Greenville Has SC's Only LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce

And they know how to throw a party

Last night was magical: the Upstate LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce had its annual 2023 Pride in Business Award Gayla in downtown Greenville and it was such a wonderful queer celebration. I haven’t been this happy since Beyoncé. I was so impressed to see businesses like Michelin and Milliken showing up as corporate sponsors, and to see Furman University win a much-deserved recognition as the Nonprofit of the Year. They’ve earned it for hiring superstars like my new colleague Kathleen Casey as director of their Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, and Sarah Cochran as their Program Coordinator. They even have an Out at Furman page. Super kudos! May their example inspire other institutions of higher ed in the state.

Professor Casey and I.

I was also thrilled to see our local, Community Tap, win the Allied Business of the Year Award. Did we buy our house to be close to them? Maybe. They’re amazing.

Kimmie Hale and Anna Okupinski, Tappers Extraordinaire.

My dear friend Kim Carroll (master teacher, master dancer) was the Chamber member who invited me, and we spent the evening with another friend, Allison Williamson. Both of them own businesses and do like 8 million things. They are truly an inspiration. If you need to get TESOL certified or be evaluated in your ESL teaching (Kim) or see THE BEST aestheticians in town (Allison, owner of Bohème Salon), they’re your people.

Allison’s pink blazer OMG.

Kim and I laughing at the patriarchy. Not really, but having a blast.

I also got to hang with the fabulous Liz Delaney, founder and owner of Greenville Yoga and also Board Chair of the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus. She introduced me to Josh Harrington, who it just so happens is a 2015 graduate of Presbyterian College and is the Interim Artistic Director of the GGMC and teaches music at Christ Church Episcopal School (that has the reputation as the most queer-affirming K—12 in town).

Josh Harrington. We’ll say the blue is an homage to PC—so debonair!

We wrapped up the night dancing entirely free of the straight male gaze. Highly recommend you join the LGBT+ Chamber (here, or wherever you are), because maybe more Americans will join the cause with the blessings of business and capitalism to normalize queer identities. They do amazing work, including funding organizations like The Ladies Room that supports our BIPOC trans community, offering lending programs to small businesses, and providing grants like they did last night to three of our amazing queer-owned restaurants Sum Bar, Comal 864 and Modal.

The Chamber is the result of an inspiring and dedicated group of queer business owners and allies, and the 12,000+ hours of volunteer labor they have put into the organization will make life in our Upstate communities so much better for all of us. Support them by donating here.