Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) issued the following statement in honor of June as LGBTQ Pride Month:
“This pride month, it’s vital to recognize the contributions and impacts of LGBTQ small businesses across the country. LGBTQ entrepreneurs are diverse in their experiences, skill sets, and industries of choice, but they share the common attribute of making their communities better places. For over a year, these businesses have borne the brunt of the economic impacts of the pandemic. But through it all, these small firms have displayed remarkable resilience to keep their businesses afloat and serve their communities during their time of need.”
“As Chairwoman, I’m working to advance policies that drive equitable recovery for all small businesses. If our economy is to truly recover, we will need America’s 1.4 million LGBTQ businesses operating at full strength. That’s why I’m committed to ensuring the LGBTQ entrepreneurs are represented as we address fundamental small business issues like increasing access to capital.
“It is also vital that we work to stamp out discrimination based on sexual orientation permanently. That’s why I was proud to vote to pass the Equality Act in February, which would ensure that LGBTQ Americans are protected under the Civil Rights Act. Ending this discrimination isn’t just the morally right thing to do; it’s good for American small business.”
