Gina Duncan, President & CEO, The Pride Chamber
Invest: sat down with Gina Duncan, president and CEO of The Pride Chamber, to discuss how it advocates for businesses at the local and national levels, its DEI initiatives, and how it hosts events that positively impact the community.
What have been some of the highlights, or what are you most proud of since you joined the Pride Chamber as president and CEO?
The unique aspect of the Pride Chamber of Orlando is that we have a twofold mission. Primarily, our mission is to support our members in all kinds of ways. This includes providing resources, facilitating interactions, offering referrals, and doing everything we can to support our members, whether they are small entrepreneurs, realtors, self-employed individuals, or major corporations employing thousands of people in the Central Florida market. Our vision and goal are to ensure that our members have all the resources they need to succeed and have platforms and programs for interaction, networking, business growth, brand exposure, and awareness. We aim for everyone, regardless of their level of business experience or the size of their business, to have an equal opportunity to succeed.
Secondly, especially in these times, everything we do is through the lens of ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. This vision is shared not only by the chamber and our members but also by our employees, staff, board, and allies. We have a very large partnership with Ally across Central Florida. Everyone knows that working toward an Orlando and Central Florida that embraces all people and values diversity, equity, and inclusion creates an environment where everyone can succeed and feel seen and safe. This is the kind of environment Orlando is known for, from local businesses to politicians and elected officials. Everyone is working toward ensuring that Orlando is truly an inclusive place to live, work, and raise a family.
How are DEI initiatives integrated into your programs and events?
That’s an excellent question, especially in today’s public policy environment. DEI initiatives have been weaponized across the country, and there is a lot of misinformation. Our corporate partners are often looking for information and sometimes pausing their DEI initiatives until they have a better understanding of new bills and laws. These anti-DEI policies are often written broadly and vaguely, causing senior members of corporations to pause programs to ensure they are on solid footing.
One of our missions is to provide as much information as possible about public policy related to DEI. DEI is a cornerstone of supporting the LGBTQ community and our allies, ensuring that everyone is seen and safe in the workplace. We also serve as an information source through our Gov Ed Committee (Government Education Committee). This committee brings together local experts to discuss current topics and recent legislative initiatives impacting the LGBTQ community in the workplace. Recently, Project 2025 has been a major concern, directly impacting DEI initiatives in the workplace.
How does the Pride Chamber play a role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and business interests at both the local and national levels?
It’s crucial that we are not only a resource but also an advocate for the business community. We provide resources and information for businesses of all sizes, and we represent the LGBTQ community at various levels. This includes school boards, boards of medicine meetings, and legislative sessions. Every year, the Pride Chamber organizes a contingent of knowledgeable, business-oriented individuals to participate in the legislative session in Tallahassee. We hold Business of Equality sessions, meet with elected officials, and advocate to ensure that LGBTQ businesses are not unduly discriminated against in any legislation. We hold a press conference to ensure our lawmakers hear from the business community.
We believe in advocacy through economic equality. Partnering with our corporate partners gives us a strong voice in Tallahassee. Elected officials understand that when we come with our corporate partners, it represents a lot of votes. Our business lobbying efforts are effective, and we will continue to advocate every legislative session.
How are the recipients selected for the Pride in Business Awards?
Our Pride in Business Awards Gala is one of the highlights of our year. Every year, we have 300 to 400 people attending. This year, it will be on Sept. 21 at the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Studios. We recognize a broad array of businesses, from small businesses of the year to corporate partners of the year and long-standing businesses that are icons in the industry and beacons of diversity and inclusion.
This year’s gala will have a Greatest Showman theme with a colorful, musical atmosphere. Previous winners in all categories will return to present awards to this year’s winners. We have a VIP reception before the gala and an after-party to continue celebrating and honoring the awardees. It’s always the event of the fall, and we are looking forward to another amazing event this year.
What are the goals and impacts of the T Network program, specifically for the Central Florida region and the state of Florida?
We are very proud of our T Network. Although we are currently reenergizing and reformatting it, the T Network has been part of the Pride Chamber for a decade. Its design is to provide resources, support, information, and mentoring to the transgender and gender-diverse members of our LGBTQ community. Unfortunately, the transgender community has been especially targeted by anti-LGBTQ legislation, particularly in areas such as the workplace and medical care.
Our T Network invests in supporting our transgender members, ensuring they have the resources and information they need, not only professionally but also personally. We address mental health, workplace insurance, and transgender healthcare. The T Network has grown over the years, and many members who joined a decade ago are now in management positions, leading LGBTQ and DEI initiatives across Florida. These voices are crucial in advocating for transgender rights and pushing back against harmful legislation.
What are your goals for the Pride Chamber in the next few years, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My biggest goal is to grow the chamber. Currently, we have around 300 business members, making us one of the larger chambers in the country and the state. We’re very proud of that, but we aim to continue growing and enhancing our program areas. We want our members to feel included and seen when they attend our events. Our goal is to ensure they feel part of the business community and the broader LGBTQ family in Central Florida.
We aim to support our members in achieving business and economic success. Advocating for their rights and ensuring Orlando remains an affirming area. We want to see our members take on leadership roles in the community, elected positions, and advocacy efforts, starting from a platform of business success and economic equality. We’re committed to ensuring a bright future for all families in Florida.
