LGBT Chamber announces logo design contest
QSanAntonio, October 9

The San Antonio Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Chamber of Commerce announced this week that it is sponsoring a contest for the design of an official logo for the newly-formed group.

"The Chamber seeks a distinctive logo that instantly identifies it with the San Antonio LGBT community and beyond to the broader community," says Chamber President Darrell Parsons. Parsons says the new logo will be used for all of the Chamber’s official business including print and broadcast media and licensed merchandise.

The prize for the winner(s) is a Chamber business membership if a single design professional or a business membership and an associate membership if a professional team of two. For students the prize is a student membership and $250 if a single student; or two student memberships and the $250 prize if a student team of two.

Logo Design Contest Guidelines:

-- Contestants will register and submit designs at elogocontest.com beginning on October 10 and ending October 20.

-- Designs will be submitted electronically as either vector or bitmap files. Logo designs must prominently incorporate elements that identify with the LGBT community and with San Antonio. Designs must project equally well in full color as well as black and white and on electronic and hard copy media as well as three-dimensional signage and licensed merchandise.

-- Contestants may submit designs as either one (1) Professional Designer or a Team of two (2), or one (1) Student Designer or a Team of two (2) students.

-- The Chamber’s Media Relations & Marketing Committee will judge the contest. The Committee will review designs throughout the contest, and may ask designers questions and suggest revisions, to be incorporated into the submitted designs by resubmission.

-- The winner(s) will be engaged to develop their design into the final logo, and possibly a unique type font (for tag lines) which will be copy marked and trademarked by the Chamber.

-- The winner will be chosen the week of October 20-24 and announced at the Chamber's October 24 Mix and Mingle. If there are less than three submissions during the contest, the contest will be extended for another 10 days, including the original contestants. If that is the case, the winning design and designer(s) will be introduced at the November Chamber Mix and Mingle.

GLBT Chamber monthly mixer
Photos by Antonia Padilla, September 26
Members of the San Antonio Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce held their first monthly mixer at the Fairmont Hotel on September 26. Special guest at the event was State Representative Joe Farias (top row, photo left in gray suit). Founder Cristina Martinez (top row, right photo) gave a brief address.

Viewpoint: Diversity is the key to success in business
By Cristina Martinez, Q San Antonio, August 16

There is a change ahead for all businesses, change that is shaped by demographics and markets. That change is the challenge of embracing not only diversity of race, gender, religion and political affiliation, but of sexual orientation as well. Any business hoping to survive and thrive in the future should be listening and acting now.

Not long ago, the gay market in the U.S. was largely undocumented. None of the Fortune 500 companies or major corporations had yet discovered the value of the gay and lesbian consumer. Today, market research is clearly defining and validating the GLBT market. For the first time in history, marketing executives and mainstream Americans are recognizing the financial clout of the gay community.

Gay and lesbian consumers account for over $660 billion of worth of spending power annually. By 2011 that figure will rise to $835 billion.* Businesses are finding that in order to survive and compete they must move into this market.

We live in an age when flexibility and creativity are the keys to competitiveness. Yet too often we operate from old stereotypes and fears. Part of the human condition, reflected in business, is the desire to cling to traditional and safe patterns. We find solace in those whose appearance and outlook reflects our own. However, what is needed is expansion and inclusiveness, working with new ideas and new people.

Diversity is the richest resource we have. It is the source of all creativity and innovation. No matter what the business, recognizing diversity benefits the individual, the organization and society as a whole.

Workplace diversity is no longer wishful thinking. It is an essential component of every successful business. The world is changing. Attitudes are changing. Gay and lesbian Americans finding acceptance in politics, media and in the boardroom.

Today, more than 80 percent of companies in the Fortune 500 now ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Over 50 percent of the Fortune 500 offer health and other benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees.**

As acceptance grows, companies, corporations and small businesses are reaching out to gay and lesbian consumers by expanding their marketing toward this very important market niche. And by doing so, they are finding success reflected in their bottom line.

Cristina Martinez is President and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Rainbow Pages and founder of the San Antonio Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

* Statistics cited from "The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U .S." (January 2007), a report published by market research firm Packaged Facts, in collaboration with gay and lesbian PR and marketing firm Witeck-Combs Communications Inc.

**Fortune Magazine, April 26, 2006, "Corporate America backs gay rights" by Marc Gunther. (http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/25/magazines/fortune/pluggedin_fortune/)

Founder of S.A. GLBT Chamber vies for Houston award
QSanAntonio, July 31

Cristina Martinez, founder of the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce and publisher of the Gay and Lesbian Rainbow Pages, has been chosen as one of eight finalists for State Farm’s Inspiring Hispanic Women of Houston award. The winner of the contest will be announced on September 2 during the Houston Comets’ game against the New York Liberty at Reliant Arena in Houston.

The Houston Comets women’s basketball team and State Farm Insurance are partnering to honor inspiring Hispanic women of Houston. According to organizers of the contest, individuals and organizations have the chance to recognize a deserving woman with an inspiring story of triumph.

The winner of the award will be chosen via an Internet vote on the Houston Comets’ Web site. To cast a vote, go to www.wnba.com/comets and click on the Inspiring Women of Houston logo. Martinez has asked her San Antonio friends, clients and colleagues to take time to cast a vote for her.

The Houston Comets and the Gay and Lesbian Rainbow Pages announced a special ticket package that includes admission to the September 2 game against the New York Liberty and an after party at Meteor in honor of Martinez. Proceeds from this special ticket package will benefit the Gulf Coast Archives and Museum of GLBT History and ICOH Space City Empire. To purchase tickets contact Rocky Hensarling at 832-362-0161.

Martinez is the CEO of Mad Clik, Inc., the parent company of the Gay and Lesbian Rainbow Pages. She is also the founder of Houston’s Latino Pride Week and GALLO (Gay and Lesbian Latino Organization). The readers of Houston’s Out Smart Magazine voted her Top Female Businesswoman in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Four billion reasons San Antonio needs a GLBT Chamber of Commerce
By Darrell Parsons, QSanAntonio, July 18

On June 18, a group of gay business and community leaders came together to embark upon an historic mission: To create a GLBT Chamber of Commerce for San Antonio. Some may ask, why does our city need a Chamber of Commerce specifically for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community? The answer to that question lies at the heart of our struggle for full equality in the State of Texas.

We have seen how far those with prejudice and bigotry in their hearts will go in order to keep gay people from being treated equally and fairly under the laws of our state. A constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution was passed that denies GLBT citizens the right to be in a legally recognized union with the person they love.

We have seen the willingness of our elected officials to dishonor and discredit the brave GLBT members of the armed services who are forced to serve in silence under "Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell." These service members cannot acknowledge their partners, out of fear of being discharged.

In 33 states, including Texas, a person can be fired from their jobs, simply for being gay.

The goal of the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce is to foster economic development and to promote GLBT and GLBT friendly businesses in San Antonio. We will encourage fair-minded citizens to support equality when they shop. Our goal is not to punish those who are not supportive of equality for our community. Instead, we want to win over their hearts and minds by pointing out our economic contributions and showing them that it’s good business to treat us fairly and with dignity.

The San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce can give nearly 4 billion reasons why the best weapon in our struggle for full equality and protection under the law is our growing financial strength and the economic impact that we have on San Antonio’s economy.

According to a 2007 report from Packaged Facts and Witeck-Combs Communications, the annual buying power of gays and lesbians in the U.S. will exceed $835 billion by 2011. If you break this down using population figures, nearly $4 billion GLBT dollars are being spent right here in San Antonio.

If you take the conservative estimate that one person in 10 is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, then we have 140,000 GLBT citizens here in San Antonio. That’s 140,000 consumers who pay property and sales taxes, purchase homes, insurance policies, appliances, furniture, and autos. These GLBT dollars help keep our economy growing and strong.

Yet, for all we contribute we are denied the same equality and fairness our heterosexual neighbors enjoy. So, what can we do about it? We can involve ourselves in the political process, even if it is only voting on Election Day. Most importantly, we can flex our $4 billion economic muscle.

There are many ways to use your spending power to support equality for our community. Here in San Antonio, you can use the online resource of QSanAntonio.com, the Gay and Lesbian Rainbow Pages and the Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages to find GLBT-supportive businesses. To find out who our corporate allies are, you can reference the Human Rights Campaign’s "Buying For Equality" guide, available at www.hrc.org.

Together, we make a $ 4 billion difference right here in San Antonio. Together, we can shop with pride and let our dollars pave the way toward equality.

Darrell Parsons is a licensed psychotherapist and President of the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce. He is in a committed relationship since 2004 with his life-partner Eric Alva, Staff Sergeant, Retired USMC.

Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Rainbow Pages Kickoff Party
Luther's Cafe, July 10, 2008

S.A.GLBT Chamber and Rainbow Pages celebrate kickoff
QSanAntonio, July 11

Over 300 people came to Luther’s Cafe on July 10 for a double celebration of two new community institutions. The big party marked the distribution of the inaugural edition of the Gay and Lesbian Rainbow Pages and the introduction of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board of San Antonio’s new Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

The driving force behind the festivities is Cristina Martinez, the Houston-based founder and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Rainbow Pages. Besides publishing a local edition of her directory in San Antonio, Martinez also was instrumental in the creation of the new Chamber of Commerce.

On April 5 of this year, Martinez brought together local GLBT business people and activists for the first organizing meeting. In three short months Martinez, with the help of San Antonian Robert Vargas, brought the new organization into existence.

Martinez says that she envisions that the Chamber will organize monthly mixers at member organizations, create networking opportunities and special events to foster business relationships, and grow commerce within the GLBT community. The Chamber would also promote San Antonio to national GLBT communities with a goal of bringing more business and people to the city.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors introduced on June10 includes: Darrell E. Parsons, President (psychotherapist); Tracye D. Hall, President Elect (club owner); Phillip G. Barcena, Vice President (President, Gay Pride S.A.); Gary Tapp, Treasurer (Wood Realty); Lisa Teshirogi, Secretary (Bank Of America); Rudy Lozano (Re/Max Fidelity); Nelda Hernandez (Liberty Mutual Insurance); Rodric E. Fitzgerald (Cobalt Group); and Grace Leslie (community activist).

The Chamber also announced the names of its Advisory Board: Cristina E. Martinez, Founder and President of Advisory Board, (owner of Gay & Lesbian Rainbow Pages); Elena Guajardo, Vice President Advisory Board (first openly gay City Council woman); Randy Cuniff (owner Heat Bar & Luther’s Cafe); Nancy Russell (realtor); Roberto Candelaria (community activist); Robert Vargas III, Founder (community activist); and Dee Smith (ex-military and community activist).

The new San Antonio edition of the Gay and Lesbian Rainbow pages will be distributed free throughout San Antonio. For a list of distribution sites or to order a copy by mail go to RainbowPages.net.

For more information about the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce call Robert Vargas at 210-212-4700.

Taco Cabana backs out of catering for GLBT Chamber meeting
QSanAntonio, April 8

Organizers for the inaugural meeting for the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce revealed that Taco Cabana backed out of catering lunch for the April 5th event after the employee handling the order learned that it was a gay gathering.

Cristina Martinez, the main organizer for the event, told QSanAntonio that she called Taco Cabana’s catering department on April 3 to make arrangements with them to provide lunch for the 40 people who were planning to attend. Martinez says she spoke to a Taco Cabana employee who told her to call back the next day to finalize the arrangements and pay for the catering with her credit card.

On Friday, April 4, an article appeared in the business section of the San Antonio Express-News describing the upcoming GLBT Chamber meeting. When Martinez called back to pay for the catering, the Taco Cabana employee asked Martinez if the event was the one that appeared in the Express-News article. Martinez says that when she replied that it was, the Taco Cabana employee told her that he had gotten a lot of pre-paid orders and was too busy to cater the Chamber luncheon.

"He claimed that after we had spoken on April 3, he received many calls for catering and that they paid him and he accepted them," Martinez told QSanAntonio. "I reminded him that I offered to give him my credit card for the $492.58 but that he had told me to call back."

Martinez arranged for another caterer, however she contacted Taco Cabana again after the Chamber meeting. "I wanted the company to be aware that I had shared my experience with everyone at the meeting and that many individuals decided not to go back to Taco Cabana."

Martinez says that the Taco Cabana manager she spoke to offered his sincere apologies for what had transpired. "He said that if the Chamber had any other events that needed catering, Taco Cabana would be happy to do it."

In addition to the snub from Taco Cabana, Martinez says that Chamber organizers received seven anti-gay "hate" calls saying, among other things, that homosexuality is a sin, that Chamber organizers were going to Hell, that if the GLBT Chamber came into being there would be a backlash. "All I could say to them was that they were entitled to their own opinion," says Martinez. "Then, I just hung up."

Organizers for the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce include (left to right): Javier Flores, Robert Vargas and Cristina Martinez. (Photo by Antonia Padilla)

Meeting addresses creation of S.A. GLBT Chamber of Commerce
QSanAntonio, April 8, 2008

Cristina Martinez, publisher of the Gay & Lesbian Rainbow Pages, welcomed over 40 people on April 5 to a roundtable discussion aimed at creating a San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce.

In her address to attendees, Martinez explained that the purpose of establishing a GLBT Chamber of Commerce is to empower, support and promote the economic and cultural development of GLBT businesses, GLBT-allied and supportive businesses, non-profits and individuals in the San Antonio and surrounding areas.

Martinez also outlined the steps she envisioned in creating the new organization. The first order of business was the creation of a Steering/Advisory Committee whose members who would identify and nominate members with the necessary skills to serve on the first Board of Directors.

Steering/Advisory committee members will meet on a biweekly basis until which time all duties can be turned over to an established Board. Steering Committee members can self-nominate or be nominated for the first Board. Board nominations are due on April 30 and Board members will be elected on May 15.

Individuals who volunteered to be on the first Steering Committee were: Charles "Chad" Rembacki, Rodolfo "Rudy" Lozano, Antonia Padilla, Anel Flores, Nelda Hernandez
Dee Smith, Gary Tapp, Cristina Martinez, Roberto Candelaria, Robert Vargas, and Javier A. Flores.

For more information about the San Antonio GLBT Chamber of Commerce call Robert Vargas at 210-212-4700.