As we enter Black History Month, we recognize that greater diversity in the LGBT business community strengthens us all. An ever-growing number of our Certified LGBTBE® business owners are African American, and their innovations in their fields are not only defining a new age of commerce but shattering stereotypes that inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Throughout the month ahead, the NGLCC will highlight the stories of leaders in our movement to create opportunity and success for all, especially those who have historically been underrepresented in business. If you attended the 2018 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference in Philadelphia you saw our commitment to promoting LGBT unity by ensuring diverse voices are never missing from the conversation again. Despite great advancements, our communities can sometimes feel we are anything but unified. In order for all of us to achieve our maximum potential as business owners, advocates, and citizens we must continue to grapple with historic racial and social biases that have kept us apart as well as celebrate the successes of black leaders in our business community.
Our organizational allies at US Black Chambers Inc., as well as our many allies within the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), have been invaluable in sharing resources, promoting opportunity, and inspiring growth for our diverse business owners in a way that ultimately makes us all stronger.
We also look forward to continuing developing our partnership with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to improve opportunities for LGBT entrepreneurs of color. One of the tools we have to fight discrimination and defend American ideals is economics. The collective economic might of the LGBT community and the communities represented by NMSDC produce nearly $10 trillion in economic power. That kind of leverage should put those who seek to discriminate on notice that our communities stand united for the brightest possible future for diversity in business. In 2018 we celebrated our first Memorandum of Understanding together as well as the first ever LGBT supplier reception held at an NMSDC conference. There has never been a more important time than right now to ensure every community has an equal seat at the table. Bringing NMSDC and NGLCC together like this is a profound statement that the future of America — and thus the future of our economy — is diverse, inclusive, and collaborative
This Black History Month and every month, we encourage you to join us in supporting black-owned and LGBT-owned businesses and lend your voice to promoting unity in the LGBT business community.
In solidarity,
Justin Nelson
NGLCC Co-Founder & President
Chance Mitchell
NGLCC Co-Founder & CEO
