November 20th, 2015
Washington, D.C. – As a historic year for LGBT equality comes to a close, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) recognized outstanding leadership in the LGBT business community on Friday, November 20th at the 2015 National Dinner Awards in Washington, DC.
Among this year’s honorees were MillerCoors, which was recognized as the Corporation of the Year, and LGBT activist Jim Obergefell, who was honored with the NGLCC/American Airlines ExtrAA Mile Award, which celebrates a courageous leader or organization that has championed for LGBT equality despite incredible odds. Additional honors went to the LGBT owned business Social Driver, led by business partners and husbands Thomas Sanchez and Anthony Shop, and Kimberlee Sours, Manager of Supplier Diversity at Capital One Financial Corporation.
The 2015 National Dinner, the thirtieth in NGLCC’s history, was held at the National Building Museum and brought together over 800 business owners, corporate representatives, and LGBT chamber leaders from across the country and around the globe. Coming on the heels of a string of impressive victories for the LGBT community, including a new executive order in Massachusetts to include LGBT businesses in statewide procurement, the mood was jubilant.
“NGLCC is more committed than ever to strengthening the LGBT business community. And we are not alone in that fight,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell. “Over the last year, we have added 19 new corporate partners and they are just as committed to empowering the economic realities for the LGBT community as we are. Through their supplier diversity programs, these new partners join nearly one-third of the Fortune 500 in giving LGBT business owners an equitable seat at the table. ”
Event speakers, including U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro and Jim Obergefell, reflected on the successes of the previous year and reaffirmed the hard work still ahead. Castro also signed a strategic memorandum of understanding between HUD and NGLCC in a show of solidarity and support for the LGBT business community.
NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson reiterated the ongoing importance of fighting for LGBT equality. “There is still much to do in our broader public policy fights for inclusion. I hope we all leave here tonight feeling more inspired for future successes, more driven and more prepared for the battles ahead…there is much still to do, but this is our time and together we can leave an indelible print on history.”
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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
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adam Shapiro
202-427-3603
A PDF version of this press release can be viewed here.
