In a historic vote, the St. Petersburg City Council recognized majority LGBTQ-owned businesses and will include them in the city’s Small Business Enterprise program. The move will help to ensure that majority LGBTQ-owned entities, like other minority-owned businesses, are competitive in procuring city contracts.
“This is an important step forward for LGBTQ business owners and the community as a whole,” said Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida Public Policy Director. “Leveling the playing field for minority-owned businesses ensures that our neighborhoods continue to reflect the vibrant tapestries they are. We applaud the City of St. Petersburg for making its message clear: “open for business means open to all.”
This ordinance takes effect immediately. In addition to monitoring usage of LGBTQ-owned businesses, the city will also provide them with training programs and services to ensure businesses are familiar with how to do business with the city and are informed about procurement opportunities. The ordinance states, “The city of St. Petersburg is committed to providing all business owners, including historically underrepresented business owners, with equal opportunities to compete and succeed, and is committed to increasing the number and diversity of supplier options.”
Equality Florida is proud to stand with the City of St. Petersburg as well as local LGBTQ leaders in ensuring a future where LGBTQ-owned businesses play an integral role in the prosperity of their community.
Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
