Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley
In The News

For more information about any of our news items, send inquiries to [email protected].

 

May 29. 2020:

Today, the Human Rights Campaign released a letter, joined by prominent LGBTQ and civil rights organizations, condemning racism, racial violence and police brutality while calling for action to combat these scourges. The letter is signed by 100+ leaders of the nation’s most prominent LGBTQ and civil rights organizations.

Read the letter. (PDF)

March 10. 2020:
Read an open letter from our Chamber leadership concerning Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Chamber Meetings and Events

Read the press release. (PDF)

June 4, 2018:
The Supreme Court Rejects Discrimination Against LGBTQ Americans. Read the Chamber’s press release about this impactful decision.

Read the press release. (PDF)

March 20, 2018:
On March 15-16, 2018 representatives from the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley joined the GGBA-hosted the Western Business Alliance (WBA) LGBT Economic Summit & Conference.

Read the press release. (PDF)

February 21, 2018:
Like many of you, we were shocked and disappointed a few weeks ago to find out that Kern County Judge David Lampe has refused to enforce California’s civil rights law in defense of a lesbian couple in Kern County. Take a moment to read an open letter from the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley.

Read the letter. (PDF)

January 29, 2018:
The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley honored outstanding achievements of selected members at their Celebrating Success Awards Luncheon Friday, January 26th at Justin’s Catering in Santa Clara. Special recognition went to Lifetime Achievement winner Michael LoMonaco.

Read the press release. (PDF)

October 9, 2017:
Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley Board Member Jose Espinoza Named ASIAN Inc’s Supplier Diversity Champion of the Year

Read the press release. (PDF)

October 6, 2017:
The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley Condemns DOJ’s New Transgender Discrimination Policy

Read the press release. (PDF)

August 3, 2017:
Wells Fargo and NGLCC Award $1,000 Grant to the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley

Read the grant details. (PDF)

July 27, 2017:
Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley Statement on President Trump’s Announced Ban on Transgender People in the Military

Read the full text of the letter. (PDF)

June 12, 2017:
The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley released a  letter in response to a request for comments by Assemblyman Matthew Harper for an option by the Attorney General on GC 11139.8, which generally  prohibits state-funded or state-sponsored travel to states that have enacted specified discriminatory laws, apply to team coaches, medical doctors, athletic trainers, and other employees of the athletic departments of the University of California and the California State University system.

Read the full text of the letter. (PDF)

April 6, 2017:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley President Roark Clayton released a statement on behalf of the Chamber Board of Directors regarding the April 4 ruling by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago that the 1964 Civil Rights protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination.

Read the full press release. (PDF)

March 20, 2017:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley (RCCSV) participated in the Western Business Alliance’s first-ever LGBT economic summit on Thursday, March 16, hosted by the Greater Seattle Business Association, in Seattle, WA. The summit addressed economic factors and policy agendas that affect LGBTQ and allied businesses and communities in the western U.S. and Canada.

Read the full press release. (PDF)

February 15, 2017:

Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley will participate in the Western Business Alliance’s first-ever LGBT economic summit on Thursday, March 16, hosted by the Greater Seattle Business Association, in Seattle, WA.

Read more.(PDF)

December 31, 2016:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley was busy and involved in supporting organizations, membership, and forging new partnerships throughout 2016 and this “annual report” infographic tells a lot of the story in an easy to read format.

2016 Annual Report Info Graphic (PDF)

November 11, 2016:

Shock, disbelief, fear, anger, many of us have lived with these emotions this week.

Being LGBTQ in Silicon Valley has become more accepted with each year. Neighbors, friends, family, allies and politicians stand by us and with us. In the recent past I have asked myself “What does the future look like for LGBT Chambers? Necessary or obsolete?”  Election day 2016 has answered these questions with a big kick in the gut. We will not be obsolete for quite a while. Be assured we will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and once again get back in the fight to protect what we have gained…

Read more of the open letter from Rainbow Chamber President, Roark Clayton (PDF)

July 12, 2016:

July 12th will mark the one month anniversary when 49 victims were massacred in the Orlando nightclub The Pulse, for being part of the LGBTQ community. As a remembrance to those who lost their lives, a display of names and pictures of each of the victims will be placed in the San José City Hall lobby during business hours and San José City Hall will light up the City Tower in the colors of the rainbow flag during the evening.

We Stand With the Community: Remembering Victims or Orlando and Building Community (PDF)

April 21, 2016:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce hosted an information-packed “super-mixer”, CONNECT:2016, featuring exhibits and representation from scores of small business, community organizations and other supporters. By all measures, it was a great success. Exhibitors included:

  • Adolescent Counseling Services – Outlet
  • All Reasons Moving
  • BAYMEC
  • Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Center
  • California Water Association
  • County of Santa Clara Office of LGBTQ Affairs
  • Ellingson-Furler & Associates
  • FCSSV – The LGBT Youth Space Minority Business Consortium
  • History San José
  • NowRx
  • Silicon Valley Massage Therapy Group
  • Santa Clara Valley Water District
  • Santa Clara VTA
  • The Health Trust

Watch a video recap of the event (MP4)

March 18, 2016:

The Western Business Alliance, a regional organization of LGBT chambers of commerce representing more than 2,700 LGBT-owned and supportive businesses in seven states, met for the first time in Sacramento this week for the organization’s annual Leadership Conference.

LGBT Business Leadership Summit Convenes in Sacramento (PDF)

February 29, 2016:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley awarded cash donations to three Bay Area groups who have demonstrated exemplary work in education and outreach for the Silicon Valley LGBTQ community: The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, OUTLET and the LGBTQ Youth Space.

Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley Donates to LGBTQ Organizations (PDF)

January 21, 2016:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, the largest LGBT business organization in Silicon Valley, has rebranded and unveiled a redesigned website. Much has changed in the 16 years since the Rainbow Chamber was founded. Major progress has been made toward equal rights for all LGBT people and LBGT-owned businesses have grown and flourished. As we begin 2016, the Rainbow Chamber of Silicon Valley wanted to reflect that progress by unveiling a whole new look.

Rainbow Chamber Unveils a New Look (PDF)

December 11 , 2015:

The Rainbow Chamber welcomes PG&E and the California Water Association as corporate partners. Both organizations have a long history of supporting diversity in the work place.

August 8, 2015:

The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley is proud to announce that the chamber was awarded a $2500 grant from the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, the grant was awarded to expand capacity and offer technical assistance to the Supplier Diversity task force.

Wells Fargo and NGLCC Award $2,500 to Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley (PDF)