Page 30 - BEQ Magazine Vol2 Iss4 V2

The Front Lines of LGBTQ Business Equality

he Business Equality Network announces the

second annual LGBTQ Business Equality
WA: 2
Excellence Award. The Business Equality

TNetwork and the BEQ Pride editorial team

are committed to the development and success of lesbian, gay, OR: 1 MI: 7
bisexual, transgender, and queer business community. We place
WI: 1
special emphasis and acknowledge support for organizations and NY: 32

major employers that have made diverse and inclusive workplace, MI: 2
multicultural engagement, and supply chain diversity not just a IA: 1 PN: 6
NV: 2 MA: 6
matter of policy, but a matter of practice. OH: 3
IL: 10 IN: 3 RI: 1
CT: 5
Once a year, we honor organizations organizations including corporate part- CA: 21 MO: 4 VA: 5 NJ: 11
that are fostering economic stability in nership with NGLCC: National LGBT KT: 1 DE: 2
the LGBTQ community through the fair Chamber of Commerce. MD: 3
treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ em- NC: 4
ployees, suppliers, consumers and part- BY THE NUMBERS TN: 1 DC: 1
ners in business. These organizations are A number of our Business Equality
recognized for their demonstrated prac- Excellence Awardees are taking every
tice of Business Equality Excellence. opportunity to support the LGBTQ
The 2018 list of 156 major corpora- community with inclusive procurement GA: 6
tions, employers and sports organizations goals and federal advocacy for equality.
have demonstrated their comprehensive There are 16 of the 27 Billion Dollar
commitment to LGBTQ equality. Simply Roundtable —organization recognizing TX: 9
put, our awardees routinely deliver an un- and celebrating corporations that have
mistakable message that the country and achieved $1 billion spend with diverse FL: 6
each state where they are head quartered suppliers— members. The BDR recent-
cannot ignore — diversity and inclusion ly adopted a policy that expands eligible
matter. Their increased visible, vocal and spend to include certified LGBT business
financial commitment to equality in the enterprises. Also on the list are 45 of the
workforce, workplace, marketplace and over 100 leading U.S. employers support-
supply chain of their respective organiza- ing the Equality Act, a federal legislation
tions contributes to the economic climate that would provide the same basic protec-
locally, nationally and around the world. tions to LGBTQ people as are provided
The overwhelming majority of our to other protected groups under federal
awardees are among the Best Places to law. Our Business Equality Excellence
Work for LGBT Equality as recognized Awardees are leading the way with their
by the Human Rights Campaign Foun- money and influence.
dation’s recently released 2018 Corpo- The Business Equality Network and
rate Equality Index. Each organization BEQ Pride Magazine salute our 2018
has active LGBT employee resource Awardees and look forward to telling
groups or resources set aside for employ- their stories in the year ahead — from
ees to form an employee or business re- their support of LGBTQ entrepreneurs;
source group. All have demonstrated a to highlights of their events and best
vigorous dedication to bringing LGBT- practices; profiles of their movers and
owned businesses into their supply chains shakers; and their bold leadership to pro-
and are active with LGBTQ business tect the rights of LGBTQ individuals.
30 | December 2017 BEQ PRIDE