April 7, 2016
Washington, DC – The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, and our local affiliate chambers, Independence Business Alliance and the Central Pennsylvania Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce are grateful to Governor Tom Wolf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the introduction of two Executive Orders that will greatly benefit the economic and social wellbeing of the LGBT community. For LGBT citizens in Pennsylvania, these policies provide equal access to public services, as well as business opportunities that cultivate innovation, create jobs, and drive economic growth throughout the Commonwealth.
One Executive Order prohibits discrimination in the awarding of state contracts and grants on the basis of race, gender, creed, color, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. The inclusion of LGBT business owners in this prohibition of discrimination follows the lead of California (AB1678) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (EO 565). The other Executive Order states that no agency under the Governor’s jurisdiction shall discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, or disability.
“We applaud Governor Wolf for these proactive orders that will have dramatic economic impact on his state. He clearly agrees with NGLCC that an economy only succeeds when its workforce and supply chains are fully inclusive, free from fear and discrimination,” said NGLCC President & Co-Founder Justin Nelson. “To prohibit discrimination against LGBT business owners in contracting is a bold step, and the next logical step is the intentional inclusion of Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) companies in all statewide contracting and procurement opportunities alongside women, minority, disability and veteran owned businesses. We stand ready to work in partnership with Governor Wolf’s administration to implement such an initiative as we have with California, Massachusetts, corporations, and federal agencies.”
Currently over 1/3 of the Fortune 500, along with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the California Public Utilities Commission, actively seek and utilize NGLCC Certified LGBTBE® suppliers. They offer replicable frameworks to promote the intentional inclusion of the LGBT business community alongside these powerful orders for nondiscrimination and equal access.
“While other states are irreparably damaging their economic prospects and their public opinion through discriminatory “religious freedom” laws, Pennsylvania is setting a precedent that the American Dream should be accessible to all Americans,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & CEO Chance Mitchell. “As we have seen everywhere pro-LGBT inclusive policies are enacted, we can expect a major increase in job-creating, economy-innovating LGBT businesses to thrive throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
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ABOUT NGLCC:
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses. www.nglcc.org | @NGLCC
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jonathan Lovitz
Vice President of External Affairs
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
954-695-5896
Access this press release as a PDF here.
