Chamber Renames to Mid-America LGBT

Kansas City, Missouri // Friday, March 29, 2019 // www.midamericalgbt.org – At the organization’s annual Transgender Day of Visibility event on March 28, 2019, the Mid-America GLCC formally announced its decision to rename and rebrand as the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The move comes amid growing national attention on the discrimination and rights of the Transgender Community, and reflects similar decisions made by the organization’s national chamber, The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and many other regional affiliate chambers.

“The decision was easy,” explains Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce Board President Danny Zaslavsky, “we are proud to advocate for our transgender members and fully support the spectrum of gender and sexual identity that exists in our community.” The organization was originally founded and named in 2012 before marriage equality and the subsequent progress in cultural and legal LGBT equality issues. “We won some big battles in the last decade,” says Zaslavsky, “but the fight isn’t over and we need to work just as hard to ensure the rights of our transgender brothers and sisters are protected.”

The current executive administration, as well as many conservative special interest and political groups, have targeted the transgender community and transgender rights since marriage equality. These actions include the president’s attempted ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and multiple state and local measures intended to discriminate against transgender individuals. These actions contribute to violence against transgender individuals, with over 130 people having been victims of fatal violence since 2013.

The decision to rename requires at least a partial rebrand of the organization, including logos, letter head, website, and other print and digital assets. Founding Partner Hallmark has already donated a team of creative professionals to lead the process, working to help adjust and merge the organization’s brand around the new name. It is unknown at this time how significant the rebrand will be, but rollout is expected later this year.

“Undoubtedly, Hallmark has some of the most talented branding and creative people in the country,” says Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Michael Hopkins, “and we are so honored and grateful for their continued support.” Hopkins says the team is already being assembled and initial meetings will start soon. “Since the very first day, Hallmark has been a true partner and we know that with their help this transition will be meaningful and beautiful,” Hopkins continues.

The Mid-America GLCC is an organization that advocates, promotes and facilitates the success of the LGBT business community and their allies through the guiding principles of equality, inclusion, economics and education. The Mid-America GLCC was founded in Kansas City in 2012 and is an affiliate chamber of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, based in Washington, D.C. Nationally, the Mid-America GLCC is among the top 10 affiliate chambers in membership, financials, and programming opportunities.