
|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|
|
HRC, Showtime launch third year of QUEER TO STAY, an LGBTQ+ small business initiative
-- From a press release
2022-06-03
|
|
This article shared 438 times since Fri Jun 3, 2022
|
|
WASHINGTON Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, and SHOWTIME announced the third consecutive year of "QUEER TO STAY: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative" (QTS) that aims to uplift and preserve small businesses that serve the LGBTQ+ community; particularly businesses that are owned by or empower LGBTQ+ people of color, women and the transgender community. This year, the initiative is expanding its pool of funding to $250,000 to be distributed among at least 25 small businesses.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, the inaugural "QUEER TO STAY" initiative awarded funds to ten LGBTQ+ businesses across the country; last year, with continued challenges faced by small businesses, the program doubled its capacity to support 20 LGBTQ+ businesses. Due to the ongoing success of Queer to Stay, the program is again adding to the number of awardees.
"It is absolutely remarkable that we are about to kick-off our third year of the 'QUEER TO STAY' initiativewhat an incredible opportunity to support LGBTQ+ businesses and recognize their impact in communities across the country," said Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign Interim President. "Creating and cultivating spaces for the LGBTQ+ community requires all of us and this continued partnership with SHOWTIME is a three-time example of a company putting the rubber to the road to uplift the LGBTQ+ community during these challenging times."
"We're thrilled to launch our largest Pride campaign ever, nearly tripling the number of businesses to receive grants since the beginning of QUEER TO STAY" said Michael Engleman, Chief Marketing Officer, Showtime Networks Inc. "We started the program to address a need created by the pandemic, but the need for safe spaces persists and so will we. This year, as in-person gatherings return to normal, we'll go to communities directly to increase visibility for the QTS grants."
The businesses will be selected based on the communities they serve and how COVID-19 has affected them: "Queer to Stay" is accepting applications now until August 31, 2022. Eligible businesses can apply at queertostay.org . Recipients will be notified and announced later this year. Additionally, three Queer to Stay awardees were featured in a video, released today, that highlights how the funding helped their business stay afloatwatch here.
In the years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ+ businesses have faced severe financial challenges, and many are at risk of permanently closing. In 2021, the HRC Foundation issued a report,COVID-19 and the LGBTQ Community: Vaccinations and the Economic Toll of the Pandemic, which highlights data showing that LGBTQ+ adults and LGBTQ+ adults of color were facing the highest rates of unemployment since HRC and PSB began tracking community unemployment at the start of the pandemic. Additionally, LGBTQ+ adults, bisexual adults, LGBTQ+ adults of color and transgender adults were more likely than the general population to have recently had their work hours reduced due to the pandemic.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
|
 |
|
 |
This article shared 438 times since Fri Jun 3, 2022
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
| 
|  | Lightfoot's Women's Advisory Council releases report on economic impacts of COVID on Chicago women 2022-06-30 -- From a press release - CHICAGO Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot's Women's Advisory Council (WAC), in partnership with World Business Chicago, Women Employed, and Civic Consulting Alliance, published Creating a More Equitable Recovery: Addressing ...
| 
|  | Gay-owned Galena inn receives honor from Tripadvisor 2022-06-29 Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottagesa gay-owned bed and breakfast in Galena, Illinoisannounced it has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best award winner for Bed and Breakfasts, ranking 13th out ...
| 
|  | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adds X gender marker to charge intake process 2022-06-28 -- From a press release - WASHINGTON — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today full implementation of the opportunity to select a nonbinary "X" gender marker during the intake process for filing a charge of discrimination. "By adding a ...
| 
|  | Indiana Univ. establishes Kinsey-Kelley Center for Gender Equity in Business 2022-06-28 A new research center at Indiana University (IU) Bloomington will address issues of gender inequity, sexual misconduct and sexual harassment in the workplace, through an innovative partnership between the Kinsey Institute and the Kelley School of ...
| 
|  | Billy Masters 2022-06-27 "I'm not gay. I'm not straight. I don't know what I am. I love people. … I refuse to be anything, really, except for open to it all."—Kesha (without the dollar sign) makes this revelation in ...
| 
|  | SHOWBIZ Elliot Page, NPH, Madonna, Chita Rivera, Jennifer Lopez 2022-06-26 Elliot Page talked with talk-show host Seth Meyers about how her Netflix show The Umbrella Academy incorporated the actor's own personal transition into season three of the series, Deadline noted. "With Steve Blackman, the showrunner of ...
| 
|  | 'General Hospital,' Kelly Clarkson among Daytime Emmy winners 2022-06-25 ABC's General Hospitalalready the winningest sudser in daytime historywas named Outstanding Daytime Drama on June 24 while The Kelly Clarkson Show took home the prize for Outstanding Talk Show at the 49th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. ...
| 
|  | COMEDY Hannah Einbinder to perform additional show July 16 2022-06-25 Due to popular demand, The Den Theatre announced a third stand-up performance for comedian/actress Hannah Einbinder (the TV show Hacks) on Saturday, July 16, at 7 p.m. on The Heath Mainstage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. The ...
| 
|  | 'Hacks,' 'Euphoria' lead LGBTQ+ critics' Dorian TV nominations 2022-06-23 -- From a press release - JUNE 22, 2022 - The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics—now composed of 385 professional critics and journalists covering film and television—announced its 14th Dorian TV Awards nominations for the best in all of TV, mainstream to ...
| 
|  | HRC report: Wage for LGBTQ+ women is 79 cents to the average man's dollar 2022-06-22 -- From a press release - WASHINGTON - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released new data outlining ...
| 
|  | TELEVISION John Early and Kate Berlant discuss 'Would It Kill You to Laugh?' 2022-06-21 Peacock is releasing a new sketch comedy show called Would It Kill You to Laugh? Starring Kate Berlant and John Early, the show debuts Friday, June 24. This one-hour special features a comedy duo who have ...
| 
|  | The Andersonville Village Market returns for summer 2022 2022-06-21 -- From a press release - CHICAGO (June 21, 2022) The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to welcome back its 2nd annual Andersonville Vintage Market, featuring antiques, home décor, jewelry, accessories, clothing, music and ...
| 
|  | TELEVISION 'Rutherford Falls' returns for season two with double the diversity 2022-06-19 Peacock's hit comedy Rutherford Falls is back with season two. (It started June 16.) The story follows two lifelong friendsNathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding)as they navigate ...
| 
|  | New report looks at LGBTQ+ restaurant workers and job risks they face 2022-06-15 -- From a press release - Today, One Fair Wage, a national nonprofit representing tipped subminimum wage restaurant workers, released a new report on the harsh realities of being a LGBTQ+ restaurant worker. The report shows that the subminimum wage encourages rampant ...
| 
|  | TELEVISION 'Queer as Folk' defines a new generation on Peacock 2022-06-15 An all-new version of Queer as Folk is currently streaming on Peacock, with some big differences from the two past incarnations. This 2022 production is a reimagining of the two previous seriesone with a British cast ...
| |
|
|
|
|