Democratic National Committee partners with national gay chamber for 2016 convention

The Democratic National Committee announced at its annual summer meeting in Minneapolis recently that they will partner with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to select LGBT-owned businesses to provide services for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. 

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced the partnership at an Aug. 29 meeting of the DNC's LGBT Caucus, reports the Washington Blade.

“We really want to make certain that if LGBT businesses are qualified and are legitimate LGBT businesses that they have an opportunity to go after these contracts,” D.C. gay rights advocate Earl Fowlkes told the Blade. “There are millions of dollars in these contracts and we want to make sure that we get our fair share,” he said.

The DNC announced in February that it had hired gay hospitality industry executive Todd Lambert to help coordinate booking hotel rooms and event meeting space for the convention, which take place the week of July 25 in Philadelphia.

“As the business voice of the LGBT community, the NGLCC applauds the Democratic National Convention for its intentional inclusion of certified LGBT business enterprises at the 2016 convention,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson in a statement to the Blade.

“Nothing is more essential to the American Dream than an equal seat at the table, and we’re so pleased that the 1.4 million LGBT business owners in America will have an opportunity to contract with the DNC during this momentous election season,” he said.

Georgia Voice was recently named an NGLCC certified business. By becoming a certified LGBTBE (LGBT Business Enterprise), businesses are able to build relationships with the top corporations in the country, create prospective business and clients and team up with them for contracting opportunities. 

“The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has a stellar record of proving that LGBT people are an essential part of the U.S. economy, and we are honored to be certified by them,” said Georgia Voice Publisher Tim Boyd.

The Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Community Awards are this Friday, Sept. 19 at the Fox Theatre, to be hosted by actor Scott Turner Schofield. For nominees and more information about the event, click here.