Detroit LGBTQ+ chamber expands statewide
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An LGBTQ+ small business pitch competition held this year, with the chamber's Kevin Heard on the far right. Photo: Courtesy of the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce
The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber has expanded statewide, becoming the Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce.
Why it matters: The group's leaders say that all across this purple state, entrepreneurs need support to grow — whether they're in metropolitan southeast Michigan, the west side of the state or rural country in the UP.
- Expanding statewide builds connections and opportunities for a community that helps drive the state's economy, but has seen its supporters pull back in recent years.
State of play: The chamber's offerings for its members include education, access-to-capital prep, safety and understanding of their identities, and help getting certified as LGBTQ+ owned in order to access new contracting jobs.
- Over the next several years, the chamber will offer its resources further across Southeast Michigan, then to Lansing, Grand Rapids and eventually all the way to the UP.
- That includes a statewide listening tour and more virtual resources.
What they're saying: "Every single city has someone who is LGBT. We know that," founder and executive director Kevin Heard tells Axios.
- "So going statewide is intentional, to bring representation to those areas, to ensure that resources are provided, and we're working with the people already on the ground doing the work [in those cities]."
By the numbers: The chamber started in 2013. By 2019, it had 74 members, per Crain's, and is now at more than 140.
- More LGBTQ+ people have been starting businesses in recent years, making up 10% of all new business ownership in 2024, per research by Gusto.
- The increase coincides with more American adults identifying as LGBTQ+.
The big picture: Increasing LGBTQ+ identification comes even amid President Donald Trump's administration targeting the rights of transgender Americans and plummeting Republican support for same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ rights.
Context: Growing its statewide networks also helps the chamber advocate for pro-LGBTQ+ and pro-small business policies with the state Legislature.
- Plus, it's part of efforts to attract more people to move to Michigan as a pro-LGBTQ+ state.
The bottom line: "[LGBTQ+] businesses right now, speaking in the sense of how things are going in the world, need advocacy, need support, need to feel heard, need to feel seen," board vice chair Christina Ware tells Axios.
- "It's a pivotal time for our community, because we need more people that are speaking in rooms that we're not necessarily in."