Greater
Houston Gay & Lesbian
Chamber of Commerce (GHGLCC)
Founded
in 1996, the GHGLCC was active through 2008, and among its
accomplishments were staging several business events called Empower.
In January 2001 the name was changed to GLBT
In a way the organization was a successor to the
Greater Montrose Business
Guild (1982 to 1993)
and the precursor to current organization
which was formed in 2016.
GHLGBT
Chamber of Commerce (GHLGBTCC)
Most
of the information available
can be found in its excellent newsletters. (and if anyone has
issues I am missing I would love to borrow and digitize them)
Coy Tow
was the oganization's first President, Jan 1996, and much of the activity
in 1997 was directed into its first business expo, Empower '97.
Anita Renteria became President in January 1998, and Empower '98 was
held in November.
With 1999 came Empower '99 with record attendence of over 5,000. Debra
Hunt
was President in January 2000, and Empower 2000 was held in October.
Michael Tolleson led the organization in January 2001 and that year
started with a new logo,
which changed the name to GLBT
October
brought Empower 2001; in 2002 and 2003 it was held in September;
Empower 2004 and 2005 were held in June. And I do not have information
if there were later events.
It appears the website became inactive after July 2005 through May of
2008, when it
sputtered alive with a new website, changing from ghglcc.org to thechamberhouston.org.
That site seemed to last about a year, with almost nothing uploaded.
So it seems
the organization ended around 2008. I would love additional information.
Newsletters
Newsletters
1996: May, July, Nov, Dec PDF
Newsletters 1997: Jan, Feb, Apr to Aug #1
Newsletters 1997: Sep to Dec #2
Newsletters 1998: Jan to Jun, Aug to Oct, Dec PDF
Newsletters 1999: Jan to Nov PDF
Newsletters, 2000: Jan to Apr, Jun; 2001: Jan PDF
Newsletter, 2004: September PDF
Empower '98 Program, PDF
Empower '99 Program, PDF
Clippings
not
many, it's all in the newsletters
1997
1998
1998
Pride Parade
1999
2000
2000
Pride Parade
2001
articles
on both the Chamber and Community Center
2002
Note,
this was a paid ad
2003
2005
I was
able to grab the following from 2005 from the Internet Archive,
and it is the last Empower event I can document
2006
And this
Board listing is the last, from July 2008
And,
see This
Link for coverage
of Rockets Pride Night,
Coordinated by the Chamber
April 14, 2021
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