LB Mayor to sit with LGBTQ+ Business Owners for Town Hall Meeting

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PRESS RELEASE

May 2, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LONG BEACH, CA — Now in its 30th year, the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce (LBGLCC), an organization dedicated to the inclusion and empowerment of LGBTQ+ business owners and their allies throughout Southern California, is excited to announce that Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson will be joining local LGBTQ+ & allied Businesses Owners for a luncheon and townhall meeting on May 22, 2023.

Recognizing that the LGBTQ+ community faces struggles that are unique to their community, the mayor’s office has scheduled this unique opportunity for LGBTQ+ and allied business owners to help overcome barriers to growth and success in the community as part of Mayor Richardson’s “Opportunity Beach Agenda”.  To that end, the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce hopes that this meeting will be the first step towards meeting the mayor’s goal of “increasing the number of minority-owned and women-owned businesses” in the city.

Investing in the local LGBTQ+ community is not only done with the goal of helping those who identify as or identify themselves openly as allies; doing so is also a step towards the economic success of the area.  Studies have shown that there is a demonstrated link between LGBTQ+ rights and an area’s economic development,1 pointing out that “there is a strong association between LGBT inclusion and higher GDP per capita.” 2  And while the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is invested in creating a safe and affirming environment for LGBTQ+ and allied business owners in our local area, they are keenly aware of the impact that creating this avenue for visibility has toward building an inclusive community for all.

“We’re living in a time period when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across the country,” says Ellie Dote, the first openly transgender president of the Chamber.  “The fact that the mayor of Long Beach is willing to listen and take action to improve the economic growth that the LGBTQ+ business community brings to the community is an encouraging first step, not only from a financial standpoint but also from a social one in establishing Long Beach’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment in the city and beyond.”  

Tickets to the event, which includes lunch, begin at $25 for LBGLCC members or $35 for non-members until May 10, at which time the price will increase by $10.  Media inquiries may be directed to Ellie Dote, LBGLCC President, at (562) 248-6107 or president@lbglcc.org.

1“The Relationship Between LGBT Inclusion and Economic Development: Emerging Economies.” The Relationship Between LGBT Inclusion and Economic Development: Emerging Economies - Williams Institute, November 1, 2014. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-inclusion-economic-dev/.

2 “Links Between Economic Development and New Measures of LGBT Inclusion.” Links Between Economic Development and New Measures of LGBT Inclusion - Williams Institute, March 1, 2018. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/gdp-and-lgbt-inclusion .

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About LBGLCC

The Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Mission and Vision is to have a positive impact on the LGBT business and professional community and its allies. Our mission is to increase our visibility as a powerful economic force within our LGBT community and the Greater Long Beach Area. The Chamber was founded as the Long Beach Community Business Network in 1992 by a group of gay and lesbian business owners to serve as a networking and support organization for gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses within the greater Long Beach area. Since then we have grown to include gender-expansive businesses from surrounding areas as well. In partnership with other gay and lesbian nonprofit organizations in Long Beach, LBGLCC contributes to the energy and quality of life within the city and surrounding communities.

www.lbglcc.org @lbglcc