Can You Prove You’re Gay? Inside California’s LGBTQ Business Certification Program

How can you know for certain that someone is gay? Well, the National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce says they have it all figured out.

As of April 2022, under the Supplier Diversity Program managed by the California Public Utilities Commission, if you’re a large-scale utility company in California, you have the option to reserve a percentage of your contract awards to certified LGBTQ corporations and entities.

Several California entities, such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, all participate in this program.

But the certification process itself has drawn scrutiny, particularly the methods used to verify an applicant’s LGBTQ status.

The list of documents accepted to prove status is extensive, and “if the sum of all the documents does not specify explicitly that said owner identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer, it is very unlikely that it will suffice for the National Certification Committee.”

Acceptable forms of documentation in the certification process include a letter from three personal references attesting to LGBTQ status, a social media account, and videos and podcasts that state one’s status.

According to its website, NGLCC’s exclusive LGBT Business Enterprise “certification works hard for you, giving you a competitive advantage to succeed.”

After submitting documentation, “a virtual site visit with an NGLCC-trained site visitor is conducted at a predetermined time with the majority business owner. The site visitor will corroborate the information in your application and learn more about your business in the process.”

Many have noted the hypocrisy in the certification process. Identification is required, and applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be considered for funding. Yet, California does not require identification to vote.

California Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, highlighted that contrast in a recent post on X.

The Daily Signal contacted the National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce for comment but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.