June is Pride Month, a time when we celebrate the diversity of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities while acknowledging their history, the hardships they have endured, and the progress that has been made. To help support our community during Pride Month and beyond, we have pulled together a list of support organizations, programs, and business resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs and business owners. We have also included educational resources for their allies.
For 2SLGBTQIA+ Business Owners:
Support Organizations:
- Start Proud aims to connect LGBTQ+ students with employers, while promoting the development of LGBTQ+ professionals, and celebrating the achievements and service of those in the community.
- Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) is the only chamber of commerce uniting and advocating for the over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+ owned and operated businesses in Canada.
- LOUD Business is a coalition of queer and queer-friendly businesses and professionals dedicated to amplifying the LGBTQ+ business community and providing greater opportunities.
- Pride at Work Canada: Through dialogue, education and thought leadership, Pride at Work Canada empowers employers to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
- myGwork is the largest global business community of LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers and anyone who believes in workplace equality. It empowers the LGBTQ+ community by offering individual members a safe space where they can connect with inclusive employers, find jobs, mentors, professional events, e-learning/training, news and much more.
- Egale is a national organization that educates and advocates for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and provides inclusivity training for organizations and schools. Education includes Workplace Inclusion for Gender and sexual diversity.
- QueerTech strives to queer the tech ecosystem by breaking down barriers, creating spaces, and connecting communities to support and empower 2SLGBTQ+ people to thrive.
- Lesbians Who Tech and Allies: helps build pathways, provide learning experiences, curate access to targeted talent pipelines and design brand activations for mid-senior women, women of color, and nonbinary leaders, across all industries to encourage economic power and access to jobs and leadership roles.
- Pride In Microbiology: As a community-building initiative with a focus on the microbial sciences, the Pride in Microbiology Network is committed to creating a safe space for Queer and Trans microbiologists to meet, network, and collaborate.
- Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the Rotman School of Management promotes an understanding of gender inequalities and how they can be remedied – by people of all genders – in the world of business and, more broadly, in the economy.
Programs:
- 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program: The Government of Canada co-developed the structure of this program with organizations across the 2SLGBTQI+ ecosystem. Program components include the Business Scale-Up program to build the CGLCC’s support capacity, Ecosystem Fund and 2SLGBTQI+ Knowledge Hub.
- CGLCC | Youth Entrepreneur: The OUT For Business Youth Entrepreneur program supports a select group of 2SLGBTQI+ youth entrepreneurs each year. Applications for the next cohort will open in Fall 2024!
- 2SLGBTQQIA+ Entrepreneurs | Futurpreneur: Futurpreneur’s Core Startup Program provides young entrepreneurs with startup loan financing and up to two years of mentorship, with added access to tools and networking opportunities across Canada.
- Flip the Script: a FREE, self-paced online program dedicated to helping women and non-binary business owners secure more money from investors. Led by CanWCC. Applications for the Summer Cohort close on June 21, 2024. Applications for the Fall Cohort close on August 9, 2024.
VC and Angel Funds that Support 2SLGBTQIA+ Businesses:
- Backstage Capital provides funding for LGBTQ+-led, female-led, and minority-led ventures.
- Pipeline Angels offers funding for non-male entrepreneurs whose ventures are sustainable and community-focused.
- LGBT Capital – offers funding and LGBT Accreditation.
General Business Resources:
- 2SLGBTQI+ business guide | FedDev Ontario – Small Business Services
- Curated 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurship Resource Guide | Startup Canada
- Business Resources for LGBTQ2S Entrepreneurs | Small Business BC
- The Top Startup Resources for LGBTQ Entrepreneurs | Cubeler Insights
- Supports for 2SLGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs Across Canada | WEKH
- Report: Access and Equity for 2SLGBTQ+ Businesses in Canada
- LGBTQ Marketing 101: Ten First-Year Steps | Community Marketing Inc.
For Allies:
- Through dialogue, education and thought leadership, Pride at Work Canada empowers employers to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
- Pride at Work Canada’s Workplace Audit is a uniquely Canadian tool designed to help organizations track their diversity and inclusion efforts in a comprehensive fashion with respect to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
- Egale is a national organization that educates and advocates for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and also provides inclusivity training for organizations and schools. Education includes Workplace Inclusion for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
Read:
- Being an LGBTQ Ally | Human Rights Campaign
- Research: How to Be a Better Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community | Harvard Business Review
- Creating a Trans-Inclusive Workplace | Harvard Business Review
- How to Make Your Company Transgender-Inclusive | Totaljobs
- How to Make Your Brand Inclusive of Trans and Non-Binary Folks | Splitpixel
- 11 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Workplace More LGBTQ Inclusive | The Muse
- How to Be An LGBT Ally | CNN
- How Businesses Can Promote Authentic LGBTQ+ Allyship During Pride Month | Forbes
Note: This resource list has been curated by the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce for educational purposes in order to support 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada and their allies. We are not affiliated with these groups and are not responsible for any changes in availability, outdated information or broken links on these websites.
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About CanWCC
The Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC) is the only chamber of commerce in Canada that advocates explicitly for diverse women-identified and non-binary entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners. Launched in 2018, CanWCC is a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to create equal opportunities for women-identified and non-binary entrepreneurs to thrive in business.
CanWCC is a nationally incorporated, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocacy, advancement, and connection for and on behalf of its members. CanWCC’s membership consists of women-identified entrepreneurs and organizations that are at least 50% woman(en)-owned and led.