What Is OPEN TO ALL?
Open to All is the nationwide public engagement campaign to build awareness and understanding about the importance of our nation’s nondiscrimination laws—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.
Why is OPEN TO ALL needed?
As a nation, we decided long ago that when a business opens its doors to the public, it should be open to everyone, on the same terms. But shockingly, many Americans still can’t be sure they will be treated equally when they seek goods or services from businesses in their local communities.
No one should have to worry about whether they will be denied service or face hostility as they go about their daily lives. Yet far too often, we hear stories of discrimination, such as a gay couple being kicked out of an Uber, people of color facing abuse and violence in a diner, Muslim women ordered to leave a café, or people with disabilities being harassed in a restaurant.
That’s why businesses across the country are joining together to oppose discrimination and declare that they are Open to All regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and/or disability. As part of that nationwide public engagement campaign, Yelp has just launched a new “Open to All” attribute that businesses can select in their profiles.
To what does an OPEN TO ALL business commit?
Businesses that take the pledge and join the Open to All campaign are taking a stand for basic American values of fairness and equality.
The pledge is simple…
Open to All businesses pledge to:
- Maintain a welcoming and safe environment for people— including employees, visitors, customers, vendors and clients—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression
- Not discriminate against any individuals or deny them goods or services based on any of these characteristics, and to provide goods and services to everyone on the same terms.
- Display the Open to All sign in a storefront window or in a place visible to customers: (When a business signs the pledge, we will mail an Open to All window cling to display publicly).
We would love for people to know they will be welcome, rather than worry they will face hostility or even be denied service.
How would this work?
Simply sign the pledge at act.opentoall.com/business-pledge/
As an organization committed to diversity & inclusion, this is an opportunity to continue showing leadership in high-profile way in this arena, with the support of 175 organizational partners spanning multiple communities.
This is especially true for early adopters wanting to participate in the formal launch at the end of July. Additionally, as this effort grows nationally, garners media attention, and business owners see other businesses with Open to All logos, more and more will follow, increasing positive business engagement.
Who are the OPEN TO ALL coalition members?
The Open to All campaign is supported by a wide array of more than 175 national and state organizations that advocate for racial justice, civil rights, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality, health and healthcare, inclusive faith, and much more. Click here to see the full list of supporting organizations.
Together, the Open to All coalition members are working to protect and strengthen our nation’s nondiscrimination laws, and defend the bedrock principle that when a business opens its doors to the public, it should be Open to All.
How are we currently conducting business engagement?
- Recruiting large companies to publicly take the pledge.
- Reaching out to LGBT, Hispanic, African American, Asian, and other dedicated chambers of commerce, who will engage their constituents/members nationwide.
- Partnering with Freedom For All Americans, who brings over 800+ small businesses to the campaign.
- Collaborating with Out & Equal, whose network includes approx. 6,000 businesses.
- Connecting with NAACP small business networks.
- Providing toolkits to LGBT community centers where volunteers and supporters can take placards and approach local businesses and there are instructions for business sign up on the back. This effort can be applied to other communities and events, etc.