LGBT Chamber of Commerce Sees its Influence Growing

On the first Thursday of every month, the Pond House adds a few extra chairs to the breakfast tables as a growing number of business owners and executives join the Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities, the state's first and only  lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) chamber of commerce.

The organization, founded in 2007 by attorney Dena Castricone of New Haven, says its mission is to "create, identify and enhance business opportunities for LGBT and LGBT-friendly organizations, thereby fostering a more inclusive and vibrant Connecticut economy."

That mission was in evidence on Thursday as member Deb Prior of Manchester's Liberty Tax Service offered to handle two personal tax returns for the price of one for same-sex married couples. Though Connecticut recognizes same-sex marriage, the federal government does not and requires same-sex couples to file and pay for two separate returns.

Castricone, now president of the group's board of directors, said the LGBT community is changing attitudes, in part through the businesses it chooses to support.

"The annual buying power of the LGBT community [in the U.S.] is $800 billion," she said. "The amount of money they have to spend is proportionately much higher."

Castricone also said members of the community often go out of their way to support LGBT-friendly businesses.

"We'll pay more," she said. "It's an interesting way to impact social change."

Avi Smith-Rapaport, president of We Care Computers in West Hartford, attended his first meeting on Thursday and said he joined the chamber because "it seems like a perfect fit for us."

"We are part of the large organizations," he said. "But we do really well with the small groups. ... This organization is all about creating community."

John Holt of West Hartford, president and CEO of Rocky Hill-based Nutmeg State Credit Union, said his company had decided to reach out to "broaden our membership and show support to the gay community" among other constituencies.

"We've met so many people this way," Holt said. "We're starting to do some business with some of the folks here."

Beth McCabe of Canton, treasurer for the Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities, said she had previously been involved with large chamber of commerce groups but didn't find the same responsiveness.

"There was a void in connecting with other gay and lesbian friendly businesses," McCabe said.

Elizabeth Kerrigan, the lead plaintiff in the case that led to the 2008 legalization of same-sex marriage in Connecticut, was at Thursday's meeting to talk about her business as an independent broker for long-term care insurance. Also present was Martin Heft, a senior adviser to Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman who also chairs the Love Makes a Family political action committee.

The chamber's corporate sponsors are Aetna, Foxwoods Resort and Casino, Comcast Business Class, law firm Murtha Cullina, the Rainbow Times, Bearingstar Insurance, and Kiss 95.7. The statewide group also has monthly meetings in Westport and New Haven.

Other local member firms include: EACH Enterprise of East Granby, Community Residences Inc. and Therapeutic Foster Care of Southington, Anthony and Robert Real Estate and Art of Southington, the Pond House of West Hartford, Hands of Hope Massage and Energy Therapy of West Hartford, and Nurturing Hands of West Hartford.

For more information, visit the group's website at www.thecabo.org.