Greater Seattle Business Association

The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) is Washington State's LGBTQ & Allied chamber of commerce based in Seattle, Washington. The majority of the organization's membership are small businesses located throughout the Puget Sound area. The association's mission is "to combine business development, leadership and social action to expand economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community and those who support equality for all."[2]

GSBA - Washington States LGBTQ & Allied Chamber of Commerce
MottoEquality is Good Business (current), With Pride Since 1981 (previous)
The Chamber of Choice
(previous)
Formation1981
TypeChamber of Commerce
Legal statusNon-Profit, 501(c)(6)
Scholarship Program, 501(c)(3)
PurposeThe Four Pillars of GSBA: Business Development, Community, Advocacy, Philanthropy
Location
  • Seattle, Washington
    US
Region served
Puget Sound, Washington
Membership
1,400 (approx)
President & CEO
Louise Chernin
Key people
Stephanie Dallas
Board Chair
Main organ
Board of Directors [1]
Staff
12 full-time employees
Volunteers
100-200 annually
Websitethegsba.org

History

Established in 1981, GSBA is Washington State's LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce and is the largest of its kind in North America. GSBA represents over 1,300 small business, corporate, and nonprofit members who share the values of promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.

GSBA proudly serves as a connector across the region, bringing the community together through business while advocating for civil rights and small business, promoting LGBTQ tourism through Travel Out Seattle, and investing in the next generation of leaders through the GSBA Scholarship Fund.[3]

Regional activities

In 1992, GSBA formed the Western Business Alliance in partnership with the Greater San Diego Business Association and the Camelback Business Association of Phoenix. In 1997, the WBA brought together 21 LGBT-and-allied organizations—from Vancouver, British Columbia, in the north; to Tijuana, Mexico, in the south. With the establishment of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in 2004 (of which GSBA was a founding member), GSBA's current executive director, Louise Chernin, was appointed National Chair on the Council on Chambers and Business Organizations (CCBO), a position she held for four years. The following year, the WBA voted in favor of folding into the NGLCC’s CCBO structure as the Pacific Regional Council.[4]

Gay Wedding Show

GSBA was the presenting sponsor of the first Gay Wedding Show in 2004. Held at Seattle's Swedish Cultural Center, the event hosted 50 vendors and was the first of its kind in Seattle.[5]

National recognition

In November 2008 GSBA was awarded "Chamber of the Year" by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) in Washington, D.C. recognizing its leadership among more than 45 other regional LGBT and Allied chambers.[6] In 2009, GSBA played host affiliate chamber to NGLCC's Sixth Annual Out for Business Conference, held in Seattle. That year GSBA received the "Community Outreach Award" for its scholarship program.[7]

Advocacy

Guiding Principles[8]

As a chamber of commerce by and for the LGBTQ community and its allies, the policy work of GSBA is centered around two main areas: Civil Rights and Economic Prosperity. With the GSBA Scholarship Fund, Education is another important policy area for the organization. GSBA remains a leader in the LGBTQ community as well as in the business community, providing an important and unique voice and perspective.

GSBA’s top priorities will always be the areas where LGBTQ civil rights and economic development intersect, where our expertise is the strongest. Due to the diverse needs of a broad membership organization and participation in a variety of coalitions, many other related issues will arise. GSBA’s first priority will always be those issues with a particular impact on the LGBTQ community, and will next prioritize based on where our voice is unique, our expertise is relevant, or our affinity is particularly strong. GSBA often works in coalition with allied organizations and communities, and will frequently sign on in support of their efforts where others are leading the policy fight.

Proud of our role as a convener and as a nonpartisan constructive voice, GSBA will strive to be present at any negotiating table that our capacity allows. GSBA’s goals always include the creation of good policy over politics.

GSBA’s advocacy work as the progressive business voice in Washington is guided by the following principles:

  • Demand economic prosperity, safety, and health for the LGBTQ community
  • Expand, protect, and promote LGBTQ civil rights
  • Promote the vitality and development of small businesses
  • Demand equal access and opportunity for all underserved communities
  • Foster active and informed civic engagement

Same-sex marriage in Washington State is a primary goal of the organization, however it undertakes many public policy issues through its Legislative Agenda.

Marriage equality

In 2006, when efforts were undertaken to repeal Washington's non-discrimination law through public referendum, GSBA stood alongside other organizations in support of Washington Won't Discriminate, a group opposing the referendum.[9] After passage of three separate domestic partnership bills in the Washington State Legislature access to full marriage is still denied to Washingtonians.[10] In 2009, enough signatures were obtained by put Referendum 71 on that year's general election ballot. This referendum would have overturned the state's third and final expansion of domestic partnership law passed by the legislature earlier that year. GSBA was a leading voice of 282 coalition partners of Washington Families Standing Together, the organization that lead the campaign to approve Referendum 71.[11]

Candidate Forum

Every September the organization holds a debate-like program, The GSBA Candidate Forum.[12] The event is billed as "the region's only LGBT candidate forum". The forum has featured candidates from local races such as city/county councils to larger office including Washington State Governor and US House of Representatives.[13]

Controversy

In 2009, then mayoral candidate Mike McGinn was criticized for his "rude" treatment of GSBA staff members while attending that year's event.[14] Subsequently, he won the 2009 election.

Scholarship program

In 1990, two teachers saw a need for LGBT and allied students who needed financial assistance with higher education expenses. At the time it was the nation's first LGBT and allied scholarship fund. Six years into the program, the organization had granted five scholarships totaling $10,000.[15] In 1998, Richard C. Rolfs (a Wenatchee-native and longtime gay rights activist) bequested $200,000 to the GSBA Scholarship Fund, establishing an endowment in his name. By 2001, the program was granting more than $50,000 each year in undergraduate scholarships.[16] By 2010, a cumulative 350 or more individual scholarships totaling in excess of $1,000,000 had been granted.

The GSBA Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to LGBTQ and allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and are actively involved in school and community organizations. Founded in 1991, the GSBA Scholarship Fund has awarded over 650 scholarships totaling over $3 million.[17]

The GSBA Guarantee

The GSBA Guarantee is GSBA's commitment to the ongoing funding of undergraduate scholars. Every scholar who has met certain criteria is eligible for up to four years of undergraduate scholarship funding. This commitment to scholars’ success and eventual graduation helps support future leaders in a way that few programs are able to do.[18]

Record breaking

In May 2010, at the Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, GSBA gave out its one millionth dollar ($1,000,000) in cumulative scholarship grants. The following November the primary fundraising event for the program, The Taste of GSBA smashed all previous records, grossing $345,000 from the dinner auction.[19][20] More than $130,000 of the gross was direct donations to the fund.

Events

The association holds a variety of monthly and annual events—the three largest of which are formal evening functions, held annually.

Monthly and Quarterly Events[21]

Business Empowerment Workshops

Monthly workshops for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits that focus on sharpening skills and becoming more competitive in today’s economy.

Power Connect

Quarterly after-hours mixers for LGBTQ and allied business and community leaders to make meaningful business and social connections.

Women on Top

Quarterly social gatherings for professional female and gender diverse people at spectacular venues high above the Seattle skyline.

Young Professionals with Pride

Quarterly after-hours gatherings for LGBTQ and allied young professionals under 40 to connect with valuable opportunities to enhance personal and professional development through social, educational, and philanthropic activities.

Signature Events[22]

EQUALUX

The largest LGBTQ Gala in the Pacific Northwest, EQUALUX is an annual charity dinner and auction that raises funds for the GSBA Scholarship Fund, one of the oldest scholarship programs for LGBTQ students seeking higher education. [23]

Business and Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Annual celebration of excellence, leadership, and philanthropy within the GSBA business and nonprofit communities.[24]

Scholars Dinner

Since 1991, the GSBA Scholarship Fund has invested over $3 million US Dollars in LGBTQ and allied students by awarding educational scholarships and leadership training. The Scholar's Dinner is the annual celebration where students are awarded their scholarship for the coming year.[25]

Participation in Seattle Pride

The association participates each year in Seattle's Pride festivities. In 2006 graphic designer Andrea Rouleau designed a birthday cake float to celebrate GSBA's 25th anniversary.[26]

Leadership

Executive Board[27]

Bryan Adamson, Co-Chair Policy

Carrie Carson, Scholarship Fund Chair

Louise Chernin, President & CEO

Brandon Chun, Secretary

Stephanie Dallas, Chair

Susan Fuller, Co-Chair Policy

Carolyn Hojaboom, Treasurer

Drew Ness, Immediate Past Chair

Jay Petterson, Vice Chair

Board of Directors[28]

David Blandford

Joey Burgess

Leda Chahim

Danny Cords

Martha Davis

Linda Di Lello-Morton

Roz Edison

Shelley Gaddie

Rigo Garcia Ortega

Gladys Gillis

Eve Gourley

Jenny Harding

Andrew Held

David Hernandez

James Hing

Dena Levine

Katie Mooney

Mike Novasio

Lisa Sterritt

Masoud Torabi

Barb Wilson

Beto Yarce

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See also
  • List of LGBT organizations

References
  1. GSBA Board & Staff - GSBA website
  2. "About Us". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  3. "About Us". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  4. INBA – Spokane’s LGBT business chamber working to get to the next level Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine - insandouts.org, May 20, 2011
  5. Booming wedding industry poised to tap into growing market for gay marriages - Seattle Times, Friday, March 26, 2004
  6. The Insider: Network Strong - Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 16, 2008
  7. NGLCC's Sixth Annual Business & Leadership Conference a Great Success! Archived 2011-08-04 at the Wayback Machine - NGLCC Press Release, June 25, 2008
  8. "GSBA Advocacy". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  9. Effort to repeal state gay-rights law gathers momentum from pulpit, Seattle Times, May 24, 2006
  10. Same-sex marriage in Washington Same-sex marriage in Washington - Wikipedia
  11. Coalition partners - Washington Families Standing Together, campaign website
  12. - GSBA & ERW host 2010 candidate forum - Seattle Gay News, September 24, 2010
  13. - Gregoire & Burner at GSBA Candidate Forum - Republicans play hide-and-seek - Seattle Gay News, September 5, 2008
  14. Extra Fizz: McGinn and the GSBA - Publicola, October 8, 2009
  15. $10,000 In Scholarships Awarded - Seattle Times, Thursday, May 09, 1996
  16. Business group issues scholarships for gay students - Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Thursday, May 3, 2001
  17. "About the Fund". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  18. "About the Fund". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  19. GSBA gala dinner and auction raises record $345,000 - Seattle Gay News, November 19, 2010
  20. GSBA Scholarship Fund - The Seattle Foundation, nonprofit organization profiles
  21. "GSBA Events". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  22. "GSBA Events". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  23. "GSBA Events". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  24. Maier, Florentine (2011), "Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leaders: The Becoming Business-Like of the Philanthropy Sector", Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations: A Reference Handbook, SAGE Publications, Inc., pp. 484–490, doi:10.4135/9781412979320.n54, ISBN 9781412968867
  25. "GSBA Events". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  26. Gay pride events multiply - Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Friday, June 23, 2006
  27. "Staff & Board". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  28. "Staff & Board". www.thegsba.org. Retrieved 2019-08-29.

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