9/4/12 What a great day

The day after Labor Day 2012 has been a pretty good day. Lots going on in the world. Ellen DeGeneres finally received her Star on the Walk of Fame. It is also Beyonce Knowles, Damon Wayans and Wes Bentley's birthday!

McDonalds it opening two completely vegetarian restaurants in India. The Democratic National Convention started in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC also adopted a Pro Gay Marriage platform.  

On this day in 2002, Kelly Clarkson won the first season of "American Idol." Wowza, what a busy day of getting back into the swing of it after the long holiday weekend. 

Don't forget to visit www.glbtyp.com and you can follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter @glbtyp 

 

Voice Your Opinion

It is election time and the rhetoric is flying everywhere. Obama didn't do this. Romney did that. If you step back for a moment it sounds like a third grade playground. There is quite a bit going on and a lot at stake. How many people will actually stand up for what they truly believe and cast a ballot based on an informed decision? Not many, I suppose.

Not all of the LGBT community is liberal. This community covers a huge spectrum of different people in different cultures with varying beliefs and ideals. There are large and powerful groups like the Log Cabin Republicans that are LGBT and strongly driven. There are also large groups of Democrats such as the Stonewall Democrats on the other side. And, wow, there are a lot of people in the middle that aren't necessarily activist but have strong beliefs in our government but feel completely disenfranchised by both major parties.

Politics is politics and will always be a dog and pony show. They say they are putting their best candidate forward and the public will decide. Hmmm, do you really think that every elected official is the best person for their job? Seems more like a popularity contest.

One thing I don't understand is as a community, the LGBT community, why would we give our vote and power to anyone taking away our rights or not representing us. There are people on both sides of the aisle that feel we all deserve marriage equality. There are even more that know that we are discriminated against personally, professionally and by the government. Do we need more dialogue? Do we get too caught up in the media bias? BTW I love how certain people say they aren't biased as media. YEAH RIGHT! They wouldn't be in business without the ratings to drive their advertising. I think everyone needs to look at all the sides and get a broader view to stay informed. Do you like Obama? Do you like him strictly because he is a democrat? Do you feel the same about Romney? Or do you dislike one of them solely based on their political affiliation?

I am just a small business owner with a wide range of friends and family with many different beliefs. I don't discount any of them. I may not believe the same thing. I might not even argue with them every time they bring it up. I do want what is best for the LGBT community and small businesses in this country. I want to walk down the street proud and know that I might have made a difference. Don't you?

Wow, July has been a whirlwind month...

Can't believe it is the end of July already. Where has the month gone? Been to Dallas, San Antonio, Portland, Eugene, San Francisco, Astoria, Phoenix and Austin. Glad to be home for a couple of days and relax. Met lots of nice people long the way. Still deciding where to expand to next. Working on Seattle, Dallas, Phoenix and New York right now. Still getting lots of email from fans that love the site and want us in their area but need to move forward in an intelligent manner. Any suggestions?

Letter to my Uncle

My uncle sends those emails, you know the ones, bash bash bash, all the United for Family and such emails. He is very political and very opinionated. Last night I received the last of those emails that I choose to read. I did not reply last night. I decided to be calm and collected and do so this morning. This is an edited version of the letter but you get the gist.

Uncle,

Thank you for being up front and sharing your opinions so freely. I would like to take a moment to share mine. I am gay. I own a Gay and Lesbian company. I work hard every single day. I have to put up with people that share your beliefs in my professional and personal life every minute of the day. I will not stand by and put up with them in my family life as well.

There is nothing wrong with me. There is nothing wrong with being gay. There is something wrong with people being persecuted for something they cannot change. Yes, it would be easier some days to "act" straight and blend in with the masses. On those days, when I feel that way, I want to punch myself. I was not raised to lie and hide. I know you as an honorable person with grand opinions. I would hope that you can see that there is nothing wrong with my opinions differing from yours. I am not a "leftie" or even a liberal. I have very strong opinions and core beliefs that make me who I am.

I understand that "Gay Pride" might seem weird and unnecessary. It is neither. It helps a lot of people realize that they are not alone. That they are worthy of loving and being loved. It is a celebration of hope. Have you heard about all of the gay and lesbian teens killing themselves right now? Take a look at the Trevor Project. It is terrifying and sad that they end their lives not knowing that things get better. Look at Ben Cohen a very straight and world famous rugby player that started a foundation to help these people.

If you would like to know more, I would happily welcome intelligent discourse. I think our family has enough issues and enough people with issues that this should no longer we one of them.

Stepping off the soap box now,

Love always

Pride has arrived LGBT Seattle

Well, Pride is here again. Another year with so many changes for our LGBT community. There is a lot more to Pride than just a festival and parade. Many people work, fight and pray for our rights every year. Yes, it is a time to celebrate but also a time to consider all the things that have happened to our community over the last year. Laws, births, deaths, marriage, divorces, loves, business successes and failures are just a few. Please take a moment to reflect on why you are proud and maybe what would make you proud this year. Hope to see all of you at some of the celebrations! Happy Pride!

A year gone by

Well, it has been a year since I bought the company. Been pretty busy and learned a lot. Had many ups and downs but mostly happy about the entire thing. Learning how to manage the day and all the different tasks has been big. A friend also told me that if you aren't spending a little time everyday going after new business then you are losing business. Today it makes perfect sense as current customers retire or go out of business they leave and you have to fill the bucket with new ones. I am excited that I have taken the company completely digital and gone green as it were. The new website is amazing and people are really using it quite a bit. Have smart phone apps and all the wingdings and gadgets. Next month is Pride here in Seattle, very excited and gearing up for a big gay holiday. Hope the weather will be nice as last year. Well better get back to it. Happy one year anniversary to me. Don't forget to visit glbtyp.com for great businesses. Tell them we sent you.

Don't we have enough to do...

As Marketing Professionals, don't we have enough to do. Why do we have to spend time figuring out a timeline on Facebook? Why is it mandatory? As a small business, we make calls for new business, keep up with current business, tweet, facebook, update websites and many other daily jobs. With all these hats in the air why are we forced to do something that really doesn't improve anything for anyone. Everyone has an opinion. Yes, some people like the new timeline some disagree. I don't really see it bringing more customers in the door. Maybe I am doing it wrong. Who knows.......

All sorts of color around town

Well Spring seems to have tentatively arrived here in Seattle. Or Mother Nature is really trying to confuse all the plants that have been trying to sprout and bloom since January. Lots of amazing color everywhere and birds chirping all over the place. We also have the "art terrorism" in full swing. We have "art terrorist" doing more yarn bombing (which I like heheheh), and now we have zip tie bombings. It's creativity on a rampage!! Is it like that old joke about being scared of a gay man breaking into your house because they might viciously redecorate? Came across rainbow zip ties at lunch today on Capitol Hill! Kind of fun and colorful. Maybe we can come up with biodegradable art installations that fade away and become gardens or something!

Marketing and Social Media

I seem to spend a lot of time on marketing and social media. It is necessary and helps promote www.glbtyp.com and our advertisers but sometimes it seems to take a big chunk of the day. As a small business there seems to be a big balancing act of managing your business, social media, clients, getting new business and just the evil bookkeeping and such. I love my job, love it. I do pull my hair out sometimes thinking ooh did I spend too much time on this or that. I also hope all the metrics I watch for are the best and most beneficial for my company and clients. Do other small business owners have the same issue? Ooh have to twitter again...... Please visit www.glbtyp.com for the best list of quality businesses and services for everyone.

A little about the GLBT Yellow Pages

The GLBT Yellow Pages has been in business since 2000. We are a Seattle, WA based and gay owned publishing company. We proudly serve the community every day by promoting quality businesses that know the rewards of acceptance no matter your race, creed, gender, handicap or sexual preference. We strive everyday to build our list of these businesses.

Here at the GLBT Yellow Pages, we are committed to connecting businesses of integrity to discriminating consumers. But it goes further and deeper than that. We also believe – with all of our heart - that a new kind of community is possible. The kind of community that comes together and celebrates its differences and depends upon the strengths of all of its members to create and fulfill ever-changing dreams and goals.

Visit our website at www.glbtyp.com, follow us on twitter @glbtyp and our blog glbtyp.blogspot.com.

Proudly serving the LGBT communities of Seattle, Dallas and Phoenix. Working hard to expand to new areas.

Who is Dave Mustaine? ...Oh a has been

Who is Dave Mustaine? ...Oh a has been

Not sure why we need Megadeth to make any comment on marriage equality. I guess at some point he was relevant and is trying to return. He even refers to it as gay marriage. Where I come from we just call it marriage. I am not going to call our new advertisers and plan my gay marriage. I will call them and expect amazing service planning my marriage. I am happy that sometimes celebrities can use their clout for responsible reasons but most of the time they should just pay attention to their own lives.

If you are fortunate enough to have met the right person and are planning any sort of ceremony, please take a look at our amazing advertisers. www.glbtyp.com

Marriage equality in WA state

Marriage equality might be right at our door steps here in Washington. Can you imagine? It is an amazing thought. When I moved back to WA in 2005 I would never have thought. Well coming back from Texas, who could imagine. Yes there are "those" people out there collecting signatures to put it on the ballot. Hmmm if it is a gay referendum should we spell it "ballet"? Heheheheh just kidding. Gov. Gregoire is set to sign Marriage Equality into law Monday, February 13th. So now all the happy boys and girls can get engaged on Valentine's Day. Watch out Tiffany's here we come.

Oh by the way, trying to be a good business man please look up all of your Valentine's Day and wedding needs at www.glbtyp.com.

Great video of a child encountering gay marriage for the first time

I saw this online earlier. It is a great video of a young boy who encounters "2 husbands." Simple and powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMxAeRMhxGM

What changes will marraige equality bring to WA

Under a proposed same-sex-marriage law in Washington state, most gay couples now registered as domestic partners would have two years to convert the relationship to marriage — or the state would do it for them.

The law would allow unmarried gay couples from out of state to marry here, and would grant marriage benefits to those in civil unions and domestic partnerships who relocate here — as long as they then marry within a year.

Churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and their clergy may refuse to marry gays, without penalty, just as they're allowed to now. But there are no comparable exemptions for business owners — such as wedding planners, photographers or florists — who are religiously opposed to such unions.

Advocates and opponents of same-sex marriage are picking through the language of SB 6239 and its companion, HB 2516, as they move through the Legislature on an almost certain path to becoming law.

The Washington law wouldn't be much different from those passed in six states and the District of Columbia allowing gay marriage — and it wouldn't significantly change the way gay couples now live.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017372664_marriage30m.html