What is the Pink Book?

The Pink Book allows you to identify those companies who stand by our community.

The Pink Book is being developed to be a mobile-friendly business directory for North Dakota and Lakes Country Minnesota featuring businesses and organizations that have implemented LGBTQ+ inclusive nondiscrimination in their policies and in their practices of running their business.

This resource is intended to be a resource for LGBTQ+ people to seek places where they feel welcome and protected in their daily lives and can be selective about where they spend their dollars.

The name of this resource was inspired by the “Green Book” guides published 1936–1966 as a resource for African American motorists to navigate traveling the Jim Crow south. In this current political climate with laws being enacted that promote discrimination and trans erasure, it is grievously important for the LGBTQ+ community to be able to seek safe and affirming spaces in their daily lives and when they travel.

Why would businesses want to openly identify as queer owned or friendly in this political climate? Aside from wanting to be part of social change and provide safe and affirming experiences for LGBTQ+ people, research has demonstrated a correlation between a commitment to diversity, fairness and equal opportunity and a vibrant economy that draws top talent and loyal customers. According to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the LGBTQ+ community spends more than $917 billion every year on goods and services, and they are more than 75% likely to change brands when they know they are LGBTQ-inclusive. Being listed in the Pink Book is good for society and good for business.

The Pink Book is brought to you by Forward 701, a network created by and for LGBTQ+ North Dakota for the purpose of queer communication, connection, and community. Forward 701 and the Pink Book are made possible by a majority of queer identifying leaders who are grateful for supportive allies in these efforts.

Would you like to be part of making the Pink Book a reality?

While businesses and organizations self-identify on an “honor system” when signing up to be part of the Pink Book, volunteers are needed to serve in maintaining that system and the trust Pink Book users. If you’d like to be a part of the Advisory Board that will set policy and conduct reviews as needed, reach out through Forward 701’s contact portal.

When will this Pink Book launch?

There is a goal of going public in the winter/spring of 2025. However, that will depend on the schedules and capacity of existing and new volunteers!