MANILA, PHILIPPINES — This Pride and International MSME Month, Google will hold an online event “Pride Conversations: Championing LGBTQ+ MSMEs” to celebrate LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. The campaign aims to help promote and digitize their businesses and encourage constant support and allyship from the broader public. It will be streamed live on Google Philippines’ Facebook page and YouTube channel on June 9, 2021 at 3:00 PM.
In coordination with the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the event will gather LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs from various industries including hospitality, food, creatives & marketing, beauty, and lifestyle. Joining the discussion are Abby Biyo of Nirvana Hostel and Restaurant Siargao; Rui Mariano of The Fairygodbarbie House of Beauty; Amrei Dizon of Vitalstrats Creative Solutions; Jeoff Solas of Comercio Central, Cooltura Hub, and Fitness Army; Nariese Giangan of FFTG Cafe; and Sed Aguil of The Food Episode.
“The ongoing pandemic continues to bring economic woes especially to local businesses. This Pride month and beyond, we want to help small businesses owned by LGBTQ+ individuals by promoting their enterprises and their success stories. We also intend to equip them with the right knowledge and tools so they can seamlessly transition and succeed in the digital space,” said Mervin Wenke, Google Philippines’ Head of Communications and Public Affairs.
“The Pride community makes big strides and great achievements. We want to tell their inspiring stories as the power of storytelling can help continuously build a safe and progressive space for our LGBTQ+ community and allies,” Mervin added.
“We enter a season when companies will highlight again their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This signals a great opportunity to purposely advance LGBT+ inclusion beyond Pride month by deepening synergies across businesses — an ecosystem where large economic players such as Google support enterprises on the ground. By having this ecosystem, we are assured that any call for positive socio-economic changes will become authentic and deeply felt by those who are least represented in society such as us in the LGBT+ community,” said Ronn Astillas, Chair of the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Google will also discuss tools including Google My Business and the Primer app during the event that can help LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs digitize and grow their businesses.
#SupportMSMEsWithPride and tune in to “Pride Conversations: Championing LGBTQ+ MSMEs” on June 9, 2021 at 3:00 PM (Ph time) on Google Philippines’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.
