LGBTBE® Certification
The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) on the LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE®) Certification program. Become a member of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber and your application fee is waived. Membership is regional and certification is national!
The NGLCC is the nation's only third-party certification body that verifies that eligible businesses are majority-owned by LGBTQ individuals, and subsequently grants LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE®) designation to such businesses as part of its LGBTQ Supplier Diversity Initiative.
As an LGBTBE®, you'll have access to the full NGLCC network, which features more than 400 corporate and public sector partners expressly looking to do business with certified LGBTBEs. Plus, the NGLCC's 1,600+ LGBTBEs cut across all industries and are seeking B2B opportunities and strategic partnerships with other LGBTBEs like you!
Why Should I Get Certified as an LGBTQ Owned Business?
Identifying your LGBTQ owned business through national diversity supplier certification provides another channel through which to market your products or services. Major U.S. corporations and the public sector are increasingly demonstrating a commitment to a diverse supply chain by not only creating inclusive work environments and marketing to a broad, diverse consumer base but also by purchasing products and services directly from LGBTBE certified businesses. By becoming a certified LGBTBE®, business owners are able to build relationships with America’s leading corporations as well as governmental entities and generate prospective business and clients, and collectively team with each other for contracting opportunities. Certified LGBTBEs are routinely sought after by NGLCC Corporate Partners and many Chamber Corporate Partners who are looking to increase their purchasing within diverse communities.
What are the benefits for my business?
- National recognition by America’s top corporations as a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® supplier
- Eligibility to exhibit at the annual NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference, as well as at regional events
- Automatic inclusion in the NGLCC’s online searchable database of certified businesses, which is accessible by NGLCC Corporate Partners.
- Use of the NGLCC Certified Business logo on your marketing materials, which identifies your business as LGBTQ-owned through the NGLCC to an international audience
- Eligibility to receive sourcing opportunities from the NGLCC and its Corporate Partners
- Eligibility to participate in mentorship programs, leadership trainings, and scholarship opportunities presented by NGLCC Corporate Partners
- Eligibility for involvement with the Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) Initiative for TGX-owned businesses, and the Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) for business owners of color
- Discounts offered by NGLCC Corporate Partners
Regional
- Opportunity to participate in regional and statewide programming for LGBTBE® Certified businesses
- Recognition as LGBTBE® Certified business in Chamber Directory
- Access to regional Chamber Corporate Partners
- Engagement in local/regional events supporting LGBTBE® Certified businesses
- Eligibility to receive sourcing opportunities from the Chamber Corporate Partners
- Eligibility to participate in mentorship programs, leadership trainings, and scholarship opportunities presented by NGLCC Corporate Partners
- Eligibility for involvement with the Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) Initiative for TGX-owned businesses and the Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) for business owners of color
Does My Business Qualify for Certification?
Businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least fifty-one (51%) owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBTQ person or persons who are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents
- Exercise independence from any non-LGBTQ business enterprise
- Have principle place of business (or headquarters) located in the United States
- Have been formed as a legal entity in the United States
Learn more about LGBTBE® certification and visit the NGLCC’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Will my certification fee be waived?
As a member of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber, your application fee is waived. The Chamber is an affiliate chamber of the NGLCC and, as part of that relationship, certification is waived for our members.
LGBTBE® Roundtable Program
The Chamber supports our LGBTBE certified members through the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program, which offers opportunities to help certified LGBTQ Business Enterprises thrive. The main goal of the Program is to foster the development, growth and sustainability of certified LGBTBEs who are members of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber. As an LGBT Business Enterprise and Chamber member, certified LGBTBE® businesses are automatically eligible to participate in the Program, which primarily includes exclusively certified LGBTQ+-owned companies.
We are proud of our Chamber Corporate Partners who are strong supporters of the LGBTBE® certification and demonstrate this through inclusive procurement practices such as United, Bank of America and Shell USA. We partner with these companies to offer programming through the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program to connect our members to education, resources and business opportunities.
In addition to the local/regional Chamber LGBTBE® Roundtable Program, we are proud to partner with the Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce to offer a statewide LGBTBE® Roundtable Programming and Networking for our certified LGBT owned businesses.
Check out the recordings from past LGBTBE® workshops including the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program, How to Get LGBTBE® Certified and more.
Hear from supplier diversity experts about maximizing the LGBTBE® Certification to grow your business!
We are proud to work with Chamber Corporate Partners who are strong supporters of the LGBTBE® certification and demonstrate this by including LGBTBE® Certified Businesses as part of their engagement of diverse suppliers. Together with these companies, we offer programming through the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program to connect our members to education, resources and business opportunities.
LGBTQ Business Inclusion Executive Order Signing Ceremony with Mayor Sylvester Turner
The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber was proud to lead the effort to work with Mayor Turner and the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity to recognize LGBTQ-owned businesses in city contracting and procurement. The first city in Texas! As an LGBTBE® Certified business, business owners have access to valuable resources and tools at the City of Houston.
