| ABOUT THE GOLDEN GATE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
In 1974 the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) began as the first business organization founded by gay and lesbian entrepreneurs. Our purpose was and still is to support the growth and visibility of the LGBT community and supportive businesses. We provide a forum where our members can address their unique concerns. We promote human rights issues in the workplace and in our society at large through education and positive exposure. We depend on our loyal membership and friends within the community to help us prosper in the future and cope with the ever changing economic and social environment.
Through networking and mentoring opportunities as well as informal business advice, we are able to provide our members with business referrals and leads, professional insight, educational programs, visibility in the community, and a sense of camaraderie as they face the task of doing business in today’s rapidly changing and increasingly challenging business conditions.
For over thirty years, the GGBA has served as a dynamic voice for the Bay Area’s LGBT businesses. Specifically, it has built a community of excellent LGBT businesses with significant value for the economy and has provided a strong voice both to the Office of the Mayor and to the members of the Board of Supervisors. Recently, the GGBA launched the Tourism Advisory Program (TAP), a cooperative effort between the GGBA, the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, and the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Committees. This historic coalition’s goal is to create and maintain a coordinated campaign to attract LGBT tourists to San Francisco.
For more information about the GGBA or any of its programs, please call us at (415) 865-5545. Please get involved with your local chamber of commerce.
GGBA Milestones
1974 - San Francisco's lesbian and gay business community establishes the first LGBT Chamber of Commerce
1977 -
Harvey Milk and George Moscone attend GGBA annual fundraising dinner
1979 -
Word "gay" first used publicly by GGBA
GGBA & BACW jointly produce annual holiday party at Sheraton Palace Hotel
1980 -
GGBA Foundation founded - first LGBT foundation dedicated to LGBT causes
First grant is issued to JOBPOWER & the Lesbian Rights Project
Lesbian Rights Project is later renamed NCLR
1981 - GGBA foundation makes first arts grant to Gay Theatre & Lilith women's theatre
GGBA awards ten grants totalling $2,550
1982 - First grant given to HIV/AIDS service providers
First grants given to Lyon-Martin Women's Clinic & CUAV
1983 - Frameline & SF Sex Information receive first grant
SF Chamber of Commerce partners with GGBA to support gay employment rights bill
1984 - First part-time staff member hired, Development Director Bruce Harris
Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center in San Jose receives 1st grant from GGBA
1985 - Project Open Hand receives its first grant from GGBA
GGBA funds The Times of Harvey Milk, documentary wins an Academy Award
Clint Hockenberry takes over as Development Director
1986 - GGBA foundation formally elect to give money away rather than build an endowment
Cheri Bryant becomes Development Director
Foundation accepts its first planned gift following death of Bruce Harris from AIDS
GGBA coordinates bike-a-thon fundraiser
1987 - Names Project founded & receives first grant from GGBA
Panels from AIDS Quilt are displayed at GGBA's 22 on Red fundraiser
1988 - GGBA Foundation is renamed Horizons Foundation
Horizons Foundation hires Doug Braley as Executive Director
GGBA founding member Small Business Network
GGBA founding member Western Business Alliance
1993 - GGBA receives Mike Newton Memorial Service Award
Mayor Frank Jordan declares 2/6/93 GGBA day
GGBA announces its first Business Awards
1999 - GGBA celebrates its 25th Anniversary at City Hall
2000 - GGBA relaunches website
2002 - GGBA moves into office space at LGBT Center
2003 - GGBA founding member National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
GGBA publishes first Pride Pages Directory
GGBA's TAP - Tourism Advisory Program established
2004 - GGBA celebrates its 30th Anniversary
2006 - GGBA hires Executive Director Katherine Dean
GGBA's Travel & Advisory Program (TAP) partners with the SF Convention & Visitors Bureau
GGBA expands to Peninsula through creation of a Business Exchange Network
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