Published: Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A first-of-its-kind law in California is aimed at helping certified businesses owned by those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The…
By Lisa Leff, Associated Press
Published: Friday, Jan. 2, 2015
SAN FRANCISCO — As a Mexican-American woman who started her own consulting firm in Los Angeles, accountant Sonia Luna has taken advantage of programs aimed at helping minority- and women-owned businesses compete for government and corporate contracts. But increasingly, the fact that Luna also is a lesbian entrepreneur hasn’t hurt either.
Federal agencies, organizations such as the National Football League and more than one-third of Fortune 500 companies are now trying to expand their vendor pools by explicitly encouraging bids from gay, lesbian and transgender contractors.
The little-known outreach efforts mirror long-standing “supplier diversity” initiatives aimed at creating economic opportunities for businesses owned by racial minorities, women and disabled veterans.
“It allows me to be even prouder of who I am,” said Luna, who hopes her firm, Aviva Spectrum, will benefit from a new California law requiring large utility companies to report how much they spend with LGBT contractors. “And it allows the marketplace to acknowledge a class that has been denied recognition as a minority group.”
The trend has not been without controversy.
By Kevin Majoros , Washington Blade
Published: Thursday, Dec, 4, 2014
Over the past few years, several professional, college and Olympic athletes have come out of the closet. And the sports communities from which they come have launched diversity training programs and guidelines to educate their athletes, coaches and staff.
It is safe to say that the sports world is paying attention to the LGBT community.
Earlier this summer, it was announced that the United States Tennis Association had become a corporate partner with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and would be opening their supply chain to LGBT-certified businesses.
And now, the National Football League has announced that the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee will include Bay Area LGBT-certified businesses in its Business Connect program for contracting opportunities related to the Super Bowl championship game to be held at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 7, 2016.
By Eddie Robinson, The Outfield, SirusXM Entertainment Published: Monday, Nov. 17, 2014 Listen to GGBA Public Policy Chair Paul Pendergast and San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee…
By Pete Kane, SF Weekly
Published: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014
Apart from certain religious hierarchies, professional sports remains perhaps the biggest pocket of institutional homophobia left in American society.
But that, too, might be changing.
The Chronicle reported last week that in preparation for Super Bowl 50 (which will be played in 2016 at Levi’s Stadium), the National Football League is adding LGBT-owned small businesses to its outreach efforts. Business Connect, which is intended to “increase opportunities for minority, women, disabled veteran” and LGBT-owned businesses, is a joint project between the NFL and the Bay Area’s host committee. Apart from being the right thing to do, it’s also a shrewd business move in such an LGBT-heavy region.
By John Coté, San Francisco Chronicle
Published: Sunday, November 9, 2014
It’s not quite painting a rainbow on the logo for Super Bowl 50, but it’s a step in that direction.
The National Football League is showing a more inclusive side with its landmark 50th anniversary Super Bowl, which will be played at the 49er’s new Levi’s Stadium. The league and event organizers are set to announce Monday that, for the first time, the NFL will expand its outreach on contracting opportunities for the 2016 event to businesses owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
“I think it’s incredible history that’s being made right here in San Francisco, and what better place for it to happen?” said Robb Fleischer, president of the Golden Gate Business Association, the nation’s first LGBT chamber of commerce. “I think it sends a message nationwide.”
Super Bowl 50 will be played at the stadium in Santa Clara, but about 10 days of lead-up activities, including parties and the Super Bowl Village, will be in San Francisco, with its rich history of gay-rights activism.
The NFL’s move comes as a stream of court rulings have come down in favor of same-sex marriage and a week after Apple CEO Tim Cook, revealed he was gay.
The NFL already targets small businesses owned by minorities, women and disabled veterans in its effort to line up local vendors through its Business Connect program for the lead-up and production of the Super Bowl. Bay Area LGBT business owners were thrilled about being added to the list.
By Carolyn Tyler, ABC 7 News Published: Monday, November 10, 2014 SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) - Super Bowl 50 is coming to Levi's Stadium in 2016. WATCH VIDEO: http://abc7news.com/business/lgbt-veterans-open-to-bid-on-super-bowl-contracts/389501/ On Monday,…
Published: September 19, 2013 By Jason Holstein As Golden Gate Business Association’s recently hired Managing Director, I am humbled to stand on the shoulders of giants. GGBA…
The GGBA is proud to announce our newest partner: San Francisco Federal Credit Union. Welcome aboard!
Our mission is to champion opportunity, development, and advocacy for our LGBTQ+ & Allied business community. We create opportunity for marketing, networking, procurement, and referral-based business growth; programs that support the development of business skills and expertise through workshops and seminars; and we advocate for positive economic, social, and political change.
