#nglcc

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

Okay so I had a quick look around their website, which is designed awfully, and kinda fell down a rabbithole with it because it's just weird.

Their website is just weird; I don't have a better word for it. I'd maybe say it's trying to be like a manic pixie dream drink because it's really trying hard to be quirky and presumably appeal to the youth.

I say that because they have a Gen Z consultant linked on their LinkedIn which I made an account for to snoop around on

I won't include the guy's name, but again, it is on their public LinkedIn page.

Which is also weird because of course it is. Here's some of the jobs listed on the page:

Now I'm not one for imposing arbitrary standards of what professionalism is, but maybe I am, in this case. This is a brand that sells alcohol; I feel that maybe one needs to demonstrate some level of trustworthiness on fucking LinkedIn.

"chief oomf" refers to the founder of the company, Spencer Hoddeson.

While "chief oomf" fills me with all the confidence of a fainting goat, he isn't lying when he says "award-winning". Gay Water has won two awards, specifically these:

The BevNet Best RTD (Ready-to-Drink) Cocktail 2023 Spirit Award and a bronze medal in the RTD category at the 2024 Craft Spirits Packaging Awards.

The packaging design was done by Ryan Sagawa

The above picture is maybe the most professional thing about their entire website besides the logo showing that they are a certified LGBT Business Enterprise via the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

What that means is that the NGLCC have been able to certify that at least 51% of the business is owned and operated by someone/s queer. It's not easy to get that certification and honestly, scanning through the application process for that made me deeply uncomfortable and I could make an entire post about that alone

Their website design is also godawful. Birds of a feather I guess.

Anyway, you are also able to make an account on Gay Water's website which I did and as far as I can tell, it's just like a shopping portal.

Which by the way, if you want to buy something from their website, they don't have the ingredients listed anywhere. It just says that there are 3 ingredients and that neither sugar nor gluten is not one of them.

Truly, the epitome of trustworthiness. Exactly what I want in an alcohol brand; no ingredients listed and the knowledge that there's a roblox gamer employed by the company.

If you do sign up for an account and place an order, they do ask for your name and address for that, and I'd 100% recommend not giving your real name or address. I didn't. I just don't think it's a good idea to give them any personal data considering how little trust they inspire as a brand and the brand seemingly being aimed at queer people.

That brings me onto their privacy policy which honestly, I don't know if it's Concerning Weird or just We're-So-Quirky Weird. I've never in my life read a privacy policy with an interpretation section, and also due to said section, certain words are capitalised because their definitions are specific, as such:

I highlighted the bit about California because as someone not from the US, I don't have a clue if California has a different policy that companies have to comply with or not. If not, then it's another level of weird.

What is certainly weird is them defining "Country" as New York:

Also there's a weird thing around their "Facebook Fan Page" that I am just very confused about. It says Facebook, but it's an Instagram page and it's the same page as the one linked at the top of their website. At first I thought it might be a mix-up since Facebook owns Instagram, but Facebook became Meta in 2021 and their privacy policy was last updated in 2022.

Your guess is as good as mine about that.

Though speaking about their Facebook page, their little about section on that lists their location as Florida, New York, California and New Jersey.

I don't have a clue what that's about. I presume they've got bases of some form in those four states. Maybe they have a sex therapy office in California since apparently someone has that job at the company, and maybe the Chinese Blackbelt is in New Jersey.

Also you might notice that there are 3 reviews on their Facebook page and if you thought this couldn't get weirder, it can:

Apparently they also cure herpes and cancer.

The links in the reviews take you to different "herbal doctor" pages on Facebook, and I genuinely don't know what to do with this information. No idea if this is actually linked to gay water or if it's unrelated and just part of some quack doctor grifts.

But at the very least, you'd expect them to remove the reviews or reply to them to clarify that the company is not related to these herbal doctors because what the fuck?

tl/dr: This company is about as trustworthy as the bloke in charge of the Glasgow Wonka experience. Do not give them any personal data. Do not buy from them.

marketing guy: hmmm yeah we need to make vodka soda branded as “gay water.” make sure the packaging looks like diaper packaging.

other marketing guy: maybe we should add funny little stickers, like–

both at the same time: racism is small dick energy!

[hortiprocess]

Artisan A delicious drink that begins with the extraction of the best flavor of our Colombian Dark. For 24 hours in cold we prepare the concentrate a coffee that comes from the south of Colombia, specifically from La Meseta del Cauca. Our Colombian Dark really is a medium high roast, evoking sweet notes such as sugar cane and very strong caramels. An Acidity and Body so balanced that they make our Artisan a Refreshing and delicious Drink. You can order them on the platforms of: Grubhub Doordash #colombiancoffee #cafedecolombia #specialtycoffee #houston #houstonfood #houstoncoffee #houstoncoffeeshop #houstonrestaurants #houstonrestaurant #spresso #espresso #dark #colombiandark #fairtrade #nglcc #artisan #frappe #caramel #icecoffee #icedcoffee #coldbrew #24hours #handmade #handcrafted #brewcoffee #caramelcoffee #brewlocal #grubhub #doordash (at Spring Branch West) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDe04aRB8LI/?igshid=2ssww4ov9stg

[bosguy]

Inviting LGBTQ+ owned businesses to apply for NGLCC small business grants

The @NGLCC in collaboration w/ @MALGBTCC is inviting #LGBTQ+ owned businesses and allys to apply for small business grants. Deadline for submission is 2/14/23 and grants range from $10,000 - $25,000.

NGLCC COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT PROGRAM Applications are now open for local businesses to receive grants as part of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Community Impact Grant Program. This grant program is in partnership with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Grubhub Community Fund. To be eligible for the Community Impact Grant, applicants must: Be…

[bgpromotionsinc]

It was great at our Corporate @out.georgia Power Connect Reception on last night! What a Great Moderator and Panel!! Very informative and inspiring!! I love these #networking forums! Visit my #YouTubeChannel for my brief #recap #linkinbio #outgeorgia #powerconnect #nglcc #nglcc22 #lgbtq #lgbt #network #join #becomeamember (at The Gathering Spot) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch9hGg6ut30/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[caleroberthall]

I LOVE being able to work with these two stars ⭐️ and it was great to be at the OUT Georgia Business Alliance membership drive hosted by The Coca-Cola Company. Have a great Friday everyone! #workfamily #liveyourpassion #yearofyes #mycreativeapproach #valiantmarketing #valiantmktg #chooseATL #ATLeaders #midtown_atl #cocacola #outGA #nglcc (at The Coca-Cola Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Q3cR0DMZ7/?igshid=1lmgqk54aot4r

[byscriball]

Learning is a lot like stretching. The more you do it, the further you will go. . . . . #learning #cat #stretching #coaching #coachingtips #lgbtbe #nglcc #lagllc #lgbt #lifecoachingtips #education #selfmastery (at Santa Monica, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1cSFa3g9qB/?igshid=u1cbkaqes37h

[kellyroycekey]

Suburban Collection and Gleaners feed children? Grant Program for LGBTQ businesses?

[vague-humanoid]

Bud Light, the beer brand that received recent right-wing backlash and left-wing blowback for its handling of a transgender-inclusive marketing campaign, has announced that it will donate $200,000 to support LGBTQ+ business owners of color.

The donation will go towards the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s (NGLCC) Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi). The initiative supports “minority LGBTQ+-owned businesses through certification, scholarships, and business development,” a press announcement stated.

[meakproductions]

A LONG AWAITED DREAM HAS MANIFESTED!!! Meak Productions, Inc. is now LGBTQ Business Certified by the NGLCC - The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce! STAY TUNED For The Official Press Release! SHOUT OUTS To Chris Lugo and the OUT Georgia Business Alliance for assisting in making this process possible and complete! ❤ ❤ ❤

[laracreasy]

Just got word today that I am officially certified as an LGBT Business Enterprise! Exciting news!

[nmckew]

Living and leading boldly at the NGLCC Gala at @nationalbuildingmuseum with @shienartists ✨💜✨ . . . . . . . . . . #nglcc17 #nglcc #leadboldly #nationalbuildingmuseum #dcevents #dcnightlife #washingtondc #washingtondcgram #aerial #aerialguys #aerialist #lyra #lollipoplyra #aerialhoop #menintights #shinypants #shienartists (at National Building Museum)

[bgpromotionsinc]

𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 " 𝐁𝐆 - #ByGrace #B2TheG " 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐲 - 𝐒𝐡𝐞/𝐇𝐞𝐫/𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐄𝐎 / 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 IG: @BGPromotionsInc 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 Greater Women's Business Council @gwbclive Women's Business Enterprise National Council - WBENC @wbenc Women Owned @buywomenowned NGLCC - The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce @nglcc OUT Georgia Business Alliance @out.georgia http://linktr.ee/bgpromotions https://bgpromotionsinc.com https://bookmebgp.com #Certified #Member #NGLCC #GWBC #WBENC #OUTGeorgia #womenownedbusiness #WomenOwned #womenownedbusinesses #womensupportingwomen #lgbtqcommunity #blackowned #blackownedbusiness #blackownedbusinesses #blackownbusiness #digitalmarketing #digitalbranding #websitedesigner #socialmediamarketing #contentcreator #influencer #bulkprinting #graphicdesign #photography #videography #THANKYOU #ITSGOTIME Tagline: #ThruMeTheySeeYou Slogan: I Am The Cheat Code For Anything Technical or Digital. https://www.instagram.com/p/CVKn8BmlTg0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[caleroberthall]

Good Saturday! Had a good day visiting Ford's Theatre - The White House - China Town Washington, DC - and the NGLCC Global LGBTI Biz Week: Panel + Reception at the National Building Museum - now for a bit of rest and strategy making from all these great ideas 😇🙏❤️ #nglcc #washingtondc #strategy #mycreativeapproach #valiantmktg (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5NIAsxj3Ns/?igshid=1jdosn2vpg8gr

[byscriball]

What would you ask a life or career coach? . . . . #lifecoachingtips #career #startout #nglcc #outintech #careercoaching #success #leadershipcoach #executivecoach #executivecoaching #lgbt #lgbtq🌈 #coachingforlife #tuesdaytransformation #tuesdaymotivation #work #office #motivation💯 #life (at Brentwood, Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_B011AGNf/?igshid=198ca98dzx749

[phldiversity-blog]

Bridging the Gap Between Minority Businesses and The Local Business

Community Jennifer Rodriguez, President CEO (GPHCC) & Zachary Wilcha, Executive Director (IBA) http://bit.ly/2xPkHaz