LGBT Online Media, Marketing and Advertising

In a remarkable year of change, meet the advertisers who exceeded expectations. Featuring a distinguished panel of top advertising executives and an in-depth analysis of this year's most talked about LGBTQ inclusive ad campaigns. Connect with the marketing and advertising leaders behind your favorite ad campaigns and participate in an in-depth discussion on LGBTQ-inclusive advertising in today's world.

The event has consistently grown in size, and organizers say that it now has the support of government agencies – not least since the country has become aware of the value of LGBT tourism to the country. The Mexico Ministry for Tourism has previously found that LGBT travellers spend, on average, US$1,550 (€1,383) per person, almost double the $780 (€696) average visitor spend. The conferences aim is to promote the business case for diversity and inclusion, forge alliances between both businesses and LGBT individuals, and highlight the economic power of the LGBT market.

There have been only a handful of articles, conference and research papers, and chapters written about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) entrepreneurs. In 2005, Syracuse University’s Minet Schindehutte and two coauthors published the largest study ever undertaken until that point of LGB entrepreneurs in the United States. Their data set included responses from more than 300 LGB founding business owners and clearly established that LGB entrepreneurs, when starting their companies, face greater obstacles than their straight counterparts. Being LGB adversely affected their ability to engage suppliers, obtain licenses, market their businesses, hire employees, and access loans from commercial banks. 

Overall, it was a powerful seven days of blog posts, photos, videos, status updates and Tweets all related to the ever-growing LGBT New Media community online... we're excited for the possibilities and opportunities in the months to come, including ourLGBT New Media Expo, held in Las Vegas on December 13th, 2016, immediately after the CMI Tourism & Hospitality Conference, at the Vdara Hotel.  Focused on both the LGBT tourism marketplace, as well as the local Las Vegas LGBT business community, this expo is a first focusing on bringing the business community together with a wide array of LGBT influencers, bloggers, vloggers and YouTube content creators, as well as LGBT media companies and ad agencies with a strong digital focus.  We hope to see you there!

LGBT Mega-Mixer is an event bringing together LGBT-focused organizations in the greater Los Angeles area under one roof to increase awareness of the resources each organization provides. From LGBT lawyer associations to LGBT sporting leagues, LGBT Mega-Mixer will allow LGBT professionals to connect with the organizations that align with their values as well as serve as a professional networking space to meet new connections and potential clients.This event traditionally yields at least 500 attendees so bring plenty of business cards!

LGBT Brand Voice, The Magazine is a hybrid 28-page brochure and magazine, publishing some of our latest Pink Banana Media blog posts and articles, LGBT New Media blog posts and articles, as well as LGBT business features from our #LGBTBold campaign.

"We are honored to have Wilson Cruz and Tai Beauchamp host our 10th Annual ADCOLOR Conference & Awards," said ADCOLOR Founder and President Tiffany R. Warren. "In their careers and lives they have used their celebrity to challenge the status quo so that people of color, women and members of the LGBTQ community can see themselves as TV stars, fashion editors and icons. We could not be prouder to have these two points of light helping us to usher in our 10th year!"

Americans today are growing more supportive of LGBT people and their equality, evidenced with the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015. However, it's easy to forget people can still get fired from their jobs in 26 states simply for being gay or bisexual, in 28 for being transgender. Further, as entrepreneurial activity plays an increasingly important role in the overall U.S. economy, how do we ensure that LGBT entrepreneurs are protected against discrimination?

The reality is that startups founded by LGBT entrepreneurs are at risk for discrimination — affecting where they locate their businesses, their ability to raise capital, and how they build trust with investors. These are the findings of a recently released study from StartOut, the leading national nonprofit to support LGBTQ entrepreneurs.