LGBT Americans not only face a variety of increased health risks and social stigma, but workplace discrimination, socioeconomic disadvantage and unequal opportunity to participate in SBA business development programs as well.
Despite these disadvantages, many LGBT business owners struggle to gain acceptance into the 8(a) program because they are not presumed disadvantaged, despite providing a preponderance of the evidence demonstrating this.
We petition the Obama Administration to use their Executive Order authority to require SBA inclusion of LGBT Americans as members of SBA designated groups [13 CFR 124.103(b)] allowing equal opportunity for this socially disadvantaged group to participate in SBA programs.