Many times we receive requests from the LGBT Community for help finding resources that pertain to their businesses. The first place that an LGBT owned and operated business should start is their local LGBT Chamber of Commerce. While some cities don’t have a Chamber focused solely on the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender community there are many cities throughout the United States that do. Also, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce exists to be the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancement for LGBT people. They have compiled a list of their local affiliate chambers across the United States and the globe.
These LGBT chambers are a wonderful resource to the community. They have prominent board members that are leaders in the local community and have tools, advice, and LGBT allies that are willing to help the community grow their businesses and networks.
We have compiled a list of all the LGBT Chambers in the United States to help our local LGBT friendly wedding vendors as well as LGBT allied vendors find more ways to network with each other and grow their businesses to the LGBT community. If we have missed any LGBT Chamber that should be on this list, let us know and we will gladly include them.
Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
No shock here, Austin has a wonderful LGBT Chamber. Their main objectives are to advocate, connect and educate the local community on the ways to increase supplier diversity and they provide many networking opportunities for Austin based LGBT owned businesses.
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce represents hundreds of LGBT owned businesses and allied businesses in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is located in West Hollywood, California and advances common business interests, economic growth, and equality in the workplace and society for its LGBTQ members, businesses, and allies by providing educational, networking, and community building opportunities.
Hawaii Rainbow Chamber of Commerce
The Hawaii Chamber of Commerce has a board that is completely voluntary. They value diversity and inclusion. The Hawaii Rainbow Chamber of Commerce champions the advancement of economic opportunities for Hawaii’s LGBT community and for those who support equality for all – IE allies.
LGBT Chamber of Commerce Illinois (Chicago)
The LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois is located in Chicago in the gay neighborhood known as Boystown. Their list of events and corporate partners is diverse and immense. Not only do they serve the community, they promote their member businesses and champion LGBT business interests to the state and local governments.
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce New York, New York
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce New York (nglccNY) provides its members with transformational networking and educational opportunities that increase the financial, intellectual, and social capital of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender business community.
Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (Hartford)
The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber (CTGLC) provides valuable business development opportunities, financial access and educational resources to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and allied business community in the greater Connecticut area. As the official affiliate chamber of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), CTGLC is the voice of hundreds of LGBT-owned businesses and actively promotes and creates supplier diversity and procurement opportunities for its growing base of corporate partners and business members.
Capital Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (Washington D.C.)
The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CAGLCC, or just “the Chamber”) is the non-profit, not-partisan network of several hundred queer and allied (Q&A) businesses and business leaders in the DC metropolitan area. Through its extended network of community partners and event participants in the capital area LGBT community, it regularly reaches approximately 5,000 individuals through is messaging, networking events, and workshops.
The Chamber is an affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and was awarded Chamber of the Year in 2012. It has ranked in the top 20 Washington Business Journal’s List of Chambers of Commerce for multiple years.
Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
GPGLCC promotes business development to increase economic opportunities for members, the LGBT community and all who support business equality. GPGLCC is the oldest non-profit LGBT Chamber of Commerce in the nation, celebrating its’ 35th anniversary in 2015. They represent over 2000 members and individuals in the community, GPGLCC enjoys a national reputation for being one of the most successful and fastest growing chambers according to the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber’s mission is to provide an opportunity for gay and lesbian business owners and their straight allies to form enduring relationships through professional programming, mixers, networking events, business activism and by supporting Phoenix charitable organizations.
For a complete list of all the LGBT Chambers in the United States click here. Find a local LGBT Chamber and join for a year to network and grow your business to local allies and meet other LGBT business owners.