Hint: there are an estimated 1.4 million LGBTQ+ business owners!

Answer: Nearly $2 Trillion

Questions:

• What are the benefits of business ownership?
• Why might LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs choose to start their own businesses?
• How might diverse business ownership (including gender, race, sexuality, and more) benefit the economy?
  

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers (Forbes):

“While more needs to be done to achieve equality, one can see the progress that has been made in the contributions of LGBTQI+ businesses to the U.S. economy. According to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), there are an estimated 1.4 million LGBTQI+ business owners. These businesses contribute $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, while the LGBTQI+ community as a whole spends more than $917 billion every year on goods and services.

The NGLCC also reports that there are nearly 1,000 certified LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBE) suppliers. These certified LGBTBE® suppliers alone have created over 33,000 jobs in the United States."

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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