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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, For the past five years, the Greater Houston LGBT |
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| 6 | 6 | | Chamber of Commerce has been a voice and an advocate for lesbian, |
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| 7 | 7 | | gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer + business owners in the |
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| 8 | 8 | | Houston area; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Established on February 24, 2016, the chamber has |
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| 10 | 10 | | dedicated itself from the start to building a strong network of |
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| 11 | 11 | | businesses and to promoting economic inclusion and equality; an |
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| 12 | 12 | | affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Houston |
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| 13 | 13 | | affiliate was founded by Tammi Wallace and Gary Wood, and it |
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| 14 | 14 | | continues to benefit from the able leadership of Ms. Wallace, who |
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| 15 | 15 | | serves as president and CEO; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Among its many initiatives, the Chamber empowers |
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| 17 | 17 | | LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs through connection and community, sponsorship |
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| 18 | 18 | | offerings, volunteer opportunities, and numerous events, such as |
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| 19 | 19 | | Brewing Up Business, the Biz Connect Mixer, and Pride in Business; |
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| 20 | 20 | | furthermore, it connects its members with the LGBTBE® |
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| 21 | 21 | | Certification program, which provides access to a national network |
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| 22 | 22 | | and valuable resources and economic opportunities; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, In addition to its work with businesses, the Chamber |
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| 24 | 24 | | has made outstanding contributions to the wider LGBTQ+ community; |
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| 25 | 25 | | as one of four members of the Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce, it |
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| 26 | 26 | | advocates for legislation that supports inclusion and opposes |
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| 27 | 27 | | discrimination; moreover, the group established the Chamber |
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| 28 | 28 | | Foundation in 2020 to advance its charitable and educational |
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| 29 | 29 | | objectives and to address economic inequality through various |
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| 30 | 30 | | projects, including an annual holiday food drive; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, By empowering LGBTQ+ businesses and their allies, |
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| 32 | 32 | | the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce is working to develop a |
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| 33 | 33 | | supportive, diverse, and prosperous environment throughout the |
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| 34 | 34 | | region; now, therefore, be it |
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| 35 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 36 | 36 | | Legislature hereby honor the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of |
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| 37 | 37 | | Commerce on the occasion of its fifth anniversary and extend to all |
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| 38 | 38 | | those associated with the organization sincere best wishes for |
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| 39 | 39 | | continued success; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 41 | 41 | | prepared for the Chamber as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 42 | 42 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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