The Balance Sheet: November 21, 2023
This week, our roundup of stories includes policy-tracking in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and in the state of Florida. We're also back with Ada Vargas, aka Queer Money Coach, with more tips on keeping your holiday spending in check.
Happy holidays, Queerency fam! We're grateful for you.
For the LGBTQ+ community, the holidays are some of the most hectic and challenging times of the year. Whether you're abstaining from the holiday, spending time with family members who don't fully see your identity, or cherishing time with your chosen family, you'll always have a safe space here at Queerency.
This week, our roundup of stories includes policy-tracking in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and in the state of Florida. We're also back with Ada Vargas, aka Queer Money Coach, with more tips on keeping your holiday spending in check.
Before diving into your weekly dose of the best business news of the week, Trav and I want to invite you to the annual LGBTQ+ Business Week, a 7-day virtual celebration of queer-owned small businesses. From November 27-December 3, there will be panel discussions and virtual meetups with LGBTQ-owned businesses from all over the globe.
Check out the hundreds of businesses that have already signed up, and submit yours to our database of #BuyProud Businesses. Interested in sponsorship or other collaboration opportunities? Email connect@lgbtqbusinessweek.com.
Finally, if you find value in our work, we would really appreciate your financial support to sustain and grow Queerency. This is a labor of love, with labor being a keyword. Please help us grow by becoming a supporter or making a one-time donation.
Enjoy this week's roundup of LGBTQ+ business news!
Until next week,
Your editor-in-chief, Leo đź’ś
Top Line
Stories With Main Character Energy
A new Florida 'Don't Say Gay' bill will ban all LGBTQ+ nonprofits, prohibit pronoun use in businesses
On Tuesday, November 21, Republican State Representative Ryan Chamberlin introduced House Bill 599, which will effectively ban LGBTQ+ nonprofits from operating in the state of Florida.
HB 599 also prohibits state and local government employees–as well as businesses that are government contractors– from:
- changing their pronouns or honorifics if they do not match their assigned sex at birth
- instructing on gender identity or sexuality
Read the full story at Queerency
City of Murfreesboro amends an ordinance banning public homosexuality
Murfreesboro, the sixth largest city in Tennessee, passed an ordinance in June banned "indecent behavior" including homosexuality. In laymans terms, the ordinance would make it illegal to be gay in public in the city of Murfreesboro. This ordinance could also set a precedent for more LGBTQ+ bans across the country.
After social media advocacy and a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Murfreesboro quietly amended the ordinance to remove the word homosexuality from the list of indecent behaviors banned in public.
Watch our coverage of this story on Queerency's Instagram page
A 3-step guide to help shoppers avoid overspending on holiday gifts
According to a CNBC report published yesterday, 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck heading into the holiday season, but most people still plan on overspending for the holidays.
Queerency spoke with money coach Ada Vargas, also known as the Queer Money Coach, about how to curb holiday spending during this season of hyperconsumerism.
Read the full story at Queerency
Equity
Queer-Owned and -Allied Businesses In the News
Check out our list of 20 trans-owned service providers you should know
Last week, for Trans Awareness Week, we spotlighted 20 trans-owned service providers you should know about, including:
- Outerwebz Assistance and its owner Zander, a virtual assistant and digital project manager who helps neurodiverse, queer, and spicy business owners
- Blvck Rose Tattoo, a piercing and tattoo shop creating a safe, inclusive space for those in the community
- Logan Jacobs, a realtor who focuses on providing an affirming, holistic service to all in Boston, Cambridge, and beyond.
Check out the full list on the LGBTQ+ Business Week Instagram page.
Stevie Shaughnessey
Sponsored
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Assets
Good News in Queer Business, Politics, and More
Nina Totenberg
NICOLE WINFIELD and TRISHA THOMAS Associated Press
Facts & Figures
Data to Digest
321 transgender people were murdered this year, according to a UK report
UK-based organization Transgender Europe (TGEU for short) released its 2023 Trans Murder Monitoring report on November 13, just one week before Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20.
Trans Day of Remembrance is a day to honor our trans and non-binary siblings whose lives have been lost to senseless violence fueled by transphobia.
According to TGEU's report, 321 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. Of that, 94% of victims are trans women or trans feminine people, and 48% of trans people whose occupation was known were sex workers.
Read the full report by TGEU.
Liabilities
Challenges to Overcome
Chantelle Billson
Maura Barrett, Jackie Montalvo and PJ Tobia
Future Outlook
Opportunities & Events to Know About
LGBTQ+ Business Week
Join thousands of businesses and supporters in a 7-day celebration of queer-owned small businesses! From November 27-December 3, we'll be hosting virtual events to help queer-owned small businesses thrive, build, and learn from each other.
Add your business to the #BuyProud Business Database and stay tuned as we reveal the event and speaker lineup for LGBTQ+ Business Week.
Visit www.lgbtqbusinessweek.com and follow us at @lgbtqbusinessweek
Apply for Point of Pride's Annual Trans Surgery Fund by November 30
Point of Pride will grant awards to transgender and nonbinary people seeking funding for gender-affirming surgery. Submit your application by November 30.
More details are available at pointofpride.org.
Nominate a youth leader in California to win up to $10,000
The California Endowment and Youth Leadership Institute teamed up to grant a total of $62,000 to youth leaders and nonprofit awards cultivating pathways for youth power in California.
Nominate a youth leader (ages 16-26) in California and they can win one of the following awards:
- Voices for Change Award, 4 winners will receive $3,000 each
- Brandon Harrison Youth Visionary Award, 1 winner will receive $10,000
A Youth Power Partner Award that grant 4 nonprofits $10,000 each for creating a platform for youth to become leaders.
Nominate youth leaders on The California Endowment website by December 22.
