into their home.
