Gay business owners still face challenges
By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG, AP Business Writer | |
Associated Press |
Greenbaum, who owns a computer repair business in
Despite increasing acceptance of homosexuality in the U.S., gay small business owners say they still encounter discrimination from possible customers and investors. The discrimination is often subtle. An owner senses from a potential client's body language or from a sales conversation cut short that they're uncomfortable. Sometimes it's more overt, like the rejections Greenbaum has gotten.
The need to raise public awareness about AIDS, which has affected many gays, and the fight for legalization of same-sex marriage have encouraged more gays to be open about their sexual orientation and has increased acceptance of them by others. Still, gay rights advocates note that 29 states don't prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Business owners are also vulnerable, they say.
"They're at a business meeting, and no one's particularly identified as gay, and then there's a gay joke or gay slur," says
Publicist Sam Firer specializes in working with chefs. He finds many American male chefs don't want to work with him; they meet with him but choose a woman-owned public relations firm. Firer, who co-owns
"Stressful and busy people want to be as comfortable as they can from moment to moment," says Firer, who does have accounts with male chefs who are from other countries. Some who initially reject him later call him for help.
A challenge for some gay owners is they're not part of what they call the good old boy network. Straight men in business often connect by talking about a football game or golf trip, topics that some gay men don't care about.
"A lot of the way guys relate to each other is with sports, and frankly, that doesn't interest me," says Nayte Carrick, owner of ClikClok, an
His home life is different and that can also make it difficult to connect.
"I don't have a girlfriend and I don't have a wife. I'm 36 and don't have kids. That's bizarre to them," he says. "Even people I think of as open-minded have difficulty relating to my life."
Some believe that being gay costs them business.
Weigel has a solid business selling to gay clients and straight ones who are single. But families are the most lucrative customers for an insurance agent.
"I feel that being gay is hurting my business," Weigel says. "It's just the way it is."
Some owners develop strategies to avoid losing business or head off an unpleasant situation.
"Some say, I'm working with you because you do amazing work," Davis says.
Cesari, whose
"I called a couple more times to get more information, but I couldn't get anywhere," Cesari says. When his female colleague tried, the client was willing to schedule an event.
"Every time I've spoken with potential investors, I found myself nervously, quickly making a decision about whether I was going to say 'friend' or 'boyfriend' or leave it out. It's something I have to think about every time," Hayward says.
Owners who have been in business for many years say attitudes have changed for the better.
"It was partly a conscious decision on my part. I thought it could cause some problems," says Hayes, vice president of the
About three to four years ago, Hayes and Burba sensed a more accepting atmosphere. They started attending meetings together.
"We're at the point where, if people don't like us because of the fact we're gay," Hayes says, "that's too bad."
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