Today, across the GTA, very few businesses are hostile or confrontational when serving openly gay customers. However, even fewer can boast of any renown for being gay friendly or welcoming!

Instead, the majority are perceived as merely tolerating diversity, but sadly devoid of enthusiasm to go beyond that - by proclaiming a genuine welcome to people of all sexualities and gender identities, and by being proud that they do.

Armed with the perception of often being barely tolerated, the average gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered resident engages with an unfamiliar business establishment with some apprehension.

Meanwhile, for companies advertising their support, brand loyalty within the LGBT community is especially high. According to Harris Interactive, one of the world's leading custom market research firms:

Those statistics only describe the traits of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Their preferences do however also influence the choices made by their families, their friends and sometimes their colleagues and neighbours too.

But how can members of the LGBT community, and their allies, know which businesses welcome and support them, and don't merely put up with them, unless those businesses tell them?

Recent studies indicate that approximately 6% of the population is LGBT, which translates to over 36,000 residents of Durham Region and 360,000 residents across the GTA. Presently, very few local companies are taking steps to win their business by making known any desire to welcome and accommodate LGBT clients.

In short, the LGBT community across the GTA is an untapped market and our websites are uniquely placed to help you connect with those potential customers.