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.