We are writing to you today on behalf of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, to encourage you to pass the Non-Discrimination Ordinance being considered by the Charlotte City Council this week. This common sense step takes your city closer to a more vibrant and fully inclusive local economy and further positions the City of Charlotte for significant economic growth potential.

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the only national not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of the LGBT business community. With more than 140 corporate partners, and 52 local, state, and international affiliate chambers- including the Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce-NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the world.

Charlotte is a national leader in tourism, research, and entrepreneurship-and we know from first-hand experience that LGBT inclusion codified in your Non-Discrimination Ordinance is associated with higher levels of entrepreneurship and is linked to GDP growth, whereas LGBT discrimination goes hand-in-hand with a decline in productivity and success.

The non-discrimination and intentional inclusion policies of a city play a tremendous role in our selection process for the NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference. Our stakeholders want to do business in cities that value and welcome all people and recognize that a fully engaged workforce is one where employees can bring their whole selves to work every day. In 2015 our conference brought over 800 business leaders and corporate allies to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and had a multi-million dollar economic impact across all sectors touched by travel and tourism. In fact, The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, with the help of the Destination Marketing Association International, estimated the economic impact of our 2015 conference at $4 million dollars.

We, like many other organizations and businesses, recognize that non-discrimination ordinances like the one you are currently considering are essential to ensuring a fully inclusive economy that attracts and retains the very best of our diverse country. We hope that you recognize the importance of the ordinance and its safe passage through your legislature as you vote on it this month.

We hope you recognize that Non-Discrimination is both a moral and economic necessity for all diverse business communities. Charlotte is a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic city, and this ordinance shows your commitment to those qualities. We strongly encourage you to adopt this ordinance and make Charlotte an even more attractive city for business, culture, and freedom.

Sincerely,

Justin Nelson
Co-Founder & President, NGLCC