In an opinion piece published in The Advocate, Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell, the cofounders of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce argue that the global economic impact of the estimated 1.4 million LGBT business owners in America could be over $1.7 trillion.
“That would make LGBT Americans the 10th largest economy in the world,” Nelson and Mitchell write. “For a little perspective, that’s bigger than the economies of Australia, Canada, and South Korea combined — what a fabulous country!”
The authors encourage LGBT+ consumers to take steps to ensure that they’re shopping with LGBT-owned businesses: “It has never been easier to go online or check with your local LGBT chamber of commerce to make sure you support the brands that have our community’s back.”
Out Leadership is a member of the NGLCC, and an NGLCC Certified Business Enterprise.