by Madison Connor
Hebron Christian Academy
“We have to be visible, we should not be ashamed of who we are,” said Sylvia Rivera, a prominent gay rights activist and leader of protests and Stonewall, about pride.
While said 22 years ago, it is still felt by many. Another reason why many feel they should not be ashamed is because they believe that their sexuality is not a choice. This is very similar to how ethnicity is not one’s choice, and we as a society know it is wrong to disregard or hate someone because of something they cannot control. However, this is not the case for many in the LGBTQIA+ community. Yet, businesses can help overcome these discriminations they face by simply being welcoming.
“I think it’s imperative, it’s more than important, I think it’s necessary,” said Jo Thomas Wilson, a small business owner and operator of My Heart Salon in Athens, Georgia.
WIlson believes it is necessary for businesses to be welcoming, especially towards those of the LGBTQIA+ community. The reason why is that Wilson, as a queer business owner, feels that it is integral for those of the gay community to want to feel loved and welcomed, and that welcoming and loving members of that community pays off.
“The LGBTQIA+ community is willing to spend it [money] in places that see and support them… if you don’t want to support me then I think you don’t want my money, I’m gonna spend it somewhere else,” said Wilson.
Another reason why Thompson believes it is necessary to support the community is because of monetary opportunities. He said that if the community feels it is not welcome, they will not spend their money in that place, and from a business perspective, it is an avoidable loss of profits.
But, for those who are looking to support the LGBTQIA+ community, Wilson has advice.
“They could hire people like myself to help facilitate these kinds of conversations considering I have a lot of experience, when we hire people who have lived through experience, that’s when we learn the most,” says Wilson.
Wilson, who believes that in order to be truly welcoming, said it is necessary for the company to be willing to hire those who identify as LGBTQIA+. The reason being that with members of the community on your staff, you learn and develop as a business from them. The personal experiences they bring helps provide insight into how to be welcoming to others in their community, making the overall environment a much healthier space. However, the inclusivity and support should not stop there.
“We ask them for their pronouns, we also ask if they have any sensory issues so we can accommodate for that. We have a form with every booking that offers help to get inside for those with physical disabilities and we donate to personal and organizational causes,” said Wilson.
Wilson believes that there are many other methods companies can use to be welcoming, and he listed a few methods his company uses. While some of these methods might not be applicable for every business, there are some methods that can be used for nearly every business. Simple practices like asking for pronouns and helping those with disabilities inside is something any business can do, and while it may be a small act, it will be greatly appreciated by many.
Being welcoming pays off, literally. Businesses can also make efforts to be welcoming by hanging a pride flag or advertising as LGBTQIA+ friendly. This is something that My Heart Salon does, and it is a big step for businesses who have not done so before.
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