Florida Agenda

WILTON MANORS – The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) will present a symposium, “Transition Solutions for LGBT Seniors,” Thursday, September 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pride Center at Equality Park, in Wilton Manors. The event, presented by the GFLGLCC at no cost, will focus on practical issues facing LGBT seniors, and will feature three experts offering information to assist the attendees and others in planning a safe and secure future.

Speakers and topics will include: Wanda E. Gozdz, “Aging in Place: Adapting Our Space to Meet Our Changing Needs,” a discussion of the aspects of aging, and how it impacts families psychologically, spiritually, and physically; Ryan Schultz, “Living Comfortably in Retirement: Financial Tools to Help You Age Gracefully,” which will cover investment strategies to pay for affordable in-home care; and Stephanie L. Schneider, Esq., “Navigating the Maze: Estate and Long Term Care Planning Issues Unique to the LGBT Community,” including “ Creating a Management Plan for Incapacity,” and “Strategies for Passing on Wealth and Minimizing Estate Tax.”X

While focusing on the needs of mature LGBT individuals, the sessions are open to persons of all ages and concerns. Coffee and pastries will be provided by Starbucks. For more information about the symposium, or to become a member of GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE – The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) has been named a Collaborating Partner in the first U.S. government-backed trade mission to Bogotá, Colombia.

According to GFLGLCC President Keith Blackburn the trade mission, which will be led under the auspices of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)—which will be held September 11 through 15—marks the first U.S. government-certified LGBT trade mission, made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the NGLCC and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Said NGLCC president Justin Nelson, “The support and backing of the U.S. government gives the mission increased validation as we work with our Colombian counterparts, and that’s good for our members who will be attending and looking for new and expanded markets.”

Participants will be credentialed as delegates to the inaugural LGBT Summit of the Americas, which will take place in conjunction with the trade mission, bringing together LGBT business leaders from the U.S., Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Uruguay. Invited speakers include the Honorable Angelino Garzón, Vice President of Colombia, and the Honorable Peter McKinley, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia.

According to Blackburn, the trade mission presents an opportunity for South Florida-based LGBTcertified businesses to meet counterparts, including buyers and business leaders, and to work with the commerce attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to build connections crucial to international export and import trading.

For more information on the trade mission and summit, or to become a GFLGLCC member, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

By CLIFF DUNN

You might not know that Keith Blackburn, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC), is a local business and community leader by all the time he spends out of the country—until you realize that his travels directly benefit and impact local businesses and allied trades in the place he calls home.

“Nearly 28 percent of travel in South Florida has been related to the LGBT community—that’s huge,” Blackburn told the Agenda earlier this year. He wants to see more of that market spend its tourism dollars in Greater Fort Lauderdale, but Blackburn has a deeper dream for the Gayborhood and its surrounding communities.

Long-term, he and his chamber partners want to see the area become an international hub for global commerce, to make it a commercial center as well as a tourist destination.

To help accomplish that, the GFLGLCC has teamed up with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) to help facilitate the first U.S. Government-backed trade mission to Bogotá, Colombia.

The trip (which will be held from September 11 through 15) marks the first U.S. government-certified LGBT trade mission, which was made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed last year between officials of the NGLCC and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Blackburn sees this as an opportunity for local business owners to take part as credentialed delegates to the inaugural LGBT Summit of the Americas, which will be held in conjunction with the trade mission.

The summit will bring LGBT business leaders from the U.S. face to face with their counterparts in Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Uruguay. Among the speakers who have been invited to attend are the Honorable Angelino Garzón, Vice President of Colombia, and the Honorable Peter McKinley, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia.

The trade mission, says Blackburn, is an opportunity for South Floridabased LGBT-certified businesses to meet buyers and business leaders, and to personally meet officials in Bogotá (including the U.S. Embassy’s commerce attaché) and build valuable connections that are crucial to international export and import trading.

Blackburn, a native of Washington, D.C., has spent much of 2012 building the kinds of alliances he hopes to foster in Bogotá, traveling this spring to the ITB-Berlin show, the world’s largest travel trade expo. GFLGLCC, which was formed in 2011, is a 501 (c) (6) non-profit, with a mission to “promote business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBTfriendly community, and to serve as “an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality.” For more information on the GFLGLCC trade mission and summit, or to become a GFLGLCC member, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com

FORT LAUDERDALE – The Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) will present “Transition Solutions for LGBT Seniors,” a symposium, to be held on September 13, at the Pride Center at Equality Park, in Wilton Manors.

The event, which will run from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., will be presented by the GFLGLCC at no cost to the community. Focusing on practical issues facing LGBT seniors, it will feature three experts who will offer information to assist the attendees and others in planning a safe and secure future.

The speakers and topics will include: Wanda E. Gozdz, “Aging in Place: Adapting Our Space to Meet Our Changing Needs,” a discussion of the aspects of aging, and how it impacts families psychologically, spiritually, and physically; Ryan Schultz, “Living Comfortably in Retirement: Financial Tools to Help You Age Gracefully,” which will cover investment strategies to pay for affordable in-home care; and Stephanie L. Schneider, Esq., “Navigating the Maze: Estate and Long Term Care Planning Issues Unique to the LGBT Community,” including “ Creating a Management Plan for Incapacity,” and “Strategies for Passing on Wealth and Minimizing Estate Tax.”

The organizers say that the sessions will be followed by questions and answers. Although focusing on the needs of mature LGBT individuals, the sessions are open to persons of all ages and concerns. Coffee and pastries will be provided by Starbucks.

For more information about the GFLGLCC, or to become a member, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE – The Rainbow Hospitality Alliance (RHA) celebrated the launch of its Web site on Tuesday, June 19, with complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and networking at Dapur Asian Tapas and Lounge, on North Federal Highway.

The RHA operates a part of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC), but maintains its own identity, and conducts business at southfloridafun.com, the Web site once occupied by the now-disbanded Rainbow Alliance. The mission of the RHA is to promote LGBT and LGBT friendly tourism to Greater Fort Lauderdale.

FORT LAUDERDALE – This month, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) sent representatives to attend the annual ITB Travel show, in Berlin, Germany. Keith Blackburn, president and CEO of the GFLGLCC reports that more than 113,000 trade visitors and nearly 60,000 consumers were in attendance at the Messe Berlin Convention Center.

The attendees had come to see 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries, including those representing Greater Fort Lauderdale and its LGBT community. The chamber reps had set up an exhibition area in coordination with the Greater Fort Lauderdale-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), a stand that ranked Number 13 among NGO/Non-Profits by the Cologne Business School for their annual ITB “Best Exhibitor Award.” Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit paid an official visit to the booth.

The GFLGLCC was formed last year by members of Broward County’s LGBT business community, with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBTfriendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses. It is a 501c (6) non-profit organization.

The GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin was endorsed by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE – Last year, members of Broward County’s LGBT business community formed the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC), with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses.

The Chamber, a 501c(6) non-profit organization, has an ambitious agenda: to partner with local LGBT organizations to mutually promote the sunshine and fun of Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, as well as partnering with those businesses who are looking to form a beachhead in the LGBT market. The organization’s president and CEO, Keith Blackburn, went to Berlin, Germany this month to attend the ITB convention, the world’s largest travel trade show, with an anticipated 170,000 attendees representing over 180 countries.

“This is an amazing opportunity to promote all that Greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer to a virtually captive audience,” reported Blackburn. “The ITB-Berlin event is the largest travel trade show on the planet, and a real chance to showcase what we love about where we live,” added Blackburn, whose own business credentials include operating Fort Lauderdale’s successful Mary’s Resort and gay guest house.

Blackburn and the GFLGLCC are also promoting, both locally and abroad, the new Rainbow Hospitality Alliance (RHA). In 1997, the Rainbow Alliance (RA) was launched to build gay and gay-friendly tourism in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Because of legal issues, the RA was limited in its ability to expand its mission statement, and so the group was officially disbanded in 2011. This paved the way for the formation of the RHA, with a stated mission to build alliances and bridges that market the area as the premier LGBT travel destination. In aid of this, the group will launch the southfloridafun.com Website this month.

Blackburn notes that the GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin enjoyed the support of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), as well as businesses with a stake in the effort’s overall success. “The Berlin trip was made possible by our hotel sponsors,” Blackburn noted.

Those sponsors included the Atlantic Hotel, Cheston House, Elysium Resort, Inn Leather, La Casa Del Mar, and the Best Western Oakland Park Inn, in addition to his own Mary’s Resort. Long term, GFLGLCC has also partnered with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), which sponsored last year’s international convention of travel professionals in Greater Fort Lauderdale, and the FunMaps media group.

“Their support enabled us to create a unique brochure, showcasing Greater Fort Lauderdale as a world-class LGBT tourist destination,” emphasized Blackburn.

 For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

Officials Fly to Berlin ITB Convention This Week

By Phoebe Moses

Last year, members of Broward County’s LGBT business community formed the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce(GFLGLCC), with a three-fold mission: To promote business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community. To be an advocate and resource for all member businesses that promote equality. And to promote tourism with a unified approach by working with all related organizations.

The Chamber, a 501c(6) non-profit organization, has an ambitious agenda to partner with local LGBT organizations to mutually promote the sunshine and fun of Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, as well as partnering with those businesses who are looking to form a beachhead in the LGBT market. The organization’s president and CEO, Keith Blackburn, went to Berlin, Germany this month to attend the ITB convention, the world’s largest travel trade show, with an anticipated 170,000 attendees representing over 180 countries.

“This is an amazing opportunity to promote all that Greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer to a virtually captive audience,” reports Blackburn. “The ITB-Berlin event is the largest travel trade show on the planet, and we will have access to travel and tourism officials, travel agencies, cruise and tour operators, and it’s a real chance to showcase what we love about where we live,” added Blackburn, whose own business credentials include operating Fort Lauderdale’s successful Mary’s Resort and gay guest house.
Blackburn and the GFLGLCC are also promoting, both locally and abroad, the new Rainbow Hospitality Alliance (RHA). In 1997, the Rainbow Alliance (RA) was launched to build gay and gay-friendly tourism in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Because of legal issues, the RA was limited in its ability to expand its mission statement, and so the group was officially disbanded in 2011. This paved the way for the formation of the RHA, with a stated mission to build alliances and bridges that market the area as the premier LGBT travel destination. In aid of this, the group will launch the southfloridafun.com Website this month.

Blackburn notes that the GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin has the support of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), as well as businesses with a stake in the effort’s overall success.

“This Berlin trip was made possible by our hotel sponsors,” Blackburn says. Those sponsors included the Atlantic Hotel, Cheston House, Elysium Resort, Inn Leather, La Casa Del Mar, and the Best Western Oakland Park Inn, in addition to his own Mary’s Resort. Long term, GFLGLCC has also partnered with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), which sponsored last year’s international convention of travel professionals in Greater Fort Lauderdale, and the FunMaps media group.

“Their support enabled us to create a unique brochure, showcasing Greater Fort Lauderdale as a world-class LGBT tourist destination,” emphasized Blackburn.

For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.

By Alex Vaughn

Earlier this year, the Rainbow Alliance membership unanimously voted to establish the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

The new Chamber is an affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Chamber members will now have access to many more benefits, compared to the Rainbow Alliance. Keith Blackburn is the Founder and President of the GFLGLCC. The Agenda sat down with him to understand more about the changes and the benefits for the LGBT Business Community at large.

What prompted the development of the Chamber?

Although it may seem like we came out of nowhere, it actually evolved over the past four or five years. The Rainbow Alliance, which was set up as a hospitality organization, had been around for 15 years in total. It really couldn’t expand under its Bylaws and structure. I brought the idea of affiliation to the NGLCC at that time, but the organization wasn’t ready to undertake the change. The Rainbow Alliance focus was tourism and nearly all of the members were hotels, guesthouses, etc.

With the economic situation of the past few years, many of our accommodation properties were sold. By the time I became chair last year, it was fairly clear that we needed to either expand, or close down. I contacted the NGLCC to discuss a possible affiliation. Without them, I don’t think it would have been viable for us to become a Chamber. On April 26th, the Rainbow Alliance membership unanimously voted to begin the GFLGLCC and to close the Rainbow Alliance.

What are your aims for the future?

I see a great future for the GFLGLCC because we have so much to offer our members and the community. As membership grows, I would like to see some counsels added, to serve the specific needs of our member businesses. As an example, I would love to have a “Tourism Council” which would pretty much be an advocate and promotions vehicle for LGBT tourism, while under the umbrella of the GFLGLCC. Our website SouthFloridaFun.com, is still up. It was the website for the Rainbow Alliance. We could easily make some modifications and use it to focus on the LGBT tourist market – linked from the Chamber website, GoGayFortLauderdale.com.

Where do you most see the necessity for the GFLGLCC?

Because of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce affiliation, we offer a unique set of benefits to our members and the community. We are the only LGBT focused chamber of commerce in Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Because of the relationships we have developed with the NGLCC and other affiliate chambers, our reach goes much further than it would without the affiliation.

How do you feel the community has changed in terms of tourism?

Since tourism is the number one revenue source in Greater Fort Lauderdale, we all know the impact on all of our businesses. Fort Lauderdale has been pretty consistently ranked as a top LGBT tourist destination. Back when LGBT tourism began to flourish in Fort Lauderdale, the focus was on the beaches. Although that’s always going to be a draw, we are now known internationally as a truly diverse destination with cultural offerings as well. Wilton Manors is also known internationally and is a huge draw with its nightlife, dining and shopping. Speaking of culture, we are proud to be sponsoring the 3rd Annual Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, presented by HBO. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau is also sponsoring the event and has plans to promote next year’s festival at the Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, as well as other events. The goal is to make our annual film festival another reason for LGBT tourists to come here. We are also working with Manors Masquerade, Stonewall Pride and Pride South Florida. All of these events attract tourists. Greater Fort Lauderdale is very fortunate to have something for everyone, so this makes our community very unique and welcoming to all.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the GFLGLCC?

The part that I enjoy the most has been implementing all of the features and benefits for members. I also enjoy working with our Affiliate Chambers and Community Partners, as well as promoting beneficial events for the community.

What are the benefits to membership of GFLGLCC?

Becoming a member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce isn’t just about the financial support your membership provides. It’s about the relationship. Becoming a member of the GFLGLCC brings you side-by-side with us as we continually make outreach and partner with local business organizations wishing to promote the LGBT business community. We will also promote Greater Fort Lauderdale to national organizations wishing to increase their opportunities and reach within our LGBT business community. Just a few of the benefits include,LGBT Corporate Events and National Exposure, Business Community Partners, Networking and Online exposure. The full list of benefits is available on our website.

Having joined with the NGLCC, what changes will be enacted?

As an affiliate member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce members receive full membership and benefits. We are now connected with other affiliate members and chambers.  This allows our members to promote our businesses, tourism, etc. to a much larger audience. As an organization, it gives us the opportunity to promote community events to all of our affiliates as well.  Using the upcoming Film Festival as an example, we are promoting this, beyond our borders, which will benefit tourism and related businesses in Greater Fort Lauderdale.

What advantages are there to being teamed with the NGLCC?

Through the NGLCC, we will be informed of legislation that may affect our business. Being an affiliate member of the NGLCC, we have representation on issues important to LGBT business before Congress and Executive Branch agencies.

Just last week, acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank hosted a conference call with NGLCC, our suppliers, affiliate leaders, and members to outline items in the American Jobs Act and what those items would mean for small businesses.

I think one of the biggest offerings from the NGLCC is called Supplier Diversity Initiative (SDI). The NGLCC SDI offers certification to LGBTBEs, as well as a host of opportunities to enhance each business’ visibility to corporations seeking to do business with LGBT suppliers. Corporations can search for certified LGBTBEs through our exclusive LGBT supplier database, as well as meet face-to-face with potential suppliers at NGLCC SDI matchmaking events, which are held across the country throughout the year. Certified LGBTBEs may also be eligible for scholarship programs, mentorship and leadership training, and other business development tools to help your business grow. Certification is an important marketing tool that can serve as a critical point of differentiation between your business and your competitors.

What are the advantages of working within the community?

The community here is always evolving and there is so much diversity all around us. Because of this, we have a wealth of businesses, both LGBT owned and LGBT friendly. We also have a lot of different organizations. Many have similar or common goals and I really want to work with those who are compatible. I also believe in giving back to the community, so it is important for us to support those organizations. On a personal level, I enjoy meeting different people and trying to understand their business goals and needs.

For more information and a full list of member benefits  please visit the GFLGLCC at www.GoGayFortLauderdale.com