LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The big impact of LGBTQ+ small businesses

Posted 6/14/22

Pride Month is a time of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community and their contributions in building a better, stronger economy—and it’s also a reminder of the progress we are still fighting to achieve. 

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The big impact of LGBTQ+ small businesses

Posted

Pride Month is a time of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community and their contributions in building a better, stronger economy—and it’s also a reminder of the progress we are still fighting to achieve. 

Equity is a top priority for me and for the Biden-Harris administration, and we believe all of America’s entrepreneurs deserve a level playing field, regardless of zip code, race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. During COVID, we’ve learned how critical equitable access is surviving and thriving, and at the Small Business Administration (SBA), we are working to build better connections to and for the 1.4 million LGBTQ+ owned businesses in communities across this country. LGBTQ+ businesses already generate more than $1.7 trillion in U.S. economic impact, and support tens of thousands of jobs—and that number continues to grow. In order to drive even greater economic empowerment of the LGBTQ+ community, we need to connect entrepreneurs to the capital and resources they need to start and grow their businesses, and the SBA is working to do that each day through our district offices, resource partners, our community navigators program and more.

Isabella Casillas Guzman,

U.S. Small Business Administration 

Washington, D.C.

Senate scores bipartisan gun-safety framework 

Today’s announcement of a bipartisan gun-safety framework is a good first step to ending the persistent inaction regarding the gun violence epidemic that has plagued our country and terrorized our children for far too long. Once the text of this agreement is finalized, I will put this bill on the floor as soon as possible so that the Senate can act quickly to advance gun-safety legislation.

As the author of the Brady-background checks bill, I am pleased that for the first time in nearly 30 years, Congress is on the path to take meaningful action to address gun violence. I applaud Senators Chris Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, John Cornyn, and Thom Tillis for their leadership in these discussions and the bipartisan group of senators who worked in good faith to reach this agreement.

This important legislation will limit the ability of potential mass shooters to quickly obtain assault rifles. It will establish an enhanced background-check process for gun purchasers under age 21, invest in the adoption and expansion of state red-flag laws, close the boyfriend loophole, establish federal penalties for gun traffickers and fund critical support services to help address our nation’s mental health crisis.

After an unrelenting wave of gun-related suicides and homicides, including mass shootings, the Senate is poised to act on commonsense reforms to protect Americans where they live, where they shop and where they learn. We must move swiftly to advance this legislation because, if a single life can be saved, it is worth the effort.

Sen. Charles Schumer

Washington, D.C.

lgbtq+, guns, reform, business

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