WASHINGTON DC.-

Photo:Courtesy, Wikimedia

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke told a group of LGBT business owners that he wants to work with them to increase the pool of LGBT businesses that can successfully compete for contract and program opportunities in the Federal Government. His comments came during the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s (NGLCC) seventh annual National Business and Leadership “Out for Business!” Conference.

The three-day event included business symposiums, keynote speakers, panel discussions and special events that worked to connect local and national LGBT businesses with NGLCC’s corporate partners to expand opportunities for growth. The NGLCC is the business advocate and direct link between LGBT business owners, corporations and government. It represents the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses, partners with 125 corporations, and is the umbrella organization for 61 state, local and international LGBT chambers of commerce and businesses.

Locke started his speech by emphasizing the “progress we’ve made combating discrimination of LGBT Americans,” but “knowing that in communities across the country, there are LGBT people young and old who still feel alone.”

Locke said that the U.S. Commerce Department’s focus has always been creating jobs.