Reflecting on 2 Years: Meeting the Mission
By Ryan Wilson
Director of Corporate Relations
Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is a singular organization not just in the Houston region, but nationally. There’s some special sauce here that takes inspiration from many other Chamber’s but with focus that makes us stand out from other Chambers for a few reasons. I have had the honor of serving the organization for two full years now, and as I reflect on the work we’ve done and continue to do to meet the mission of our organization, there’s a few things that stand out for me.
First, we aren’t just a standard Chamber of Commerce, we are an economic development organization working to drive real financial impact in the greater Houston economy and for the LGBTQ+ community. In a society where money is inextricably tied to power, our community needs a strong economic argument that inclusion is good for business. 
The Chamber pushes for that inclusion every day, in every event we host and conversation we have. From partnering with sports teams and arts organizations, to corporate engagement around supplier diversity to helping certify LGBTQ+ owned businesses (LGBTBE® Certification), to helping LGBTQ+ people being appointed local board and commissions, the Chamber is making sure our community has a seat at the table in rooms of power and economic opportunity.
Secondly, how we spend our money, intentional spending with companies that support us or avoiding spending money with companies that refuse to support LGBTQ+ inclusion, makes a difference. One person’s spending habits can make waves, hundreds or thousands of consumers doing the same thing can make huge impacts. Just look at how Target has suffered since abandoning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) whereas Costco has set record profits while standing firm on DEI.
It's the mass boycotts against one company, and the intentional spending by thousands of people at another company that can really impact their bottom line. Bringing that intentionality to how we all spend our money in Houston, is why the Chamber’s Online Membership Directory is such a valuable resource.
Lastly, our Chamber is creating and building community. Someone recently shared with me similar sentiments that I notice when I stand at the back of the room during or 3rd Thursday Breakfasts, or work the registration table at one of our LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance events. This year in particular, the Chamber has provided places where our community and allies can gather authentically and without fear or shame. We can commiserate together on all the ways our community has been attacked and undermined with terrible Texas laws and harmful federal policies.
Together we can celebrate both the small wins and the large victories as LGBTQ+ owned businesses celebrate anniversaries or LGBTQ+ business leaders get promotions. 
When people attend our events, I see them lower their guard a bit, like taking off a layer of armor that we wear out in the world to protect us from discrimination. At Chamber events you don’t need that armor, at our events you aren’t just welcomed, you are celebrated! And perhaps it's only for an hour at a First Friday Meet & Eat but for that hour you are in a safe space and surrounded by other people who want to know more about what you do and how they can support your business or organization.
I love doing this work because I see every day that we are making a difference. Sometimes our efforts may take weeks or months to blossom into something, sometimes we see immediate impacts. But after two years serving the Chamber, I can look back and see the forward momentum and positive growth for our community, even during challenging moments brought by weathering political storms. As we head into our 10th Anniversary Year, I’m excited to see what new heights we can rise toward as a community and as an organization.
Will you join me in rising to meet the Chamber’s mission?
About Ryan
Ryan began his 20-year LGBTQ+ nonprofit career as Co-President of Clemson University’s Gay-Straight Alliance and as Safe Zone Coordinator for the University of South Carolina. He served as president of the board of both the South Carolina Pride Movement and the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center.
Ryan went on to become Executive Director of South Carolina Equality, advancing the cause of marriage equality nationally as well as pushing for non-discrimination protections and hate crime laws at the state level. He later joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), working in the field for almost a decade advocating for LGBTQ+ people at the local, state, and Federal level. During his time as associate regional campaign director at HRC, Ryan focused on Southern states, including a stint as a member of the team working to protect HERO – the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Ryan joined the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber team in December 2023 as Director of Corporate Relations, engaging with the Chamber's large employer members known as Impact Partners. Ryan has a passion for helping advance LGBTQ+ inclusion work within large employers across the region to help employees feel a better sense of belonging and helping them reach their full potential so that our community can thrive. Ryan made Houston his home in 2017 where he currently lives with his fiancé Zach.