Develop Authentic Relationships - 9 Ways You Can Support LGBTQIA+ Owned Businesses
Develop Authentic Relationships
Written by Andrew Tessmer, M.Ed, LPC, LMHC, QTAP
Contribution for 9 Ways You Can Support LGBTQIA+ Owned Businesses by Brett Farmiloe
How can you support Queer-owned businesses?
When assessing how you can have a positive impact in supporting a local LGBTQ+-owned business, I recommend focusing on the relationship development aspect of support.
The importance of having a supportive and affirming community is transformative for LGBTQ+ individuals as they choose to share their authentic selves with those they feel comfortable with. The same can be said of LGBTQ+ businesses and the people behind them. By spending your time and energy developing authentic relationships with the business owner(s) and their employees, you will help strengthen their business and the community.
Whether you invest in the relationship by inviting the owner to your next networking event or simply having a conversation with them in their store, connections like these can be incredibly beneficial. Since word-of-mouth referrals are a way for LGBTQ+ businesses to gain opportunities, these referrals become much more natural and genuine coming from authentic relationships.
