Greater Seattle Business Association


The Greater Seattle Business Association 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."

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.

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, GSBA's current executive director, Louise Chernin, was appointed National Chair on the Council on Chambers and Business Organizations, 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.

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.

National recognition

In November 2008 GSBA was awarded "Chamber of the Year" by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. recognizing its leadership among more than 45 other regional LGBT and Allied chambers. 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.

Advocacy

'''Guiding Principles'''

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:
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. After passage of three separate domestic partnership bills in the Washington State Legislature access to full marriage is still denied to Washingtonians. 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.

Candidate Forum

Every September the organization holds a debate-like program, The GSBA Candidate Forum. 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.

Controversy

In 2009, then mayoral candidate Mike McGinn was criticized for his "rude" treatment of GSBA staff members while attending that year's event. 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. In 1998, Richard C. Rolfs 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. 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.

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.

Record breaking

In May 2010, at the Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, GSBA gave out its one millionth dollar 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. 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'''

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

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.

Business and Humanitarian Awards Dinner

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

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.

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.

Leadership

Executive Board

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

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