How LGBTQ Businesses Can Plan For Virtual Pride Celebrations

When the COVID-19 crisis began, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce said that it has never been more imperative to commit ourselves to shop local, shop LGBT, give back what we can to our community organizations, and support all those around us. We truly are in this together.

Pride is the ultimate celebration of togetherness, even if we can't dance in the streets this summer. From the safety of our homes, we will be able to celebrate all that makes our community so beautiful, so resilient, and so rich with diversity.

Pride 2020 will also be a time to develop innovative ways to celebrate and show our support for our community and our allies. As NGLCC shared with The Advocate when shutdowns began, we are all in the business of "Keeping the LGBTQ Community Financially Strong During COVID-19."

As you, your community organizations, and your companies plan for digital Pride celebrations, take extra care to rely on the resourcefulness of America's 1.4 million LGBT business owners and the services they can provide to make this Pride season unforgettable:

* Pride Gear: Rainbow sunglasses and T-shirts with your company brand on them, table and home/office decorations for your online parties, and everything else you can dream of are available from LGBT-owned custom print shops like Brand|Pride and many more who specialize in making Pride unforgettable.

* Streaming Video Service: From online dance parties and celebrity video fundraisers, to Pride conferences, webinars, and corporate group gatherings, there are LGBT-owned event and digital solution companies, like American Meetings, Inc., ready to take your digital Pride celebration to the next level. Don't forget to also source your graphics and custom videos from certified LGBT designers eager to support your Pride event.

* Snacks and Drinks: Whether you want a snack or cocktail to enjoy while watching the online celebrations, or are looking for Pride gifts and giveaways for your clients, friends, or favorite nonprofit, LGBT-owned food vendors, distilleries like Republic Restoratives, and micro-breweries are all available for personal or commercial celebrations ahead.

Best of all: everything you need can be sourced directly from our own community through the vast network of Certified LGBT Business Enterprise(r) suppliers and affiliate chambers across America. And helping LGBT Americans through this time is key to helping all Americans succeed. We can never forget that our community includes women, communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, and so many others with whom we must stand in solidarity for a stronger, more inclusive economy on the other side of this outbreak.

This is also the time to remind your favorite brands, TV networks, and magazines that LGBT-inclusive marketing has never been more important. Just because we aren't waving at your float doesn't mean we aren't watching how you engage with our community. As the economy regains its footing in the months ahead, leading with a commitment to diversity -- as a business owner or consumer -- can help supercharge our economy and our community back to where we should be with our $917 billion dollar purchasing power. Now is the time to be doubling down on inclusive advertising so that our communities feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout -- and long after -- COVID-19.

Now, in this unprecedented moment, we can take pride in our purchases by supporting our community through the goods and services that power our 2020 Pride celebrations. Every dollar you and your companies spend with our community helps all of us come out of this moment stronger-- and that is something that should give us all pride.