This June has been familiar in many ways. It has been a tremendous celebration of the beauty of our community. This Pride Month — like in years before — our Chamber spoke at events, supported a grassroots Boston Pop-Up Pride, attended festivals around the state, and held our annual LGBTQ+ job fair.

But the month ended with a clear signal from the United States Supreme Court that they plan to erase many of the protections we have fought for and won in the past. In Justice Clarence Thomas’ decision, he noted that he believes the court should next reconsider Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas, and Obergefell v. Hodges — two of which very specifically target our community.

Our constitution begins with this promise: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This promise includes the welfare and liberty to all of its people. The sitting Supreme Court does not see it that way. Not only has it blatantly taken the right of choice from people who can bear children, it has foreshadowed what will come next.

I blame myself and others like me who have played nice and followed the rules regarding our nation’s democracy, when others have not.

There is so much to celebrate about our community. We are a tight-knit, loving group that hold each other as a chosen family. Let us move forward in that love and with the conviction that all people are created equal. Let us continue to fight for equality and inclusion. I will be meeting with LGBTQ+ leaders and activists in the coming days to illuminate our path forward.

I wish that today I were wrapping up our month of joy and pride on a more lighthearted note, but I think these times are scary and we need to be very serious about what we do next. Our Chamber will continue to fight for you and for all of our people. This is a promise.

Proudly,

On Thursday, June 16, our Chamber held our annual LGBTQ+ Job Fair, located this year at Boston Public Library, Copley Square. We were thrilled to see so many job-seekers connecting with the more than two dozen LGBTQ-inclusive employers that tabled the event.

GBH News covered the job fair, highlighting our expectation that companies looking for LGBTQ+ candidates demonstrate their inclusive workspace practices as part of the Chamber's vetting process.

“It's really easy for people to stick a rainbow on their average company design and look inclusive," job seeker Nicole Harris noted. But she didn't feel that way about the companies participating at our Chamber's job fair. “I feel like people are being genuine and actually want to create an inclusive workspace." Read the whole article here.

If you couldn't attend the job fair, visit the job board on our website to see which employers are searching for talent!

In the wake of a dismantled Boston Pride, Boston Pop-Up Pride sought to reclaim a Pride that not only belonged to the community, but served the entirety of the LGBTQ+ community — especially Greater Boston’s communities of Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, people of color (QTBIPOC). And what a successful afternoon it was! Crowds of people flocked to Boston Common for an afternoon filled with sunshine, entertainment, and joyful celebration of our community!

The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce was proud to be Pop-Up Pride's primary financial supporter and fundraiser. Congratulations to the organizers and their indefatigable team of volunteers for a truly amazing event!

Members of our Chamber team proudly represented our organization and community at various Pride activities this month.

Kicking off the month, the City lit up Boston City Hall in rainbow colors. Jo Trigilio spoke to the crowd, plugging the Chamber and inviting everyone to Boston Pop-Up Pride.

Angie Montalvo-Greene and Board Member Ron Molina-Brantley joined Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Attorney Talia Gee, Springfield Pride CEO Tauren Bethea, city officials, and community members for the Springfield Pride flag raising ceremony.

Grace Moreno and Thais De Marco supported award honorees and our corporate partners MassMutal, PTC, and DiMeller Shaffer at BBJ's 6th annual Business of Pride event.

At Springfield's very first Pride parade, an enthusiastic contingent of our Chamber team joined the march and tabled at the festival. Many of our Western MA members also turned out to showcase their small businesses! The event drew a crowd of around 35,000 people.

Berkshire Pride is the Berkshires' annual LGBTQ+ Pride Festival, and welcomes over 1,000 members of the Berkshires LGBTQ+ community every June to come together and celebrate unity, acceptance, and inclusion. We dropped in to support our Chamber members tabling the event!

Rounding out a huge day in the western part of our state, the Chamber team connected with members showcasing their businesses at Amherst Pride. Folks were invited to shop with queer makers from all over the Valley — candles, jewelry, skincare, pottery, and so much more!

Q Pride celebrates the rich diversity of South Shore Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex, and Allies (LGBTQIA) community toward efforts to promote acceptance, diversity, inclusion and respect. Reina Ysaguirre-Boersma represented our Chamber and members from the South Shore at the event.

Grace was closing speaker for an event hosted by Amplify Latinx that provided a forum for local Latino leaders to speak with Mayor Wu about what the community is looking for under her mayoral administration.

Reina represented our Chamber at the 12th annual fundraiser for Massachusetts Trans Political Coalition (MTPC). Event goers heard from MTPC and their partners about the exciting work MTPC is doing to build trans power and work toward lived equity for the community.

Part of A Very Proud City series organized by Men of Melanin Magic, our Chamber team attended District Q, an eclectic queer marketplace at North and Congress streets by Faneuil Hall.

Our Western MA team attended Holyoke PrideFest, part of a series of events celebrating the Paper City’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Globe columnist Shirley Leung quoted Grace in an article about LGBTQ leadership and the challenges that lie ahead for our community. Read the article here.

Jo delivered an introductory training on basic LGBTQ concepts and terminology, including pronoun use and workplace tips, to an audience at Keolis, one of our platinum level corporate partners. Jo and Thais then took questions from participants.

In a captivating piece, Grace and Nancy Huntington Stager, President and CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation, MALGBTCC Treasurer, and a Director of the LGBT Business Network, dismantled the myth that justice is a zero-sum game, and discussed notions that equity for one is not equity at all and our collective moral imperative. Read the op-ed here.

NESN's Dining Playbook program featured an interview with Grace at Alcove, one of our member restaurants. Grace spoke passionately about the Chamber and how we strive to serve our members. Watch the clip here.

Grace was a featured speaker at Takeda's Pride celebration, describing the Chamber's work and mission, as well as discussing the intersectionality of discrimination and oppression.

Owen Kobrel tabled at the Trans Resistance Festival, representing our Chamber and sharing information about our work and mission with event-goers.

In partnership with Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the Antares REACH Grant Program will provide $20,000 grants to small businesses, with an emphasis on businesses preparing for their next stage of growth. To be eligible, a business must be a for-profit and majority (51%) owned and/or operated by individuals who identify as New Majority (Womxn, People of Color, Military-Affiliated, Persons with Disabilities, and/or LGBTQ+). For a full list of eligibility criteria, please see their terms and conditions. The deadline to apply is July 15.

Questions? Contact Thais De Marco, Engagement & Membership Director.

Lawyers for Civil Rights will host The BizGrow Conference in person for the first time in two years! The BizGrow Conference is a free groundbreaking event designed to connect existing and potential small business owners with free legal and business support.

Date: Thursday, July 21, 2022

Time: 10 AM–4 PM

Location: Rowes Wharf Plaza, High Street, Boston, MA 02110

BizGrow will feature a large team of pro bono attorneys and business executives from Boston's top law firms and companies who will be joining forces to support entrepreneurs with big dreams and limited resources. Join us for free one-on-one legal consultations of particular interest to small business owners, including entity formation, tax, intellectual property, employment, leases and contracts.

Business owners who are interested in receiving ongoing legal assistance may be referred to law firms for pro bono support.

Leading up to the big day, join us for a free virtual small business workshop. See the schedule and register here.

For more information please email BizGrow@lawyersforcivilrights.org.

Boston Direct Health modernizes primary care, combining traditional medical care with nutritional counseling, health coaching, and aesthetic treatments under the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model. Their focus is back on patients, ensuring people can easily communicate with their physician without judgment and without the unnecessary barriers implemented by health insurance on a patient’s medical care. DPC medical practices have a monthly subscription providing access to the Boston Direct Health’s medical team. The monthly fee covers all the medical visits at the practice whether you are coming in for preventive visits, nutritional counseling, management of high blood pressure or diabetes, management of sick visits, or urgent care needs.

For more information or to schedule a consultation visit bostondirecthealth.com or contact Steve Zivich, MD at info@bostondirecthealth.com or (617) 304-1965.

QuickBooks recently featured Gamut Pins in their I Run This series, spotlighting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs that play a vital role in creating an inclusive and vibrant small business community.

Proud of your business? Let us know! Contact Nerissa J. Fry, Communications & Marketing.

Welcome to the small businesses that have joined us as members since our last newsletter!

Chamber members are invited to join our statewide Facebook networking group.

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