Under his leadership, the Chorus has doubled in size and dramatically increased its community outreach role. Today, Lehman serves as Executive Director and President Emeritus of the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus. In 2008, Lehman and his husband Tom Felkner made history as the first two men to legally marry in California. Lehman was also a leader in the fight for marriage equality including providing major funding and campaign offices against both antigay measures, Prop 22 and Prop 8. Working with local veterans, Lehman co-founded the highly respected Stonewall Citizen’s Patrol in reaction to the brutal attacks against gay men outside the Pride Festival. Following his service as a combat Marine sergeant, Lehman became a nationally recognized leader in the fight to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” founding San Diego’s chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights, leading the first-ever contingent of gay veterans to march in San Diego’s Veteran’s Day Parade and serving as the first openly gay appointee to the County Veteran’s Advisory Board.
Consumer awareness and patronage of LGBT-owned and supportive businesses is key to growing overall economic prosperity - and with that, the power that comes with full economic equality.įounded in 1979, the San Diego Equality Business Association (formerly Greater San Diego Business Association GSDBA) continues to support small businesses in San Diego while advocating for mainstream acceptance of diversity.īob Lehman, Executive Director, San Diego Gay Men’s Chorusįor nearly 20 years, Bob Lehman has been an advocate for San Diego’s LGBT community. They choose to do business where employees have equal rights and benefits. LGBT people to do business with companies they trust, and who support their values. They are loyal to brands that support LGBT rights, community causes, and workplace diversity. LGBT people spent nearly 850 billion dollars in (2014). SDEBA believes the growing economic strength and buying power of the LGBTQ population sends the message that we will settle for nothing less than full equality. There continue to be incidences of workplace inequality, and (sanctioned) discrimination in many states. We foster a culture that encourages a highly engaged and active membership - focused on the “We”, not the Me.Īs attaining marriage equality has been important in the struggle for social and political rights, LGBTQ workforce equality and economic power is the key to the future of the LGBTQ movement. SDEBA offers marketing and advertising opportunities, industry-specific focus groups, and social and networking events for members to help build their businesses.
We provide resources to educate members how to move their business to the next level, or to grow from being an employee to an employer. We believe business ownership is a core goal.
We encourage and welcome membership from anyone who supports equality for all people and seeks the opportunities we can provide in business support, networking, advertising, professional growth and business resources. Membership with us is a powerful choice. Join us in contributing to the growth and prosperity of the San Diego region. All members are automatically members of NGLCC, having access to financial, procurement and advocacy programs.ĭiversity is the ground of creativity and strengthens us as an association. In 2000 it was the first LGBT chamber in the nation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Small Business Administration, recognizing our status as a minority business association.Ī founding member of the NGLCC, SDEBA takes an active role in national level programs to meet the needs of small businesses. SDEBA prides itself on outreach to other business chambers and to society at large. We are one of the largest specialty chambers in San Diego County and the second oldest LGBTQ and supportive chamber in the nation. Founded in 1979, the San Diego Equality Business Association (formerly Greater San Diego Business Association GSDBA) continues to support small businesses in San Diego while advocating for mainstream acceptance of diversity.