New online resource for lesbians, lesbian business owners, and LGBT-friendly companies.
Despite recent gains in public support for the LGBT community, lesbian businesses seem to be left behind. Only 1.2% of businesses in the US are lesbian-owned and many of these face disadvantages.
A new website hopes to change that when it launches this Pride. The Lesbian Business Community (The LBC) is the first and only online resource by and for lesbians and lesbian business owners.
“Our business directory and online community enable US-based lesbian-owned and LGBT-friendly business owners to create and build online visibility in ways other online directories simply do not offer,” says founder Janet O. Penn.
The website is highly optimized and includes a built-in search engine optimization to ensure companies are found online quickly. The listings are local search-ready and searchable by business categories.
“No other directory offers this much flexibility, business promotion, and visibility for lesbian-owned and LGBT-friendly companies,” adds Penn.
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce reports that only 370,000 lesbian-owned businesses are in the US, a sore underrepresentation since lesbians make up between 3-5% of the population.
Many reasons contribute to this low number including lack of access to capital, lack of minority status for federal contracting opportunities, and systemic bias.
It is also important to note that lesbian consumers and people that want to support lesbian-owned and LGBT friendly businesses have very few options to identify and support the businesses. The LBC solves this by connecting lesbian and LGBT-friendly business owners and consumers more readily online.
The website allows for highly detailed free business listings that allow a business to self-identify as lesbian-owned or LGBT-friendly. It also allows for vendors and customers to easily connect with like-minded businesses.
Penn added, “The Lesbian Business Community’s Compelling Articles editorial section consists of an extensive, carefully curated database of articles featuring the latest in business and entrepreneurship, coaching and mentoring, LGBT travel and leisure, LGBT arts and entertainment, and lesbian life and style topics. Additionally, the LBC’s LGBT events page provides a comprehensive listing of national and local LGBT social and business events of interest to the community.”
The Lesbian Business Community is not only for lesbian business owners, but also for lesbian consumers. Free and paid listings will be offered with a broad menu of value-added services to help promote companies and build community.
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