Mayor David Briley of Nashville, Tennessee has issued an executive order to recognize LGBT-owned businesses, making Nashville the first city in the Southern U.S. to recognize LGBT business.
The new order will allow businesses to self-identify as LGBT-owned and will authorize Metro to monitor the number of contracts signed by LGBT-owned businesses with the city government. In addition, LGBT-owned businesses will be provided access to services and programs offered to women, disabled and minority-owned businesses.
Local and national gay business organizations praised the decision by Briley with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce head Chance Mitchell stating that “Great diversity among suppliers encourages greater innovation and competition. Greater competition lowers bid prices. Lower bid prices result in millions of dollars in tax payer savings across the Nashville area that can be reinvested into the roads, schools, and services that help all communities”
First elected gay Metro Councilmember Nancy VanReece also thanked Briley for his leadership.
