GFLGLCC PARTNERSHIP WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA LAUNCHED

For Immediate Release

THE GFLGLCC ANNOUNCES ANOTHER BUSINESS FOR EQUALITY PARTNERSHIP WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA                                        

Contact: Keith Blackburn
Keith@gflglcc.org

The GFLGLCC is proud to announce a new partnership with Equality Florida's Another Business For Equality initiative, which spotlights pro-equality businesses that maintain and promote LGBT inclusive nondiscrimination policies and that support local and statewide nondiscrimination laws. 

 

By doing so we will improve Florida's reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live, work and visit. All GFLGLCC members will have the $50 administration fee waived when they participate in the program.

 

"We are hopeful our partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce becomes a model statewide. We look forward to working together to increase the voices, visibility and influence of pro-equality business who share our commitment to ending LGBT discrimination." -Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida.

The Benefits of Another Business for Equality Membership:

Easy to Use Mobile Directory

Your business will be part of this smart phone friendly mobile directory - available free to the public and our more than 200,000 supporters.

Door-to-Door Map Features

A quick search will provide a list of pro-equality businesses with mapped directions to your front door.

Window Sticker

A handy window sticker displaying the GFLGLCC Logo along side the AB4E Logo gives you added visibility for locals and visitors.

Social Media Support

With more than 200,000 supporters, a huge email database and a huge social media presence, we are able to get the directory into the hands of a well-networked universe of motivated supporters.

 

We encourage all of our member businesses and corporate partners to participate in this initiative. Please click this link and register today: http://www.ab4e.org/AB4EBiz713

 

This is a GFLGLCC member benefit, so if you're not yet a member of the GFLGLCC, please contact us today!

The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit organization, which promotes business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community. They are an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality with a unified approach by working with appropriate organizations. Additional information can be found at GoGayFortLauderdale.com

For further information, please contact Keith Blackburn atKeith@gflglcc.org  

http://www.gogayfortlauderdale.com/

GFLGLCC and Equality Florida Join Forces in Broward County for "Another Business for Equality" Partnership

For Immediate Release

THE GFLGLCC ANNOUNCES ANOTHER BUSINESS FOR EQUALITY PARTNERSHIP WITH EQUALITY FLORIDA                                        

Contact: Keith Blackburn
Keith@gflglcc.org

On the heels of the huge victory in the Supreme Court last week, we must all take time to congratulate our community for all of their hard work and dedication. Everyone made a contribution, but the momentum really built when our allies and corporate America joined in. Together, we turned the tide and at the end, the majority of Americans were behind us.

The NGLCC – National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, along with our chamber and 41 other LGBT chamber affiliates, Equality Florida and countless other organizations have all worked hard to make this happen.

In March of this year, the GFLGLCC joined the NGLCC and 379 organizations to become part of the Amicus Brief, which urged the Supreme Court to support marriage equality on the basis that “Employers are better served by a uniform marriage rule that gives equal dignity to employee relationships,” reads the brief, filed by global law firm Morgan Lewis. “Allowing same-sex couples to marry improves employee morale and productivity, reduces uncertainty, and removes the wasteful administrative burdens imposed by the current disparity of state law treatment.”

Our work isn’t over yet. In Florida and 27 other States, it is still legal to fire someone because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. In addition, we face legal discrimination in housing and in many cases; we can be refused goods and services because of who we are. This is obviously unacceptable and must change. What amazes me is that many people don’t realize this. In recent polls, 80% of Americans believe that it is illegal to fire someone because they are LGBT.

ENDA, the Employment Non Discrimination Act would provide basic protections from job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It must become law.  While there have been multiple versions, none have been approved by our congress. In the latest version, passed by the US Senate almost 2 years ago, small business with less than 15 employees, military and religious organizations were exempt. 

We need ENDA to become law, without any exceptions. As it stands now, anyone in America can get married in the morning and if they live and work in one of the 28 states without protections (Including Florida), they can be fired that same day. That doesn’t sound very American, does it?  We must join together, using the momentum we've gained to ensure that this injustice ends with equality for all. 

The GFLGLCC is proud to announce a new partnership with Equality Florida's Another Business For Equality initiative, which spotlights pro-equality businesses that maintain and promote LGBT inclusive nondiscrimination policies and that support local and statewide nondiscrimination laws. By doing so we will improve Florida's reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live, work and visit. All GFLGLCC members will have the $50 administration fee waived when they participate in the program.

The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit organization, which promotes business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community. They are an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality with a unified approach by working with appropriate organizations. Additional information can be found at GoGayFortLauderdale.com

For further information, please contact Keith Blackburn at Keith@gflglcc.org  

http://www.gogayfortlauderdale.com/

THE GFLGLCC ANNOUNCES JIM ALBRIGHT HAS JOINED THE STAFF

For Immediate Release

THE GFLGLCC ANNOUNCES JIM ALBRIGHT HAS JOINED THE STAFF
Named Director of Marketing and Membership                                            

Jim Albright

Contact: Keith Blackburn
954-523-3500 Keith@gflglcc.org

Fort Lauderdale, FL: The GLFLGCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Jim Albright has joined the staff as the Director of Marketing and Membership. 

Jim was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio near Akron, Ohio.  He graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  Jim moved to Greater Fort Lauderdale in 1997. Prior to beginning career in Marketing and Advertising, he worked as Retail Manager for 10 plus years. For the past 15 years, he worked for local LGBT publications including Hotspots Magazine.  In 2014, Jim moved to San Diego California California for a year to assist a friend market her business. Missing South Florida, he returned several months ago. Currently, Jim lives in Pompano Beach, with his partner. Jim has been active in the LGBT community for many years and looks forward to expanding the GFLGLCC.

The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit organization, which promotes business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community. They are an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality with a unified approach by working with appropriate organizations. Additional information can be found at GoGayFortLauderdale.com

For further information, please contact Keith Blackburn 954-523-3500

http://www.gogayfortlauderdale.com/

THE GFLGLCC ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF 3 NEW BOARD MEMBERS

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Keith Blackburn
954-523-3500 Keith@gflglcc.org 


March 27, 2015


THE GFLGLCC- Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF 3 NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Fort Lauderdale, FL: The GLFLGCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of 3 new board members.  They are Mark Budwig of S.MARK Graphics, Adam Alvarado of Edward Jones and Christopher Dunham of Dunham Insurance. Each has been appointed to a two year term. "I am very excited to have these three highly qualified additions to our board! Each one of them brings a unique talent to the chamber" said Keith Blackburn, President / CEO of the GFLGLCC. 

Mark Budwig

Mark Budwig Mark Budwig is the owner and president of S.MARK Graphics since its founding 30 years ago. The boutique creative agency designs marketing materials for print, electronic and advertising media. Budwig is responsible for new business development, maintaining client relationships and developing project concepts. S.MARK works with a wide range of businesses on both a project-to-project and retainer basis. About his board appointment, Budwig stated "I'm am excited to be joining the board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. As an affiliate of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, I am happy to lend my leadership skills to these organizations to locally promote certified LGBT Business Enterprises. A great opportunity for gay-owned businesses to grow!"

Christopher Dunham

Dunham Insurance CEO Christopher Dunham began a successful career in 1989 with one of the top insurance companies in the country. In 1997—recognizing the need for a more personal approach to insurance and estate planning services—Christopher founded the agency that bears his name as a family business. About his board appointment, Dunham stated  "As a lifelong advocate of promoting equality through opportunity, it’s an honor to be chosen to serve on the Board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and to take my place among an outstanding group of business and community leaders who are committed to promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly communities. "I am privileged to be working alongside Keith Blackburn and this dynamic organization".

Adam Alvarado

Adam Alvarado graduated from Florida International University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Certificate in Banking Studies. Adam spent 8 years as a Purchasing Manager for BE Aerospace Hardware company in Miami, FL and another 4 years as a Buyer at California Glass Company in the Bay Area. In 2012, Adam joined Edward Jones as a Financial Advisor. Recently, Adam spearheaded and chairs the YPG - Young Professionals Group of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. About his board appointment, Alvarado stated "I look forward to working with this amazing Board to make GFLGLCC the first choice for LGBQT & Allied Businesses. Thanks for the opportunity!" 

The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit organization, which promotes business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community. They are an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality with a unified approach by working with appropriate organizations. Additional information can be found at GoGayFortLauderdale.com

For further information, please contact Keith Blackburn 305-798-5455

http://www.gogayfortlauderdale.com/

URGENT ACTION: Business Amicus Brief for Marriage Equality

BE PART OF HISTORY!

We invite your business to join us in this historic opportunity!

As you probably know, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider marriage equality this term and this will have major implications for the business community. By June, it will likely decide definitively whether states must allow same-sex couples to marry, and whether states must recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who wed elsewhere.

 

Background: In 2013 the NGLCC and 300 other business organizations (including the GFLGLCC) and Fortune 500 corporations were amici on the Supreme Court case of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 that detailed burdens on employers due to inconsistencies in marriage. We anticipate that the business community will make an even stronger showing in this case. The GFLGLCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is very proud to partner with the NGLCC again.

 

As such, a broad coalition of Fortune 500 companies, business organizations, and other employers will be filing a friend-of-the-court brief in the Supreme Court, setting out the business case for marriage equality. In particular, the brief will explain to the Supreme Court how employers are burdened by the inability of certain employees to marry the spouse of their choice, and by the current patchwork of state laws applicable to same-sex marriage. Those burdens include:

 

* Recruiting/retention challenges in those jurisdictions that do not have marriage equality;

* Corporate administrative and financial burdens;

* Lack of certainty and business uniformity; and

* Requiring employers and HR departments to implement government-mandated regulations that undermine the corporate mission

 

Please click here for your review and consideration of the most current draft of the brief, and a summary of the cases can be found  here. While the draft will undoubtedly change somewhat between now and filing, the main arguments and topics are included. 

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is serving as pro bono counsel on the amicus brief. If your company would like to join the brief, please follow the link below to fill out a preliminary information sheet. The last day to join the brief is Tuesday, March 3, 2015 and the brief will be filed at the Supreme Court on Friday, March 6, 2015.

Please note that if your company is not already a Morgan Lewis client, they will need to ensure that there are no conflicts issues, and put in place their standard pro bono engagement agreement, which they can provide after you fill out the form linked to above.

 

Please Click Here to Sign on to the Amicus Brief