While June is often a vibrant celebration of resiliency and visibility, at the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, we also use Pride Month as a moment for reflection and action. We cannot forget the persistent challenges and discriminatory workplace statistics that continue to impact our community:

·  Unemployment & Underemployment: Transgender people face significantly higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, with some studies showing unemployment rates as high as 60% for transgender individuals.

·  Wage Gap: Gay and bisexual men, on average, earn 10% to 32% less than similarly qualified heterosexual men. While individual earnings for lesbian and bisexual women can vary, lesbian couples often experience lower household incomes than heterosexual couples due to the pervasive gender wage gap.

• Workplace Invisibility: Only a little over half of LGBTQIA+ employees feel safe being out at work.

These numbers represent real people and real struggles. We are profoundly motivated by the stories of our members who have faced:

• Harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
• Termination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Being denied employment or promotion for expressing their authentic selves.
• Barriers to accessing capital solely due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• The profound toll of anxiety and depression stemming from the constant need to "cover" or hide their true identity at work.
• The mental and emotional burden of feeling compelled to constantly overachieve and outperform straight, cisgender coworkers.
• The devastating impact of substance abuse as a coping mechanism.
• The inability to build financial security, including vital retirement savings.
• The egregious injustice of being married on Saturday and fired on Monday.
• Being unjustly denied employment opportunities due to a criminal record, often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
• Stigma in the workplace based on HIV status.

The North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce uses Pride Month as a powerful reminder that despite improving cultural attitudes and policy advancements, the LGBTQIA+ community still lacks true equitable access to economic opportunity.

Positioned at the crossroads of business and community, the Chamber works tirelessly to bridge this gap, leveraging the power of business to move us closer to genuine equality, freedom, and independence for all. For the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber, observing Pride Month means holding space for both the joy of our community's resilience and the urgent call to action against the economic injustices that persist. It is a time to galvanize our efforts for a truly prosperous future.