Pride, Power, and Progress: Why LGBTQ+ Business Ownership Matters Now More Than Ever

Pride, Power, and Progress: Why LGBTQ+ Business Ownership Matters

Now, more than ever, it's important that we remind ourselves that Pride month isn’t just about parades and parties; it’s about power. The power to endure and come out stronger when the political winds shift into a tornado barrelling toward us. The power to be safe from the false sense of security that performative DEI policies give us, as several large companies who claimed to be allies bend the knee. The power that comes from having a seat at the table with influencers and decision makers. And one of the most effective ways LGBTQ+ folks can gain lasting power and influence? Business ownership. Whether as a solo service provider, a small but mighty team, or a traditional brick-and-mortar.

Every June, Pride Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and rally. It reminds us of where we’ve been, what we’ve endured, and the long, hard road that lies ahead to keep the rights we’ve fought so hard for — especially as politicians on one side seek to chip away at them by any means possible, and politicians on the other seem to be flailing.

LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs have long been community builders. The small shop owners, creative studios, solo consultancies, and event venues that are a pillar of local communities create safe, affirming spaces where people can show up as their authentic selves. For a brief time, there was a school of thought that since we were “mainstreaming” and about 70% of Americans approved of our right to coexist equally, these spaces were no longer necessary. We watched a number of LGBTQ+ businesses shutter. Those days are gone, and now we know better, so its time for a queer business renaissance. It's time to rebuild our LGBTQ+ business network across all industries and sectors. Because LGBTQ+ business leaders don’t just slap a sign on our door or make hollow claims about welcoming anyone and hiring inclusively, we lead with an equity mindset, and people FEEL the difference.

The Shifting Dynamics: Challenges & Opportunities

We’re living in a moment where DEI(B) policies are under attack and somehow morphed into an anti-gay talking point, implying LGBTQ+ business leaders and allies use it as a means to discriminate against straight people to get ahead. Being a person of color, female, or trans only makes matters worse (as I see, hear, read, and am told as a cis-white man). This, despite LGBTQ+ folks often achieving higher levels of education and income attainment than our straight counterparts, despite the odds being stacked against us for a number of reasons.

School curricula are being scrubbed of even fictional characters that provide age-appropriate representation, alongside a concerted effort to erase queer history. Even as I write this, a Navy ship named after Harvey Milk was purposefully submitted for renaming during Pride Month to give a big middle finger to the rest of the LGBTQ+ community after banning trans servicemembers who served with honor and distinction. Now that’s not only distasteful, that's disgraceful. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re part of a larger cultural rollback.

In times like these, visibility alone isn’t enough. I love our collective activism in times of peril, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. We don’t need to convince each other or our allies. Shouting into the social media abyss about our collective outrage is getting us nowhere. We need economic leverage. I’m passionate about LGBTQ+ business development because when business leaders from our community participate in local chambers, networking groups, and civic spaces, we’re not just a demographic. We’re economic drivers, job creators, and decision-makers with influence. A force to be reckoned with. Bottom line:

• 🗳️ Politicians, especially those at the local level who have the most impact on our everyday life, listen to the business community.
• 💸 Communities respect those who have a local presence as they invest local, buy local and shop local.
• 🏳️‍🌈 We set the tone more directly, no longer relying on fleeting corporate metrics to establish baselines of respect.

Work-Life Freedom, On Our Terms

For many, LGBTQ+ business ownership is also about reclaiming a sense of control in a world that is not designed for us. Reclaiming our time, our values, and how we’re treated the 40+ hours a week we spend trying to make a living. No more corporate gatekeeping. No more navigating performative DEI programs or HR handbooks that don’t reflect lived realities. We get to decide:

• Who we work with
• What values our workplace embody
• How inclusive policies actually get implemented

Whether you’re a solo provider, part of a small team, or one of the larger queer-owned SMBs, business ownership is the ultimate form of self-determination. And that has always been at the core of LGBTQ+ history.

AI + LGBTQ = A Winning Combination

I have written extensively about how AI is a game changer for small busienss in general, for our community specifically. While not the focus of today’s post, I can say that I’ve been involved in a significant number of enterprise AI software deployments. Without a doubt, there is a lot of red tape, slow adoption, and confusion, providing a window for more nimble and innovative LGBTQ+ organizations to capitalize. We’ve got the grit, we’ve got the determination, so it's just a matter of channeling that in the right direction.

When leveraged strategically, the right AI tech helps LGBTQ+ business leaders do more with less, allowing us to focus on business development and expanding our reach. It serves as a junior strategy partner, administrative assistant, marketing and sales support, business analyst, and so many other critical roles when the right tools are matched with the right strategies and systems. It goes a long way in leveling the playing field for LGBTQ+ business owners getting access to resources and talent (albeit artificial). And, unless you use Grok xAI, you need not worry about any underlying homophobic sentiments like many queer folks do working with vendors and service providers.

P.S. Up to 80% of AI projects are failing at the Enterprise level, and I promise you, your project won’t fail with me.

This June, I’m doubling down by offering current and aspiring LGBTQ+ business owners expanded access to strategic advising sessions, along with exclusive discounts and an updated Definitive Guide to AI for LGBTQ+ Business Leaders. Because no matter what, I enjoy seeing our community succeed, and our collective success is the greatest bulwark against bigotry.

With the right strategy, AI helps LGBTQ+ business owners:

• Save time on repetitive tasks
• Scale services and outreach faster
• Compete with larger companies on a more level playing field

TL; DR: Summing it all Up

Owning a business as an LGBTQ+ person is one of the single most empowering decisions you can make. It’s also a path to influence, visibility, and freedom. This Pride Month, let’s celebrate the performers, artists, community leaders, and everyday entrepreneurs who continue to build, even when the world pushes back.

In doing so, lets honor our history and the sacrifices made by many LGBTQ+ leaders of the past by charting a new path forward, one where we encourage and uplift queer voices through a renwed focus on civic engagement and business ownership.

Our progress has never come easily. But we are resilient. Strategic. And deeply capable.

So let’s launch or grow your dream business, one that not only secures your economic future but also contributes to our collective success and guarantees equality for future generations.

🤖 Want the AI guide? Here is another link in case you missed it.

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