Love Is Love. But Love Doesn’t Pay the Rent.

It’s Pride Month... now what? The slogans are loud. But economic justice is still quiet.

Every June, Pride Month gets brighter, but somehow emptier. At Business Leaders of Colors, one small letter is doing more than most corporations: the “S” in Colors. And it’s not decoration. It’s a declaration.

The “S” in Colors means that Business Leaders of Colors is not just for people of one race, background, or identity. It stands for a spectrum, racial diversity, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, and lived experience. It’s an open acknowledgment of intersectionality. It says: you are not just seen, you belong here.

When the Pride flag was redesigned to include black and brown stripes, it was for this exact reason. LGBTQIA+ people of color often face higher rates of poverty, violence, and exclusion in business, healthcare, and public life. The flag evolved to reflect that struggle, to include those who had been pushed to the margins.

BLOC evolved the same way. By choosing the name “Business Leaders of Colors,” the organization made space for complexity, for the full truth of who people are.

It’s not always understood. Some white allies question whether they belong. Others hesitate, unsure if “Colors” includes them. The answer is yes, if you align with the values of equity, inclusion, and action. BLOC is not a club of exclusion. It’s a space for building new systems together. That’s what the “S” is about.

But the ‘S’ is more than symbolism.

It leads to real outcomes. Economic ones. Social ones. Community ones.

That’s where stories matter.

Brian Ortiz, BLOC’s Web Master and Brand Director, put it this way: 

“I'm queer. I’m a Latin immigrant. I’ve experienced what exclusion looks like, especially in business. But I’ve also seen the opposite. When I came to Ithaca with no network and no clients, BLOC introduced me to people who became my first collaborators. From there, I built a business, a livelihood, a life. And when I had to leave the U.S. due to immigration laws, BLOC and its members kept hiring me, referring me, supporting me. They didn’t discard me because it was inconvenient. They continued to treat me as a vital part of the community.” 

That’s what true inclusion looks like.

"It’s not just my story," says Brian. "I’m one of many. BLOC regularly supports LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC entrepreneurs who are excluded elsewhere. This isn’t just networking. It’s survival. And it’s transformation."

So what does this have to do with Pride Month?

Everything.

Pride was never just about parades. It was, and still is, a fight for rights, dignity, and safety. Especially for those living at the intersections of multiple identities.

The “S” in Colors affirms that we cannot separate racial justice from queer liberation. It tells queer people of color that they are not alone in business, or in life. It tells white allies that they are welcome, if we’re all here to build something better, not just benefit from it.

Want to do more than just flash colors and say 'Happy Pride Month'?

Here are a few simple actions that actually support LGBTQIA+ communities in real, tangible ways:

Hire queer and BIPOC-owned businesses. Need a designer, photographer, coach, or caterer? Start by looking in your local LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC-owned directories, or ask us.

Refer, recommend, and review their work. Referrals are gold. And online reviews aren’t just nice, they’re strategic. Search for a queer-owned business you know on Google, TripAdvisor, or Yelp, and leave a detailed review using keywords about what they offer. This helps boost visibility and search rankings.

Fund initiatives that provide resources and support. Whether it's sponsoring a workshop, donating to a business fund, or backing a grant, your financial support helps these businesses stay alive and grow.

Show up to BLOC events, and invite others. Visibility means nothing without proximity. Get in the room. Build relationships. Learn and participate.

This Pride Month, don’t just show up with a flag. Show up with action. If you say you believe in equity, make it part of your business decisions.

Support the full spectrum of who we are, and the businesses we’re building.

That’s how we create real, lasting impact, economic, cultural, and collective. Pride isn’t a performance. It’s a call to build something better. Let’s start with how we do business, and who we do it with.