Diversity Builder - How it All Began.....

When an accounting firm refused to work on Debbie Stanton and her partner's taxes because of their sexual orientation, she couldn't believe her ears.

Soon after, she said, the couple received a ''cold shoulder'' from a jeweler while they were out shopping in Brentwood.

''It saddens me,'' she said. ''We are in the new millennium and people will still turn away business from someone who they don't realize is just like them and may even be their neighbor.''

Stanton and her partner, Rachel, began to think, Wouldn’t it be great if there was a business professional locator or referral service on the internet?Out of their Franklin, Tennessee bonus room, Rachel and Debbie started Diversity Builder, www.diversitybuilder.com, a website that offers free searches for gay-friendly real estate agents, doctors, lawyers, travel agents, mortgage brokers, financial advisors and more.

“We basically started it out of necessity,” states Debbie Stanton. “When we really thought about it, though, we realized that by starting this referral service, it could benefit the entire community.”

Launched November 2003, the site began with referrals in only four states. With steady growth, the site now reaches nationwide, with a provider in every category in each state.

Diversity Builder is currently ranked in the top 5% of all websites on the internet. (Source: Alexa.com)

Debbie and Rachel envision the Diversity Builder website as a “combining of business professional resources for the gay, lesbian and transgender community across the nation to strengthen our community.”

“We’ve all banded together to share ideas for ways we can help the community. Things we can do for the community and ways we can give back to the community.”

One of the atypical features of diversitybuilder.com is that they will conduct a personalized search for a referral.

“If someone lives in a rural area and is seeking a gay-friendly physician or dentist, all they need do is contact us via e-mail, let us know what they need and where they are, and we will find them a referral,” explains Debbie. “Some people are still shy about asking business professionals if they are gay-friendly. We will make those difficult phone calls and ask those questions for them and let them know what we find out."

“Anyone looking for anything that is not listed on our website - whether it is a business professional, a club or a support group - is welcome to contact us with their query.”

“We talk to the providers about inclusivity and make certain they are gay-friendly. We want our clients to feel comfortable and confident visiting a referral they found on our website.”

Potential advertisers may contact the Stantons at sales@diversitybuilder.com or debbie@diversitybuilder.com or call Debbie Stanton at 615-794-5047.




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