In October 2025, the AIANY LGBTQIA+ Alliance hosted, alongside the Build Out Alliance, a vital conversation on the coalition needed to expand fundamental business contracting programs to more widely include the queer community. The panel dove into how business disadvantage is measured at the federal, state, and city levels for supplier diversity and business certification programs. We examined the impact of these programs on businesses owned by women and racial minorities, and how that compares to other categories like veterans and people with disabilities, and of course, the LGBTQIA+ community. Keep watching this space for more events on this topic focused on how the design, construction, and real estate industry in New York City can join the fight for a more inclusive future. Moderated by Eric Ball, AIA (Henning Larsen) with speakers Barton Jackson II (NGLCC), Patti Harris (LicenseSure), David Kuykendall, AIA (MGDK Architects), and Jackie Aleman (JCA & Associates).