Businesses increasingly are showing support to LGBTQ communities, not just attract them as customers

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Businesses increasingly are showing support to LGBTQ communities not just to attract them as customers

By TAMMIE SMITH Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 2, 2018

The rainbow design on the can of Tropic Like It’s Hot beer made by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery with Ardent Craft Ales and Center of the Universe Brewing Co. is a nod to the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual communities. ... At Pop’s Market on Grace on East Grace Street in downtown Richmond, an “All Are Welcome” sticker with a graphic of a rainbow-striped open door hangs near the front counter.

Copy Cat Printing in Mechanicsville also has one of the Equality Virginia-distributed “All Are Welcome” stickers displayed, put there by a gay employee who no longer works there but who had the 100 percent support of business co-owner Deniz McCay. ... “I have a lot of gay couples that come in here, and they want their invitations printed,” McCay said. Some have been turned down by other printers, McCay said. ... “I am happy for them. If they find love and they are happy, who am I to disagree,” McCay said.

Hardywood, Pop’s Market, Copy Cat and hundreds of other businesses across the region and state have signed Equality Virginia pledges that express support for diversity among the companies’ employees but also affirms that the business would never turn away customers or clients based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity.

As advocates prepare for one of the biggest LGBTQ celebrations in the area — VA PrideFest coming up Sept. 22 on Brown’s Island — they say business and corporate support has never been greater or more important.
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