Article
Febuary 2023 • The Boston Globe
For the transgender community, work can be a difficult world to navigate
Navigating the world of work can be enormously challenging for members of the transgender community, and changing jobs is especially tricky. Nationwide, transgender people are twice as likely to be unemployed as cisgender adults (whose gender identity corresponds with their sex assigned at birth), and they make a third less money, with a much smaller proportion of transgender workers in management or leadership roles.
Article
January 2023 • Daily Hampshire Gazette
State’s LGBTQ chamber sets up roots in Easthampton
While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed plans into the western part until this past year, the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s membership base now exceeds 450 members — 150 of which are based in western Massachusetts, according to Grace Moreno, executive director of the chamber. In the coming year, she has a goal to increase membership to 600.
News Clip
November 2022 • WWLP-22News
LGBT Chamber of Commerce opens in Easthampton
Easthampton is now home to the Western Massachusetts branch of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The new office opened Thursday. The LGBT Chamber of Commerce extends statewide chamber services to LGBTQ+ businesses in Massachusetts.
News Clip
October 2022 • WWLP-22News
Roundtable discussion helps local LGBTQ+ businesses grow
A community conversation centered on supporting LGBTQ+ businesses was held in Easthampton Wednesday evening.
The event was put on by Commonwealth Corporation. Attendees told 22News they wanted to get advice from business leaders within this community, in an effort to grow their establishments.
News Clip
June 2022 • NBC10 Boston
Mass. LGBTQ Community Fears Future Supreme Court Decisions After Abortion Ruling
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ community that other rights — like gay marriage — could be the next to go.
Grace Moreno, CEO of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, said it's clear to her the court might rollback of legal protections for gay relationships.
“I think there’s a great deal of sadness and also a great deal of fear," Moreno said. “I think what is ahead is scary on many, many fronts, we need to be ready for that, what that looks like.”
Article
June 2022 • Boston Business Journal
We are all oppressed until the last of us is free
In this captivating opinion piece, Nancy Huntington Stager, President and CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation and Treasurer of the MA LGBT Chamber of Commerce and a Director of the LGBT Business Network and Grace Moreno, Executive Director of the MA LGBT Chamber of Commerce discuss dismantling the myth that justice is a zero-sum game, the notion that equity for one is not equity at all, and our collective moral imperative.
Article
June 2022 • GBH News
Mass. LGBT Chamber of Commerce and BPL unite to tackle LGBTQ+ job inequality
The phrase “bring your whole self to work'' was coined in 2015 by Mike Robbins via his wildly popular TED Talk. But for some in the LGBTQ+ community, fears of rejection and discrimination are very real. A 2021 study out of ULCA’s William Institute found that nearly one in 10 LGBTQ people in the United States experienced workplace discrimination between March 2020 and May 2021, and almost half faced employment bias at some point in their careers.
To address that discrimination as part of Pride month, the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Central Boston Public Library to host its second job fair of the year specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals on June 16.
Article
June 2022 • The Boston Globe
‘We need to come together on the left’: LGBTQ leaders ponder the challenges ahead
Over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken with local LGBTQ business and civic leaders, asking them to reflect on how far the community has come, but also what challenges lie ahead — or may already be here.
Article
December 2021 • Boston Spirit Magazine
Mass. LGBT Chamber of Commerce expands into Western part of state
The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce held a press conference last week in Easthampton announcing the staffing of their new office at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley. It’s part of the Chamber’s initiative to reach and assist more businesses in the Western part of the Bay State.
News Clip
December 2021 • WWLP-22News
LGBT Chamber of Commerce celebrate launch of new chapter in Easthampton
Talent is universal, but opportunity is limited. That’s what Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle is trying to change, in partnership with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Article
December 2021 • The Reminder
Mass. LGBT Chamber of Commerce expands into Western Mass.
The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce officially launched its expansion into Western Massachusetts on Dec. 7. The newest headquarters is located at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley.
Article
December 2021 • Greenfield Recorder
LGBT Chamber expands into western Mass.
LGBT community leaders and small business owners gathered last week to welcome the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce as it expands into the western half of the state.
Report
March 2020 • Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce
COVID-19 Impact on Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Small Businesses
A survey conducted by the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce revealed that LGBTQ-owned businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be seriously affectedby the COVID-19 outbreak.
Article
May 2019 • Boston Business Journal
LGBT chamber helps members make diverse connections
The still-young Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce is in its second full year, but is already creating large and small opportunities for its members and sponsors alike. One way is through companies that are now partnering with smaller, LGBT-owned businesses.
Article
September 2018 • Bay Windows
Say hello to the Mass. LGBT Chamber of Commerce
On Monday Federal Reserve Bank of Boston hosed the launch of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Governor Charlie Baker and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse delivered keynote addresses.
The new chamber’s mission is “to promote economic growth and viability for LGBT-owned and allied businesses, corporations, and professionals throughout the Commonwealth.”
Radio
September 2018 • Bloomberg Baystate Business
Baystate Business: GE, 3D, LGBT
On the Monday, September 24 edition of Bloomberg Baystate Business we spoke with Grace Moreno, the executive director of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, talked about the launch of her group. Hosts: Tom Moroney, Pat Carroll and Janet Wu. Producer: Bob Bragg. (Begins at 0:52:00)
News Clip
September 2018 • WWLP-22News
First LGBT Chamber of Commerce launches in Massachusetts
Leaders of the LGBT community joined dozens of business owners at an event that launched the state's newest Chamber of Commerce.
The only one of it's kind in the region, the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce was established to raise awareness and increase business opportunities across the state.
Television
September 2018 • The Take with Sue O'Connell
Mass. LGBT Chamber of Commerce Launches
The new Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce launched Monday. Grace Moreno, Executive Director of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Juliani, CEO and Founder, Boston Chair Massage, join Sue to discuss the organization's new goals.
Article
September 2018 • Gay Star News
Boston to launch LGBT Chamber of Commerce for local businesses
Jim Heppelmann, president and CEO of software firm PTC Inc. which is headquartered in Boston, said that becoming a founding member of the chamber was ‘an easy decision’.
‘Diversity and inclusion are essential to any organization’s creativity, growth, and success, and we recognize their role in helping to drive the innovative and nurturing spirit that makes us not only a great place to work, but also a company people can feel proud of doing business with,’ Hepplemann added.
Article
September 2018 • Boston Business Journal
Mass. LGBT Chamber of Commerce to launch Monday
The recently established chamber has a stated mission "to create an inclusive economic growth state by promoting opportunities among LGBT-owned and allied businesses, corporations and professionals."
Profile
June 2018 • Boston Business Journal
A Focus on Equity and Inclusion
Business of Pride profiles of our chamber's executive director, Grace Moreno, founding member Jennifer Pinck, and corporate founding sponsor Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
Event
Mar/Apr 2018 • Boston Spirit Magazine
Business Leadership Information Session
At the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s first business leadership information session, more than 60 progressive business owners and executives met with the Chamber’s board of directors to engage in a vibrant discussion about the group’s mission, work and benefits of becoming charter partners and key business allies.
Feature
Jan/Feb 2018 • Boston Spirit Magazine
Economics of Inclusion
Newly formed Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce is open for business and positioned to empower enterprises small and large.
