Why are so many lesbians invisible within the LGBT community?
Many of you know that I love, love, love Twitter! One of the many great things about Twitter is the conversation and dialogue that you can have with pretty much anyone around the world. It’s pretty amazing to think about. I post all of my blog posts to Twitter in …
Read MoreWhat exactly is an LGBT chamber of commerce?
In day to day interactions with people I’ve come to find that many do not know what a chamber of commerce is or what a chamber of commerce does. I’m noticing that I may just live in a bubble where I make assumptions that everyone just knows what a chamber …
Read MoreThe Power of Personalization in Your Marketing
In this post I want to talk about personalizing your marketing. I want you to take a moment and think about what type of marketing you are doing in your business. Go grab a piece of paper or open up a blank document and write down your top 5 ways …
Read MoreIs your target market ‘the ladies across the street?’
I grew up in a small town where diversity was scarce, really scarce. I’m not sure how or when being inclusive of everyone became such a part of who I was but I remember as early as 11 being inclusive regardless of race or religion specifically in my very non-diverse …
Read More#73: What you need to know about the Human Rights Campaign, Corporate Equality Index
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi-73-gay-business-marketing-hrc-corporate-equality-index-replay-of-episode-53.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Hey all – this episode is a re-airing of episode 53, so if you already heard episode 53, come back for a new episode in episode 74! In today’s episode I cover a few topics. The first is I answer a listener …
Read MoreIs your LGBT marketing non-verbally stereotyping?
Welcome to part 4 of 7 of the “The 7 Deadly Sins of Ineffective LGBT Communications.” This entire series is based around the idea that I believe 98% of miscommunication blunders occur for one of 7 reasons, which I’ve dubbed the 7 deadly sins. We’ve already covered 1. Assumptions 2. Stereotypes …
Read MoreAre you asking your LGBT customers touchy things?
So here is part 3 of 7 in the 7 part series titled: “The 7 Deadly Sins of Ineffective LGBT Communications.” I first introduced to you the idea that I believe 98% of miscommunication blunders occur for one of 7 reasons, which I’ve dubbed the 7 deadly sins. As a …
Read More#71: Simple Tactics for Reaching LGBT Consumers [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode_71_Simple-tactics-for-reaching-LGBT-consumers.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thank you for listening to episode 71 of the podcast. On my last podcast I was able to answer a question from a reader and it was nice to get back to that type of podcast! I decided this week I would …
Read More#70: An Open Letter from a Self Admitted Homophobe [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Episode_70_An-open-letter-from-a-self-admitted-homophobe.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thanks for listening to episode #70 of the podcast. Today’s episode of the podcast isn’t an interview, it’s a response to an email I received from a reader. It’s been a few months since I’ve spent a podcast just talking to you, …
Read MoreMaking LGBT assumptions will cost you the sale
Welcome to part 1 of the 7 part series titled: “The 7 Deadly Sins of Ineffective LGBT Communications.” Previously I introduced you to the concept that I believe 98% of miscommunication blunders occur for one of 7 reasons, which I’ve dubbed the 7 deadly sins. I truly believe that most …
Read More#69: Melissa Ferrick | Singer-Songwriter [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode_69_Melissa-Ferrick-Rock-Folk-Singer.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thanks for listening to episode #69 of the podcast. Today’s guest, Melissa Ferrick, is a master of many trades – an acclaimed performing artist (currently listed as #20 of the top 50 women in indie music), a record label owner as well …
Read More#66: Storytelling with Ann Townsend, Author of LGBTQ: Outing My Christianity, Founder of Hands Across the Pond [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Ann-Townsend-Interview-epi-66.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Thanks for listening to episode #66 of the podcast. Today’s episode is with Ann Townsend, author of LGBTQ: Outing My Christianity. She is also an advocate for LGBTQ youth with Hands Across the Pond. She also shares a few secret projects she is working on …
Read MoreMarriage Equality is HERE: What does your marketing say about your company? (A special 6 part series)
If you’ve been living under a rock this past week, have I got good news for you – this past Friday (June 26th – also my birthday!), the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Finally–this ruling makes same-sex marriage a right nationwide! The …
Read MoreTips and Techniques for Successfully Marketing to the LGBT Community
If you have found this blog post then it means we have at least one thing in common; you are looking into marketing to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and I am the one who can help teach you what you need to know. This blog contains …
Read MoreLesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender visibility for ALL at the Golden Globes.
In January 2013 I wrote a blog post about Jodie Foster coming out in her acceptance speech honoring her for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes (read that post here). At the 2013 Golden Globes there very well may have been other important milestones for LGBT people but my central …
Read More#50: Know, Like & Trust: Why this matters more in the LGBT Community [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/epi-50-gay-business-marketing-why-know-like-trust-is-important-for-lgbt-people.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Today’s episode of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy Podcast covers the topic of knowing, liking and trusting someone. A recent plumbing snafu in my house made me realize how important this and even further how important it is for someone …
Read More#48: How to be an ally to a community you don’t belong to [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/episode-48-gay-business-and-marketing-made-easy-diversity-and-business-opportunities.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Today’s podcast addresses specifically how to be an ally to a community you are not necessarily a part of. I train LGBT allies on a daily basis and successfully I might add. 😉 But I had an epiphany recently. How does one …
Read MoreDo your forms say ‘Mother’ & ‘Father’? If yes, change them!
Does your business have any kind of form(s) that you require your customers to fill out? Maybe your products or services serve both children and adults? Maybe you own a medical practice? Or the local martial arts studio? Regardless of what kind of business you own or where you work, …
Read MoreThere will always be a crank pot in the crowd…
I have two kids so the phrase crank pot comes up often in my house. A crank pot meaning someone who’s just cranky about something in general. In this post I want to point out a crank pot who reached out during my book launch. I have a very large …
Read MoreWhat is so symbolic about the rainbow within the LGBT community?
During a meeting I was talking about pride parades and made a comment about rainbows. One of the people I was sitting with said “I had no idea rainbows are a sign of gay pride.” It never occurred to me that people wouldn’t know that rainbows were a symbol of lesbian, …
Read More#39: The Burger King ‘Proud Whopper’ Case Study [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/gbm_ep39-NGLCC-recap-and-Burger-King-Case-Study-8-7-2014.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Below are the items mentioned in this episode of the podcast. Where’s the Beef in Burger King’s ‘Proud Whopper’ Campaign? How Burger King Recently Brought Out The Intolerance Of Facebook Christians (Video) Three (3) critical mistakes you don’t want to say in …
Read MoreThree (3) critical mistakes you don’t want to say in a crowd of LGBT people…
At this point you’ve heard me talk about my 2nd book (available on Amazon), “No, wait… You do look gay! The 7 Mistakes Preventing You from Selling to the LGBT Market.” During my book launch I had the wonderful opportunity to provide copies of the book to many loyal followers at the National Gay …
Read More#38: Storytelling with Stacy Morataya-Pilkington [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/gbm-ep-38-interview-with-stacy-7-21-2014.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this new podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing a close friend and colleague on the show. I lovingly refer to her as an operational genius, but you can just call her Stacy (Morataya-Pilkington). This interview covers many topics and her …
Read MoreDeveloping Partnerships within the LGBT Community
In the blog post titled “Internally Communicating LGBT Marketing Strategies to your Employees” we covered a few critical areas. We touched upon the topics of external perception versus internal perception, we discussed the value of employee resource groups (ERGs) within your organization and I also demonstrated a real life example …
Read MoreTax day is here. Thank you Edie Windsor!
Today is April 15th. It is the dreaded tax day for many. Fortunately I am not scrambling and did my taxes months ago but I know this is top of mind for many people. It is likely top of mind for many LGBT couples, as it is the first time …
Read MoreWhat’s the business impact of ridiculous proposed laws across America?
A few years back I was in a Facebook conversation with a friend about the ridiculous nature of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1062. I was so intrigued by her comments that I told her to head over to my Facebook page and post there so we could get the conversation going with other people …
Read MoreThe 3 Key Ways Coke Scored a Touch Down with their LGBT Marketing
Were you one of the 111.3 million viewers who watched the 2014 Super Bowl? According to Nielsen this was the most-watched U.S. TV telecast of all time. I watched it, like many, just for the commercials. Did you see the gay couple in the Coca-Cola “America the Beautiful” Super Bowl …
Read MoreWhy does the LGBT community seemingly hate its allies?
A prior year’s Grammys performance sparked this blog post about something I had already been aware of, but was reinforced strongly during that performance – our LGBT allies are under appreciated. Thousands of people blogged about that performance a few years ago- this post isn’t like the others. Honestly, some LGBT folks are …
Read MoreDo LGBT people really care about what companies are doing for their LGBT employees?
In previous blog posts I’ve discussed the two critical factors in effective LGBT marketing – the fact that you need to be authentic and be transparent. I explained that to have a truly successful LGBT marketing campaign you must embrace both of these core principles because LGBT consumers are savvy. …
Read MoreAn LGBT Year in Review: 2013 was a good year
This past year has been a good year for LGBT equality. As with anything there is still so much more work to be done, but this year was something I am proud to have witnessed occur. You can see the shift in consciousness happening, in the United States. However, there …
Read MoreNot all LGBT people have a safe place to go for the holidays…
Tis’ the holiday season for many of us! I understand that not everyone celebrates Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or any other holiday pertinent to your specific culture, but I think it is generally safe to assume that this time of year, we are all in the holiday season – whatever that …
Read MoreFacebook Went Red for Marriage Equality: Here are the Results
This is another post where I get my ‘geek on’. I have a love hate relationship with numbers. I am notorious for transposing numbers when I am trying to dial a phone, seriously it’s painful to watch. However, I have a love for numbers and statistics especially when they are so …
Read MoreHow can I shop with LGBT-friendly businesses? Use the Buying for Workplace Equality guide
If you are a long time reader of this blog, or perhaps you’ve just found my site, either way you’ll understand real quick that I am a Dork – with a capital D. So each year when the Human Rights Campaign releases their Corporate Equality Index scores I am like a …
Read MoreWhat is your ‘why’? A poor why is a dead end. Part 2 of 3
This post is part 2 of a 3 part series that explores the reason why you are interested in marketing to the LGBT community. In part 1 I gave you a few things to think about and even provided a worksheet to help you through the process. You can go back and …
Read MoreAmerica’s LGBT Buying Power
In November 2013 we received word that the LGBT buying power in the United States has grown, again. This was no surprise as it continues to grow year after year. I’m happy to report to you that the buying power of America’s LGBT adult population was approximately $830 billion in 2013. That was up from the …
Read MoreWhat is your ‘why’? Why do you want to market to the LGBT community? Part 1 of 3
The past few years have been years of creation for me. I’ve written and published 2 books, which you can find here, and I created a series of online products to help you master your communications and marketing skills when working with the LGBT community. During this process I had a …
Read More#023: What I am Thankful For: Happy Thanksgiving [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/Episode_023_WhatIAmThankfulFor-HappyThanksgiving.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Have a listen to episode #23 of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy podcast! Today is a shorter episode than usual as I just want to talk for a few minutes about what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. I wish …
Read More#022: Expert Interview with Joanne Sprague
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode_022_JoanneSprague-FriendFactor.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Have a listen to episode #22 of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy podcast! You’ll hear the story of Joanne Sprague, the Re-Founder & CEO of Friendfactor the “LGBT Rights Organization for Straight Friends.” Listen to the podcast, and sign up …
Read MoreA tale of "the ladies across the street…"
I grew up in a small town where diversity was scarce, really scarce. I’m not sure how or when being inclusive of everyone became such a part of who I was but I remember as early as 11 being inclusive regardless of race or religion specifically in my very non-diverse …
Read MoreShould you ever say "those people" when talking about the LGBT community?
I’m a firm believer that the phrase “those people” should be banned from your vocabulary regardless of what group of people you are talking about. But since my blog is focused on the LGBT community we will talk about “those people” today. Did you see what I did there? All …
Read More#021: Expert Interview with Jodi Savitz [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode_021_Jodi-Savitz.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Have a listen to episode #21 of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy podcast! You’ll hear the story of filmmaker, Jodi Savitz. You’ll hear her story as an invisible feminine lesbian and her current documentary project, “Girl on Girl.” Below are …
Read MoreAre you the only gay people in your neighborhood?
This question comes from a conversation I was having with a friend in San Francisco. I was in the Bay Area working on a client project and while I was at lunch one day we got to talking about the differences of the city and the suburbs. I think I live in …
Read MoreWhere can I find good LGBT stock photography?
This post comes from a phone call I received – a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) from a Fortune 500 that I have worked with in the past gave me a call and asked me, “Do you know of any good places to purchase LGBT stock photography?” I sighed and said “Unfortunately there …
Read MoreWhat do you do when there is no LGBT media in your area?
A while back I was having lunch with a friend and colleague and we were talking about LGBT media; things like newspapers, websites and magazines. We were discussing how there are pockets across the country that are just blatantly lacking access to LGBT media outlets. In several of my prior marketing related …
Read MoreAre you ‘Living the Gay Lifestyle?’
It seems like forever ago that I wrote a blog talking about the ‘Gay Lifestyle.’ In that post I boldly exclaimed ‘There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle!” I stand by that statement but feel the need to elaborate. There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle …
Read More#013: Marriage Equality & Marketing [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode_013.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS In this episode of the Gay Business & Marketing Made Easy Podcast we talk about the implications DOMA, ENDA and Prop 8 all have on your marketing efforts within your business. Marriage Equality is here for many so you’ll learn how to …
Read MoreDOMA, and ENDA and Prop 8, oh my!
A few years back there was a lot of buzz around the Supreme Court’s repeal of Section 3 of DOMA, the media was atwitter with acronyms and buzzwords that left even some in the LGBT community scratching their heads. To save you the time of researching each one, I’ll explain to you …
Read MoreSam McClure Interview for “30 Days – 30 Voices – Stories from America’s LGBT Business Leaders” [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_060413_SamMcClure.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Expert Interview with Sam McClure of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Washington D.C. Links mentioned in the show: National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) NGLCC National Business & Leadership Conference But You Don’t Look Gay… Green Eggs …
Read MoreThe power of social media for social justice
I want to talk a bit about the power of social media for getting your message out, whether it is intentional or unintentional. Social media can be a very powerful business tool if harnessed correctly. If used incorrectly it can be incredibly damaging to your business. I want to share two …
Read MoreWhat’s wrong with the "Non-Traditional Family?"
Have you heard the phrase “Non-Traditional Family” when being marketed or sold to? Perhaps you have and haven’t noticed or perhaps you have and you cringe when you hear that phrase? Either way we are going to talk about the Non-Traditional Family today. This is an area of interest to …
Read More#010: Expert Interview with Justin Nelson, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode010_Justin_Nelson_NGLCC.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS Listen to Justin Nelson, co-founder of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), share valuable insights on business and equality. I had a chance to talk with him and get his inspiring answers to the set of questions below. Listen …
Read MoreWhat is a Gayborhood?
I spent time in the gayborhood in Dallas, Texas. When I mentioned I was in the gayborhood it prompted a few people asking me what exactly that meant. Here is how Wikipedia defines a gay village; “A gay village (also known as a gay neighborhood, LGBT district, gay district, or …
Read MoreMarriage Equality is Coming: Get your marketing plan ready!
Years ago the hot topic of the moment was the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case which challenged California’s ban on same-sex marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case. I was personally hooked on MSNBC specifically watching Rachel Maddow. There was plenty of talk around moral …
Read More#006: Expert Interview with Laura Davis, Yahoo! News [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode006_YNews_Laura_Davis.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS I had a chance to sit down with Laura Davis of Yahoo! News recently and ask her a series of questions around same sex marriage, Proposition 8 and the economic impact of the LGBT wedding industry. Below are the questions I asked …
Read More#004: Expert Interview with Jennifer Brown Consulting [Podcast]
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/jenntgrace/GBM_Episode004_Expert-Interview-JBC.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window Subscribe: RSS I had a chance to sit down with Jennifer Brown recently and ask her a series of thought provoking questions. She gave us honest and thought provoking answers in return. We catch a glimpse into her world as an entrepreneur in the …
Read MoreHow to Identify and Respond to "The Pronoun Game"
So what is the Pronoun Game? I was pleasantly surprised to see Wikipedia had a definition – “‘Playing the pronoun game’ is the act of concealing sexual orientation in conversation by not using a gender-specific pronoun for a partner or a lover, which would reveal the sexual orientation of the …
Read MoreMaximizing Your LGBT Outreach with a Solid Plan (6 Part Series)
Marketing to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community requires a plan. Positioning yourself as the go-to person for the community in regards to business transactions requires a strategy and a plan as well. You have to be logical in your approach. You can’t just put a rainbow sticker …
Read MoreWhat the heck is a Chamber of Commerce?
In day to day interactions with people I’ve come to find that many do not know what a chamber of commerce is or what a chamber of commerce does. I’m noticing that I may just live in a bubble where I make assumptions that everyone just knows what a chamber …
Read MoreBook Review: The Collection. (A great stocking stuffer!)
I’ve had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard. I’ve really been meaning to put together a glowing and raving review of this book for over a month but there never seem to be enough hours in the day. To really …
Read MoreGay or LGBT… which do you use?
Back in 2012, when I met with my mastermind group to discuss the release of my podcast (a.k.a. an online radio show), the primary topic of discussion was around what should I name my show. Out of the 4 people in the group, 3 are allies and 1 is LGBT …
Read MoreIf I’m not lesbianed you can’t be transgendered…
This post stems from a recent conversation I was having where the person I was speaking with said the word transgendered then paused and said out loud “Is transgendered the right word?” Have you ever found yourself thinking about how a word sounds? Let’s use lesbian for example. The more you …
Read More"Pardon my ignorance but what is LGBT?"
This website came to be after I found myself answering LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) related questions from a variety of friends of mine. Since I consider myself a Professional Lesbian TM (educating people around LGBT topics is what I do every day) I’m often the first place friends come to …
Read MoreDo you need to "Come out" to your Doctor?
This question comes from a friend who is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and has encountered a similar situation a couple of times when treating her lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients. To best understand the situation she provided me with a document from the Rhode Island Department of …
Read MoreHow to assist a transgender job applicant
This question comes from a colleague who runs the full service staffing firm 925Hire. 925Hire is unique because they focus exclusively on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. An awesome niche to serve (I may be biased)! She saw this conundrum in a recent staffing magazine and wanted …
Read MoreInformed shopping can make a difference
Diversity is en-grained in everything that I do. I stand for equality and believe in and promote diversity every chance I get. I believe in buying products from companies who support diversity as a whole but specifically those who support LGBT equality. Because of this I swear by the Human …
Read MoreDo we always have to be ‘role models’ for the community?
As an out and proud ‘professional lesbian’ (yes I do refer to myself as such when people ask what it is that I do), I find that I am often the voice of reason for setting examples in the LGBT community. I had an encounter in Chilli’s, a popular chain …
Read MoreAdvocating for the LGBT Business Community
My story begins in 2005 when a project, at my then employer, lead me to this thing called the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Business Movement. For the longest time I had heard people talking about the LGBT equality movement but not as it relates to business. This is …
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