The smell of summer is in the air, and there are some real signs that the pandemic is nearing an end! As we become vaccinated and see businesses fully opening again, let's remember to stay vigilant about precautions and staying safe. It seems we have weathered a storm together and now we get to see our rainbow at the end of it — all in time for Pride Month!

We are perhaps returning to business as usual — albeit a modified usual. This month, we are holding our 2021 Season of Pride LGBTQ+ Job Fair — still in the virtual realm — but with extra bells and whistles that will ensure it is the best yet. We continue to add new staff, members, and corporate partners. We are focused on addressing procurement disparities and working for equity for our Brown and Black communities. Our Chamber is hard at work! And we mean to have some fun too — can’t wait for you to join us for the premiere of Studio Queer! Stay tuned for more Pride-related content this month!

The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce welcomes job seekers to attend this year's 2021 Season of Pride Job Fair, held virtually. Representatives from our partner companies will showcase their open positions, discuss how their company supports and welcomes LGBTQ+ employees, as well as take Q&A directly from you! Multiple sessions will be hosted throughout the week via Zoom with companies grouped by industry, so feel free to sign up for as many as you'd like! Registration is now open, visit our Job Fair page to sign up and learn more!

Visit our LGBTQ+ job board to find the perfect position — business.malgbtcc.org/jobs for more info! Our hub of job seeker basics workshops — resume writing, interview tips, networking, and more — is available on our YouTube channel now!

Questions? Please email Michael O'Neill.

We are thrilled that Lu Abbott will be joining the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce in mid-June as Western Massachusetts Area Director.

Lu has been a builder and a connector within the Hampshire County nonprofit community since graduating from Mount Holyoke College, where they studied Literature and Art History and developed a deep connection to the Five College area and its culture of ingenuity and creativity. Through thoughtful communication and embracing possibility, Lu has built and grown successful programs at dynamic organizations such as the Emily Dickinson Museum and most recently, the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Lu also ran a wedding photography side-business from 2013–2017 and has called the “Pioneer Valley” home for over 10 years.

When not busy building the local community, Lu can be found walking the trails of Western Mass with their spouse and three dogs.

We are pleased to share that this month, Keolis North America has joined the Chamber as a corporate partner. As the first major transportation company to partner with the Chamber, Keolis will be a key leader and driving factor in their industry regarding the fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion and economic equity. We look forward to collaborating with Keolis on these issues and are excited about this fruitful partnership.

Bring the best of LGBTQ life in Massachusetts into your own home with Studio Queer, a new series making its debut this month! Join hosts Michael Bobbitt and Ana Masacote to meet LGBTQ elders, hear from legal advocates, and discover what’s new with one of the state’s oldest trans community organizations. With a little drag and a lot of heart, Studio Queer covers everything from advice to dating and beyond. Join us for the first episode on June 24 at 5 PM — exclusive viewing details coming soon!

In celebration of Pride Month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is ready to unveil 100 Bluebikes wrapped in a rainbow pride-themed design. Starting on June 1 and through the month of June, the Blue Cross Proud bikes will be integrated across Metro Boston’s public bike share system, which includes 10 municipalities: Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, Somerville, and Watertown.

To reflect its continued support of LGBTQ+ pride, Blue Cross will donate $1 for every ride taken in June on pride-themed bikes to Fenway Health in Boston. Fenway Health works to enhance the wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and beyond through access to the highest quality health care, education, research and advocacy.

Blue Cross, the title sponsor of Bluebikes and a founding sponsor of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, also rolled out Blue Cross Proud bikes in support of Pride Month and Fenway Health in 2019, when the state’s largest health plan donated $1 for every ride on a pride-themed Bluebike to Fenway Health.

Check out the Bluebikes website to learn more about the public bike share system, and thanks to Blue Cross for its continued support of the LGBTQ+ community!

The Chamber teamed up once again with the Small Business Administration for our May 12 webinar, "I Got a PPP Loan — Now What?" This webinar centered on PPP forgiveness, with SBA representatives demonstrating the step-by-step procedures small businesses will need to take in order to have their PPP loans forgiven. We thank the SBA for their continued support and guidance through COVID-19. If you'd like to view this webinar, a recording is available here.

Our Chamber welcomes the following small businesses who have become new members since our last newsletter!

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

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