Macon Pride is launching a new marketing campaign to encourage middle Georgia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents to patronize local businesses and get more involved in their local communities.

To many in this community, there is a lingering perception that the climate in local restaurants and clubs is at best intolerant, and at worst hostile to them because of their sexual orientation. Because of this perception, many of these people travel to Atlanta or Savannah seeking more comfortable environments during leisure entertainment outings.

In an effort to change this perception of local businesses, and to accurately present a truer picture of the local entertainment landscape as being one of tolerance and acceptance, Macon Pride, Inc. is conducting the following survey to assess the climate of each business in Macon for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, as both employees and patrons of this business.

If you would please take just a few minutes to answer the following questions in this email form, it would be most appreciated. If you have any questions or comments about this project, we'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to call us at 478-746-1998, or email them to us at maconpride2002@yahoo.com.

Survey:

1. Do you consider your business as a place that provides fair and equal treatment to all customers in a welcoming environment, regardless of real or perceived sexual orientation of your customers?
 Yes   No

2. To the best of your knowledge, have you ever or do you now employ people you believe are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered?
 Yes   No

3. Have you ever fired an employee because of his or her real or perceived sexual orientation?
 Yes   No

4. Does your business have a written non-discrimination policy that includes real or perceived sexual orientation?
 Yes   No

5. To the best of your knowledge, in your business have you or your staff encountered customers that are believed to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered?
 Yes, daily
 Yes, at least once a week
 Yes, at least once a month
 Yes, at least once a year
 No, none to my knowledge.

6. If you answered Yes to question 5, in your opinion do these customers receive the same level of hospitality and service as your non-gay customers?  Yes   No (explain below)
If you answered no for question 6, please explain here.

7. Have you in the past or do you currently conduct diversity training workshops for your staff?  Yes   No

8. If you answered No to question 7, would you consider a diversity training workshop for your staff?  Yes   No

9. If you receive a complaint that one of your customers was harassed, discriminated against, or otherwise treated poorly with unmistakable anti-gay behaviour by members of your staff, how would you respond to the complaint? (check all that apply)
 Ignore it the first time only
 Ignore it each time it's reported
 Question the staff member for more information and/or confirmation of the complaint
 Reprimand the staff member with a verbal warning.
 Reprimand the staff member with a written warning.
 Fire the staff member after repeated offenses only.
 Other (explain below).

10. Would you consider hosting an event in your place of business that caters primarily to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender customers?  Yes   No

11. Would you consider occassional promotional incentives such as coupons, contests, or discounts for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered customers in order to increase their patronage in your business?  Yes   No

12. Would you allow Macon Pride, Inc. to list your business as one that guarantees fair and equal treatment of all customers in a welcoming environment in our "Macon Has It All" Resources Directory (listing is free, click for details on Resources Directory in separate window)?
 Yes, please list my business in the Resources Directory
 No, I do not wish to list my business in the Resources Directory

Your name:

Title:

Business name:

Street address:

City: State: Zip:
Phone: Email:
Website:

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you may have.

(Please click the button only once, your responses are sent via email)

Macon Pride, Inc. is middle Georgia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community development and advocacy organization since 1998, and is a member of the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau since 2002.