Thank you Judette, Zina and the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights team for organizing this important and informative event – and for continuously helping the SBA to better integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into our work.
And thank you to our speakers today - Jason for your continued leadership at the SBA – not only serving as our Acting CFO but also as an Executive Champion for the SBA’s LGBTQ+ community.
And thanks to Honorable Molly Powell for sharing your great insights today and for your work at the EEOC protecting LGTBQ+ workers from discrimination.
Honorable Powell mentioned that we celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County.
We wouldn’t be where we are in the battle for equal rights without the struggle, sacrifice, and vision of so many brave LGBTQ+ individuals who fought to be free from discrimination in the workforce. And, our commitment to progress must continue - as EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows said, “a great deal of work remains to make real the promise of equality embodied in the Bostock decision.” Today’s event demonstrates our commitment at the SBA to being a part of that work and making space in all of our lives to be inclusive in our words and actions.
As I mentioned in my remarks at my first SBA town hall, equity is a top priority for me. I am committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. And I’m fortunate to serve in an administration that has made equity a priority across all of government.
I was proud to see that, among his first acts in office, President Biden signed a proclamation to combat and prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. He affirmed that “every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love.”
This commitment to combat discrimination and promote representation is especially important this year, as we work to help our nation’s small businesses recover and build back better from the pandemic.
We have learned during COVID just how critical equitable access is to surviving and thriving. And access is not only about program development, but also about connection and awareness – and we need to build better connections to the 1.4 million LGBTQ+ businesses in the U.S. that create more than 300,000 jobs annually.
And ensuring we are inclusive of our LGBTQ+ workforce will strengthen our ability to build and promote equitable programs and initiatives at the SBA.
Equity is important for all of us. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it will help us build back better by creating jobs, growing our economy, and strengthening our global competitiveness.
Thank you everyone for a great 2021 LGBTQ Pride Month program!