More than 300 small businesses, including Dallas-based Liberty Burger (pictured above), are standing together with one clear message: Texas must stay open for business to everyone. These small businesses, spanning from every region of the state, watched North Carolina’s economy plummet after lawmakers passed harmful anti-LGBTQ legislation – and now, they’re raising their voices to ensure Texas avoids similar devastation.
We, the undersigned, are Texas small business owners. We are at the heart of the Texas economy, and of Texas communities. We come from industries and communities all over the state. We employ local people, we pay taxes, and we work hard to make a living and make a difference in the lives of our employees and customers.
That’s why we watched what unfolded in North Carolina with a sense of dread. Experts put economic damage from the discriminatory HB2 law at $395 million and rising. That damage came from the loss of corporate investments, talent, performances, sporting events, and conventions.
What’s not often talked about is that every single one of those losses impacts countless small businesses. Many of us rely on a thriving tourism economy. Many of us are the vendors that benefit when a bigger company creates jobs in our communities. These economic impact figures aren’t just numbers to us. They represent a direct threat to our ability to do business.
We love Texas and we’re proud to call it home. We want to continue to provide great jobs and great experiences for our employees and our customers. That’s why we oppose any Texas legislation – broad or narrow – that would legalize discrimination against any group. That kind of legislation doesn’t just go against our values to be welcoming to everyone, it jeopardizes the businesses we’ve worked so hard to create, and it threatens the jobs and livelihoods of everyday Texans.
We can’t afford the losses seen in North Carolina, Indiana, and elsewhere. We want Texas to stay open for business for everyone. We hope our elected officials will remember the small business community when they go to work.
{The Meet Shop} • Dallas
1820 Productions • Irving
1Up Repairs • Austin
20K Group • Houston
2nd2Nunn Photography • Dallas
3 Girls Soap Company • Cibolo
A New Home 4 U, LLC • Fort Worth
A&N Realty • San Antonio
Abel’s Machining Service LLC • Stafford
ABH Hospitality Management • San Antonio
ABOUT MAGAZINE | ABOUT NEWS • HOUSTON
Absolute All Sports • Houston
Acceleros • Austin
ActionCOACH Houston • Bellaire
Adams, London & Weiss LLC • Houston
Advanced Skin Fitness • Dallas
Avery O Design • Austin
Aguillon & Associates LLC • San Antonio
Al Daniels Construction, Inc. • Dallas
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema • Austin
Alazan Builders, LP • Corpus Christi
Alliance Abroad Group • Austin
Allison Gregory Fine Art • Austin
Alt Creative • Austin
Alternus Group, LLC • Dallas
AMR Surgical Assisting Enterprises Inc • Houston
Anderson & Associates Financial, LLC • Plano
Apartment World • Houston
APB TRAVEL • Royse City
Apollo Games, LLC • Round Rock
Appleseed Partners • Austin
ATLANTIS Productions LLC • Dallas
Aus-Some Properties • Austin
Austin City Dental • Austin
Austin Music People • Austin
Austin Pet Stylist • Austin
Austin Psychiatric Clinic • Austin
Autonomous Press • Fort Worth
Avant Hospitality Service Advisors • Dallas
B. D. Riley’s Irish Pub & Restaurant • Austin
Barracuda PR • El Paso
Beans Cafe CoffeeHouse • Houston
Beyond Therapy • Austin
Bicycle Sport Shop • Austin
Big Grey Horse Media • Sunrise Beach
Bison Guitars & FX • Austin
Bling All Over • Wharton
Bluefree Design Group • Little Elm
Blue Hero Enterprises LLC • Houston
Blue Steele Solutions • Denton
Blue Willow Bookshop • Houston
Blume, Faulkner & Skeen, PLLC • Richardson
BOCA • Austin
Bocci Engineering, LLC • Houston
Bourgeois Media & Consulting • Austin
Brain+Trust Partners • Austin
Brattle Publishing Group, LLC • Dallas
Brazosport Muffler • Freeport TX
Bridge Alliance, LLC • Dallas
Broad Street Co. • Austin
Building Professionals of Texas Janitorial Service • Houston
Bukowski Law Firm, PC • Austin
Bunkhouse • Austin
Burnt Ends • San Antonio
C&G Photography • San Antonio
Cavanaugh Quintanilla, PLLC • Austin
Center of Gravity Strategies • San Antonio
CHA Law Group, PC • Austin
Cinco Puntos Press • El Paso
CMA Brand Presence and Design • Houston
Commercial Research Analysis, Inc. • Dallas
Concho Valley OB/Gyn • San Angelo
Concho Valley Errand Services, LLC • San Angelo
Conquest Property Management, Inc. • Tyler
Cool Corks • Dallas
Counter Culture Restaurant • Austin
Createscape Coworking • Austin
Creative Suitcase • Austin
Cummings Ranch • Gatesville
D&R WASH AND DRY, LLC • Austin
Dallas Voice | OUT North Texas • Dallas
Daniel’s Moving and Storage • El Paso
Darren Bates, LLC • Austin
DataKarte Technologies • Pflugerville
DeckSavvy, LLC • San Antonio
Deer Oaks – A Behavioral Health Organization • San Antonio
Denton Dough • Denton
Denton Yoga Center • Denton
Destination El Paso • El Paso
DHD Films • Dallas
Dialog • Austin
Diamond B Farms • Somerville
Donatti Translation & Interpreting • Houston
Donna Ross Ballet • Frisco
Dr Susie Wolbe Educational Services • Rowlett
Dress Shop App • Austin
Earth in Common Design, LLC • San Antonio
Earthwise Produce • Denton
East Dallas Speech Services • Dallas
East Side Pies • Austin
Ed-U-CARE, Inc. • Dallas
eiPi10, LLC • Fort Worth
Electrology 3000 • Lewisville
Elettore • Dallas
Ellenkay Design • Austin
Ellie’s Green Burials LLC • Austin
Emerald Events & Weddings • Allen
EMS Online Training Plus • El Paso
EnFocus Strategies • Houston
Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas • Austin
Envision Advisory • Dallas
Eric Edward Schell Photography • Houston
Exclusive HouseSitting • Carrollton
Family Matters Counseling Center • Fort Worth
Featherstone Garden Design • McKinney
Feldenkrais Center of Houston • Houston
Fernandez & Company P.C. • Fort Worth
Flood & Flood • Corpus Christi
FLY & LOVE Yoga Lounge • Tyler
Forbidden Fruit • Austin
Forbrich & Associates, LLC • San Antonio
Four Stars Plumbing Co. • Carrollton
Foy Inc • Farmersville
Funeral Financial LLC • Fort Worth
Fuzzy Muzzles • Dallas
Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Phillips LLP • Austin
GlobalWrites • Houston
Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce • Austin
Greatest Common Factory • Austin
Green Space Arts Collective • Denton
Greer’s Diamond L Ranch, Inc. • Arlington,TX
GSD&M • Austin
Guadalupe Soccer Academy • New Braunfels
Hacienda del Lago Wedding and Event Center • Volente
Hair Majesty Custom Edge Salon • Fort Worth
Hakuna Matata Dog Resort • The Colony
Handy Ma’ams • Cedar Park
Hause of Nails • Round Rock
Hausman Chiropractic & Acupuncture • Austin
He’s For Me • Austin
Hill Shade RV Park • Gonzales
Home Slice Pizza • Austin
Hopfields • Austin
IkardWynne LLP • Austin
Imperative – Bulletproof Background Screening • Fort Worth
InnerLink Design Inc. • Sugar Land
International Academy of Music and the Arts, The IAMA Coffee House • San Antonio
J & D Entertainment, LLC • Houston
J Mark Everett, Attorney at Law • Austin
JAC Specialty Distribution • Lewisville
James Watson Real Estate Team • Austin
JoAnn McKenzie LLC • Austin
Jolin Promo • Fort Worth
Jorgeson Pittman LLP • Austin
JPC Enterprises Inc. • Grand Prairie
Kaplan Law Firm • Austin
King Law Group PLLC • Dripping Springs
King River Ranch, LLC • Johnson City
Kristen Capps Attorney at Law • Houston
La Botanica • San Antonio
Lakeway Lawn & Garden • Lakeway
Law Office of Dan Dworin • Austin
Law Office of David C. Cole, P.C. • Dallas
Law Office of Katie Sprinkle, P.C. • Carrollton
Law Office of Rachel Crutchfield, PLLC • Austin
Law Office of Walter S. Cowger • Dallas
Law Offices of Lyda Ness Garcia • El Paso
Liberty Burger • Dallas
Lifestyle Excellence Opportunities • Houston
Lil’ Monkeyz Cakes • Garland
Lincoln Factoring LLC • Fort Worth
Lindsey’s Pharmacy • Irving
Lisa BARNES Fitness, LLC • Austin
Lofgren Media, Inc. • Frisco
Lou Weaver Consulting • Houston
LUX | a tanning spa • Dallas
Mammoth Recruiting • Austin
MapleStar Aviation • Tomball
Marcus, Fairall, Bristol + Co., PLLC • El Paso
Marpe Global • Dallas
McNary & Company Realtors • Bedford
Mercury Mambo • Austin
Michelle Mew- MGroup Get It Done! • Dallas
Midtown-Independence Title • Austin
Minuteman Press – San Antonio on Wye • San Antonio
Misty Morning Bakery • Austin
Mitosis Management, LLC • McKinney
MM Solar Advisory • Dallas
More Fun Comics and Games • Denton
Mostyn Law • Houston
Moxie Realty Group LLC • Austin
Murder By The Book • Houston
My East Texas • Palestine
My Retirement Edge, LLC • Houston
N3 Coaching Ltd • Bellaire
Nectar Wine Bar and Ale House • San Antonio
Nessel Development • Dallas
Net Lease Solutions LLC • Dallas
Nice Winery • Houston
Nimble Worldwide • Dallas
Noetic Outcomes Consulting, LLC • Austin
Norma’s Hair Designs • San Antonio
Notley • Austin
Nova Lume • Lewisville
OBOX Solutions • Dallas
OCI Group • San Antonio
O’Connell & Soifer LLP • Austin
Oeftering Property Management LLC • Dallas
One World Day School • Denton
Pacha Organic Cafe • Austin
Pam Greenstone, M.A., L.P.C. • Austin
Paschall Bar • Denton, TX
Paula Buls, LCSW • Austin, TX
PawFund Animal Rescue • Houston
Paws & More, LLC • Austin
PCO Div II, Inc. • Baytown
Pendlebury Brew • San Antonio
PennPacific Onshore, LLC • Austin
Pensionmark • Austin
Pen Ultimate Productions • Ft. Worth
Persona Legal Resources, LLC • Houston, TX
Pets Personified • San Marcos
Phyllis Wolper, Realtor • Denton, TX
Pinnacle Audit Group, Inc. • Dallas
Pixie Pelland Photography and Illustration • Ft. Worth
Planet San Marcos Real Estate Management • San Marcos
Pocket Watch Books, LLC • Arlington
Polycot Associates • Austin
Porchlight Properties • Bryan
Power Of Two Promotions • Austin
Presidium • Dallas
Prime Premiere, Inv. • Plano
Propulsion Labs • Plano
Public City LLC • Dallas / Austin
Pulse Interactive • Austin
Rainbow Spiritual Resources • Dallas
Ranchman’s • Ponder
Red Media Group • Austin
Red Velvet Events, a Global DMC Partner • Austin
Renee Baker Professional Counseling • Dallas
Replay Games • Austin
Resource Printing Services • San Antonio
Revival Vintage • Austin
Reynolds Consulting Services Group • Sherman
Rhiannon’s Closet • Yes! Carrollton
Rhodes Holdings LLC • Sugar Land
Rivard Report • San Antonio
RNA Financial, LLC • Fort Worth
ROKA • Dallas
Rose City Eclectic • Tyler
Rudner Law Offices • Dallas
Salon Studio Dean McNeely • Houston
Savannah Stoute Counseling • Austin
Savrick, Schumann, Johnson, McGarr & Shirley, L.L.P. • Austin
Scentsible LLC • Addison
Secure Wireless • Frisco
seriousmedia.net • San Antonio
Sexology Institute • San Antonio
Shea Writing and Training Solutions, Inc. • Houston
SlyCat Designs • Arlington
Snapology Austin • Austin
Social Impact Architects • Dallas
Sociosights Press • Austin
SoCo Counseling • Austin
SoftMatch • Austin
Soma Massage Therapy • Denton
Source Spring • Austin
Spade Design – Digital Marketing Agency • Tyler
Spider Road Press • Houston
Spinal decompression and Chiropractic Center • Denton
Staff Perm • Dallas
Starship Dynamics • Dallas
Stephen Kubenka Architects • Austin
Stitch Texas • Austin
Stormborn Enterprises • Dallas
Strother & Company • Buda
Studio 201 • Lufkin
studioSHORTALL • Dallas
SunDollar A/C & Heat, LLC • Frisco
Supreme Lending Tylman Branch • Dallas
Surety Capital Corp • Fort Worth
Sweet Chela’s • San Antonio
Tam Cummings LLC • Purmela
Texas Pride Realty • Plano
TexStyles Designer Fabric Showroom • Austin
The Austin Shaker • Austin
The Bug Master • Austin
The Friendly Spot Ice House • San Antonio
The Granite Girls LLC • Tyler
The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC • San Antonio
The Pauer Group, LLC • Dallas
The Point Park & Eats • San Antonio
Therapeuticuddleconnections.com • Keller
Three Bishops • Dallas
Thunderpaws Canine Solutions, LLC • Seguin
Tire Swing LLC • Burleson
Toombs LLC • Fort Worth
Tricky Falls • El Paso
Trybal Performance LLC • Houston
Umbrella Firm • Austin
UnLtd USA • Austin
Vapor Joy • Austin
Veggie Noodle Co • Austin
VelomobileUSA, LLC • Midland
Viridian Motor Vehicles, LLC • Dallas
Visualize • Austin
Walker Keeling LLP • Victoria
Webber + Studio, Architects • Austin
Wendy Krispin Caterer • Dallas
WhichBox Media • Dallas
WhichBox Media • Dallas
White Hat Ops • Houston
White Rhino Financial LLC • Houston
Willem-Aidan, LLC • Johnson City
Winshire Green LLC • Austin
Woollard Nichols & Associates • Austin
Wyatt Brand, Inc. • Austin
x-SITE-d Web Design • Garland
X-Treme Tan Sun Spray Spa • Cedar Park
Yoga Volta • Austin
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