GSBA

10/21/2026

Only 48 hours left to register for EQUALUX! 🦇

Tickets MUST be purchased by this Thursday, October 22!

EQUALUX: GSBA's annual Halloween gala benefiting the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund. This Halloween, we're taking over The Westin Seattle, complete with 20+ caterers and wineries, a yodeling do******ix, auctions with GSBA exclusive opportunities, all raising funds for LGBTQ+ and allied rising leaders pursuing secondary education.

🎃 Saturday, October 31
📍 The Westin Seattle
⏰ 5:00–9:30 PM

Extraordinary Things Happen After Dark: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/equalux2026/

10/19/2026

🎃 The EQUALUX Silent Auction opens THIS FRIDAY!

You don't need a ticket to EQUALUX to get in on the action. Starting October 23, anyone, anywhere can bid on an incredible lineup of experiences, getaways, local favorites, and a few surprises worth staying up for. 👀

Every winning bid supports the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund, helping LGBTQ+ and allied rising leaders pursue their educational goals. A little indulgence for you, a whole lot of opportunity for our community.

🦇 Bidding opens: Friday, October 23
🔮 Bidding closes: Sunday, November 1 at noon

Set your reminders, our whole lineup drops this Friday.
Extraordinary things happen after dark. ✨

10/16/2026

🎃 The scariest thing this season? The cost of education.

When we invest in LGBTQ+ and allied education, we're investing in our entire community's economic future.

For 35 years, the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund has awarded over $7 million to 606 scholars, helping LGBTQ+ and allied rising leaders pursue education, enter new industries, and build careers.

Those investments don't stop at graduation. They help build a stronger LGBTQ+ financial ecosystem, one where our community has greater access to opportunity, economic mobility, and the resources to succeed.

👻 This spooky season, let's keep that money working for our community.

Give $13, $31, $75, or $100 to support the next generation of LGBTQ+ and allied leaders.

100% of donations go directly to our scholarship fund: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/itsgivingspooky/

10/16/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the inaugural graduating cohort of the GSBA LGBTQ+ Leadership Institute!

Yesterday, we gathered at Imperia Lake Union to celebrate an incredible group of leaders who spent the past 10 months learning, growing, and building meaningful connections through our first-ever Leadership Institute.

Throughout this journey, our cohort explored what it means to lead authentically, strengthen their skills, and create workplaces where LGBTQ+ leaders and their teams can succeed. We're incredibly proud of their dedication and excited to see how they put everything they've learned into action.

A heartfelt thank you to Nick Barth (Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce), whose vision and partnership with Ilona Lohrey, cce helped bring this program to life, our incredible presenters and mentors who shared their time and expertise, and Toraya Miller, whose leadership guided this inaugural cohort from beginning to end.

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, U.S. Bank and supporting sponsor, T-Mobile, for investing in the next generation of LGBTQ+ leadership.

To our graduates: Congratulations! We're honored to be part of your leadership journey and can't wait to see what comes next. 💚

10/16/2026

Look Good and Feel Good, while supporting Q***r Business. 💅

A little retail therapy, a little self-care, and a whole lot of creativity. This week's GSBA Member Spotlight features four businesses putting their own spin on looking good and feeling even better.

💖 Crushworthy | LGBTQ+-owned
Q***r joy looks good on you! This creative team makes s*x-positive, body-positive, and hella cute goods celebrating LGBTQIA+ identity, kink culture, and unapologetic self-expression.
https://members.thegsba.org/activememberdirectory/Details/crushworthy-4873453

👠 LEOLO Handmade Shoes | LGBTQ+ and woman-owned
Artist and designer Leanne Corcoran brings traditional craftsmanship, sustainability, and individuality together through handmade footwear. Every pair reflects her lifelong love for design and doing things differently.
https://members.thegsba.org/activememberdirectory/Details/leolo-4933973

🔮 Bad Witch Beauty | Trans-owned and LGBTQ+-owned
All bodies are bikini bodies, and Duke is making sure the beauty industry gets the memo. This q***r, neurodivergent esthetician is creating the kind of welcoming beauty space they wished existed, where self-expression and feeling good in your own skin come first.
https://members.thegsba.org/activememberdirectory/Details/bad-witch-beauty-5016225

🌿 Chee Dynamic Acupuncture | Woman-owned
Dr. Karin Jespersen offers acupuncture, herbal medicine, microneedling, and workplace wellness. From stress and insomnia to bringing acupuncture directly into the office, Chee Dynamic takes a personalized approach to feeling your best.
https://members.thegsba.org/activememberdirectory/Details/chee-dynamic-acupuncture-5003228

You deserve a little treat, imagine doing it while supporting an LGBTQ+ or allied business. Give these four some love and discover what they've got to offer! 💚

Discover more LGBTQ+ and allied businesses in our directory: https://members.thegsba.org/activememberdirectory?_gl=1*9scvc0*_ga*MTI3OTkzMDYzMy4xNzg2NjM4OTQy*_ga_ZCBMM6YVSW*czE3OTE5OTYyNTYkbzgkZzEkdDE3OTE5OTY5NjMkajYwJGwwJGgw*_gcl_au*MjAxNjI4NzkxMy4xNzg2NjM4OTQyLjExNTEzMDY1MjguMTc5MTk5NjQyNS4xNzkxOTk2NTIwLjY1NDI3NjI0Ni4xNzkxOTk2NDI1LjE3OTE5OTY1MjA.

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

Lots of new faces at Hill Talk last night, and we ate up every moment of it!

A big thank you to The Cloud Room for hosting GSBA: Capitol Hill and to everyone who spent their Tuesday evening with us!

We met a whole new crowd of local business owners, professionals, and neighbors, many getting their first introduction to GSBA. It's always exciting to see who's doing business on the Hill, hear what they're working on, and make introductions that might lead to something down the road.

To our regulars and first-timers alike, thanks for showing up for Capitol Hill's business community! 💚

10/14/2026

Washington, your ballot is still coming in the mail! 🗳️

A federal judge has temporarily blocked proposed changes to mail-in voting requirements, protecting Washington's vote-by-mail system for the November 3 General Election.

Here's what you need to know:
🗳️ Check your voter registration: VoteWA.gov
📬 Voting by mail? Ballots must be postmarked by November 3. Mail yours early to avoid delays.
📍 Using a drop box? Return your ballot by 8 PM on Election Day.

We also want to draw your attention to two initiatives that would jeopardize the safety and well-being of Washington's students:

Initiative 001: Would strip protections from child abuse victims by eliminating confidential conversations with school counselors, nurses, and trusted adults.

Initiative 638: Would subject schoolgirls to invasive medical s*x inspections and ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Get informed and make your voting plan.

Read the full GSBA advocacy update: https://thegsba.org/news/gsba-news/vote-by-mail-will-continue-what-you-need-to-know/

10/13/2026

Seattle networking, served with a side of hash browns. ☕️🍳

We're taking October's GSBA: Capitol Hill Coffee Talk to Glo's, a neighborhood breakfast spot that's been feeding Seattle since 1987!

This Thursday, grab a cup of coffee with GSBA's Senior Membership Development Manager Alison, and spend your morning getting to know fellow Seattle business owners, community leaders, and Capitol Hill neighbors.

No agenda, no presentations, and no elevator pitches required. Just good conversation, new connections, and an excuse to check out one of Capitol Hill's favorite breakfast spots.

📍 Glo's Diner
📅 Thursday, October 15
⏰ 9:00–10:30 AM
🎟️ Free to attend!

Register Here: https://members.thegsba.org/eventcalendar/Details/coffee-talk-glo-s-diner-1931567?sourceTypeId=Website

10/12/2026

Today, GSBA recognizes Indigenous Peoples' Day and honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, past and present. 🧡

As Washington's LGBTQ+ and allied Chamber of Commerce, we believe in creating economic opportunities and increasing visibility for historically underrepresented business owners, including Indigenous entrepreneurs.

This Indigenous Peoples' Day, we encourage you to be intentional about where you spend your dollars.

GSBA's Business Directory includes a dedicated Indigenous-owned business category we encourage you to explore today.

Explore the Indigenous Owned Directory: https://members.thegsba.org/activememberdirectory/Search/indigenous-owned-775969

Current Indigenous Members: update your directory listing in your member portal to ensure you populate in the category.

The GSBA office will be closed Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. We will reopen Tuesday, October 13.