Largest LGBT Economic Organization Announces First Ever Endorsement Citing Clinton’s Record on Small Business and LGBT Progress
Washington,
D.C.- The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the
business voice of the LGBT community, publicly announced its
unprecedented endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President of the
United States. NGLCC’s Board of Directors, comprised of LGBT and allied
business leaders with experience in the public and private sectors,
recently voted to endorse Secretary Clinton during the organization’s
2016 International Business & Leadership Conference.
“The National
Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has never endorsed a candidate in
its nearly fifteen year history, but the stakes have never been so high
for the future of the LGBT business community. Hillary Clinton is the
progressive champion our businesses and our families need to thrive,”
said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell. “The LGBT community has
come too far to lose its seat at the table, and we are certain that
Secretary Clinton will be the President fighting for the collective
economic and social longevity of America’s 1.4 million LGBT business
owners.”
Secretary
Clinton has denounced LGBT discrimination as not only morally wrong,
but fundamentally bad for business. NGLCC leadership considers her
election imperative to the well being of America’s economy and the
monumental gains achieved in recent years for the LGBT community. Among
the policies NGLCC cites for their historic endorsement are her
commitments to cutting red tape and unnecessary tax burdens on small
businesses; as well as preserving and expanding President Obama’s LGBT
equality executive actions, essential to NGLCC’s
work toward the full federal inclusion of LGBT Business Enterprises
(LGBTBEs). The organization serves as the exclusive certifying body and
advocacy force for LGBT businesses seeking contracts and economic
opportunities with the Fortune 500, along with multiple federal
agencies and state governments.
While this is
the first political endorsement for the NGLCC, the organization
recently held a landmark celebration in honor of the historic nature of
Secretary Clinton’s nomination and the Memorandum of Understanding
signed between the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and
the Democratic National Committee to include certified LGBT-owned
businesses as suppliers for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
That event included the unveiling of the social media hashtag
#LGBTBiz4Hillary.
“The NGLCC
and our partners are proud to endorse a champion for equality and
opportunity who will promote the Democratic Party’s most progressive
platform yet," added Chance Mitchell. "Secretary Clinton proudly
affirms an essential core value of the NGLCC: that we are all stronger
together, and that our economy only succeeds when the American Dream is
available to all LGBT and allied Americans.”
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NGLCC MEDIA
CONTACT:
Jonathan D.
Lovitz
Senior Vice
President, NGLCC