contents

Welcome from the Chair 06

List of Sponsors 08

Catering with a ‘WOW’ Factor 10

Creating a Safe Space for the
LGBTQ+ Community to Find
Wedding Vendors 12

Customer Experience Plus
Inclusion Equals Love  14

Your Questions Answered about
the Respect for Marriage Act and
more 18

What You Need to Know Before Your Honeymoon or Destination
Wedding 20

An Inclusive Partnership 22

Light Shines on Love at
Unity Village 26

Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 5961, Kansas City, MO 64171

(816) 474-3558

www.maglcc.org

This is a MetroMedia, A Town Square Publications Company, publication created and produced for the
Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Copyright © 2022

MetroMedia, a company of Town Square Publications, LLC.

14300 Kenneth Rd., Ste. 210

Leawood, KS 66224 913.951.8413

www.MetroMediaPublishers.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and MetroMedia assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and MetroMedia is prohibited.

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Pre-Production Manager | Stefanie Nugara

Senior Editor | Denise Elam

Senior Account Executive | Tammie Easson

Our Affiliation To The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The Mid-America GLCC is a proud affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce is a long established business advocate and a direct link between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business owners, corporations and governments. There are 52 National LGBT Chamber of Commerce affiliate chambers across the United States and Internationally.

Welcome

As we welcome 2023 with great excitement for what the year and future ahead hold, we are extremely excited to bring to life the Wedding and Events Coalition’s (WECo) first edition, our contribution to The Mid-America LGBTQ+ Business Magazine series.

Throughout these pages we feature several WECo member organizations and individuals aligned with Our Mission: WECo exists to create an open and affirming vendor community through education, connection, and influence. Serving our community, with a specific focus around weddings and events.

WECo came to life thanks to our fellow WECo Board member, longtime Chamber member, and LGBTQ+ ally, Morgan Miller (page 12-13). Realizing that LGBTQ+ couples still face barriers in their wedding/events planning, Morgan took the initiative during the COVID-19 lockdown to put into action what we know as WECo today. For that we are grateful and appreciate what she was able to bring alive with the help of fellow members and professionals in the industry.

Although the United States has seen many great legislative strides for the LGBTQ+ community in the past few years, including President Joe Biden signing the Respect for Marriage Act on December 13th, 2022 (page 18), the LGBTQ+ communities fight for equal rights and protections are not over. WECo continues to monitor matters that impact our community, both at the state and federal level, along with the broader Mid-America LGBTQ+ Chamber.

We look forward to a wonderful 2023 for everyone, and our excited to continue providing resources, networking, events, and tools to all the organizations and individuals aligned with WECo’s Mission.

With great respect and regards,

Josh Volland-Burns

Board President, WECo

Owner & Officiant,
Wedley Weddings, LLC

Catering with a ‘WOW’ Factor

Dutzel’s Catering & Events curates perfect menus to make your vision come to life

If you want your wedding reception to be one guests will definitely remember, Dutzel’s Catering & Events is up to the task.

“We specialize in providing experiences. We can enhance any event and give it a ‘wow’ factor,” said company Founder Jeff Dutzel.

As but one example, Dutzel mentioned a gathering where guests would ring a bell near a wall, then a hand would come through a hole to present an appetizer.

Over the years, Dutzel has catered an array of functions ranging from intimate affairs for 25 guests to a big corporate barbecue bash attended by 1,000 hungry employees.

Dutzel founded his business in 2008, which is based in Independence, Missouri, when a local nonprofit asked him to cater a small event for 50. Happy with Dutzel’s quality work, the organization then booked Dutzel for a gathering of 250. Word spread, and more work followed.

Dutzel continued to work his day job as an educator until 2019, when catering became his full-time calling. Dutzel’s Catering weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, with small wedding receptions picking up in fall 2020, bigger wedding celebrations following in 2021, then companies gradually beginning to hold events again in 2022.

In 2022 alone, Dutzel’s Catering worked 375 events, 70 of them wedding receptions. Of those, 100 were LGBTQ+ community-related functions, including eight LGBTQ+ wedding parties.

In fact, Dutzel’s Catering served guests at the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce Business Pride Awards at the Kansas City Club in June, 2022, where Dutzel’s received the Business Enterprise of the Year honor.

“We also pride ourselves on our customer service. We have a full team (six full-time and 25 part-time employees) ready to meet and match your event needs,” Dutzel said. “With years of experience, we are ready to curate the perfect menu to make your vision come to life."

For more information about Dutzel’s Catering & Events, see www.dutzelscatering.com, call (816) 323-0716 or email info@dutzelscatering.com.

Creating a Safe Space for the LGBTQ+ Community to Find Wedding Vendors

Morgan Miller helps create Mid America LGBT’s Wedding and Events Coalition

By Dave Hoffman

Morgan Miller may have retired from wedding photography in 2021, but her sense of camaraderie has kept her active as an ally in the wedding space.

Miller grew up in the Kansas City area and studied photography at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. After a stint assisting photographers and stylists at Hallmark Cards, she fell into photographing weddings, which she did for 20 years. During this time, she noticed the discrepancy in laws surrounding marriage.

“I noticed early on in my career that many of my clients couldn’t get married in Missouri, so I schlepped all over the country because they couldn’t get married here,” Miller said. “I was born straight, and I didn’t think it was fair that I could get married wherever I wanted to whomever I wanted. It opened my eyes to inequality.”

Recognizing the discrimination faced by her friends and clients, and driven by a desire to be the best ally she could be, Miller decided to join the Mid America LGBT Chamber in 2015.

“My question was, could I join if I wasn’t LGBT?” said Miller. “They said, ‘Of course! We love our allies!” and welcomed me with open arms. It was great to join this group which had been marginalized for so long.”

Miller quickly became an ambassador for the Chamber — a role where she acts as a host to make people feel welcomed and promote the Chamber, and in 2019 was awarded Ally of the Year.

“I was very honored to receive that,” she said. I had only been at the Chamber for four short years. I was humbled that people would think of me.”

When the COVID-19 lockdowns hit, she decided to retire from photographing weddings to refocus on corporate and small business branding as well as headshots and family photography. It was during this downtime that she thought of forming the Chamber’s Wedding & Event Coalition (WECo).

This Chamber subgroup provides a structure for couples planning a wedding to find friendly vendors.

“We require vendors to take DEI training each year — there is a lot of rainbow washing in the industry,” Miller said. “We require them to take training every year, so our database is the only certified and vetted database in the Midwest.”

Miller also wanted a safe space for those in the LGBTQ+ community to find vendors for their weddings.

“I technically shot my last wedding in 2021, but I still get inquiries. People will ask if I’m LGBTQ+ friendly, and I hate that people still feel that they have to preface it that way,” she said.

For more information about Morgan Miller Photography, visit www.morganmiller.photography.

Customer Experience Plus Inclusion Equals Love

True Society by Belle Vogue Bridal delivers the ultimate wedding dress experience for brides-to-be

By Dave Hoffman

For many brides, selecting a dress is more than just a shopping experience, it’s part of the overall wedding experience. That’s why True Society bridal stores emphasize their relationships with the bride above all else.

“True Society is a collective of premier bridal shops focused on delivering the ultimate wedding dress shopping experience to brides of all styles, shapes, and sizes,” said Retail Development Executive Abby Smith. “We believe in helping brides showcase their personal style that speaks to and celebrates their true selves.”

True Society by Belle Vogue Bridal operates two stores in the Kansas City area, one in the Crossroads District and the other in Lenexa, Kansas. The two stores are part of a global collective that includes six stores in the United States and two in Europe.

But don’t let the global reach fool you. The true magic of the collective is personal. Each relationship begins with a phone call before the bride enters the store.

“We get to know our brides ahead of their appointment so we can curate their dream dress shopping experience,” Smith said.. “We get to know gown styles they’re interested in and the vibe of the wedding so when the bride comes in, we’ve done so much preparation that their experience is enjoyable and seamless. We play an important role in one of the most magical and memorable moments of their life, so we put a lot of care into the bride’s journey with us.”

True Society also emphasizes body positivity and inclusivity, making great efforts to cater to every need, style and background. This commitment led them to join the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce in 2021.

“We wanted to meet new people with the same values,” Smith said. “It’s important we’re all like-minded allies working toward making Kansas City a more inclusive place. I also valued the ability to take part in different trainings the Chamber has to offer.”

Ultimately, there is one value above all that defines True Society.

“I love that True Society celebrates love,” Smith said. “All kinds of love stories — every day, in every way. It’s great to be a part of their celebrations.”

For more information, visit truesociety.com.

Advice for Queer Couples Considering Marriage

Your questions answered about the Respect for Marriage Act and more

By Steven Craig Lindsey

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden and it ushered in a new era of near-equality for queer people. But it also raises several questions. To answer some of the top queries, we turned to Joshua Volland-Burns, owner/officiant of Wedley Weddings, LLC (https://www.wedleyweddings.com/), a man who’s been officiating weddings of all types for 13 years.

Didn’t the Supreme Court already make same-sex marriages legal?

Volland-Burns: It was not until June 26, 2015 that both Missouri and Kansas began to recognize same-sex or queer marriages, and only following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

How will the Respect for Marriage Act affect LGBTQIA+ couples getting married in Missouri/Kansas?

Volland-Burns: The significance of The Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) is that we are adding a level of legislative surety to the queer community at a federal level, regardless of what rulings may occur in the future from the U.S. Supreme Court. What the RFMA will not do is require any state to allow same-sex marriage, but it will require that each state as well as the Federal government respect all queer and interracial marriages, regardless of the state in which the marriage license was issued.

How will RFMA help queer citizens of Missouri/Kansas?

Volland-Burns: RFMA plays a significant role if for any reason the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn previous rulings on Obergefell. RFMA would still stand as Federal law. This is extremely important for queer couples on the Missouri side, as the State of Missouri has not made same-sex marriages legal.

What specifically should an LGBTQIA+ couple take into consideration when getting married in Missouri/Kansas?

Volland-Burns: Neither the state of Kansas nor Missouri have laws that prevent businesses from refusing service (discriminating) to individuals based on one’s sexual orientation at the state level. Additionally, there is currently no law at the federal level protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Are there any safeguards that a couple should get that will provide further protection?

Volland-Burns: There are additional legal steps and protections that all couples should consider to ensure they have their affairs in order, including General Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Wills, Trusts, Designation of Beneficiaries, and Second Parent Adoption. I recommend that queer couples especially consider finding an LGBTQIA+ friendly attorney that practices Family Law. Kansas City has a wonderful resource for this with the LGBTQ Bar Association of Greater Kansas City (https://www.lgbtqbarkc.org/).

Advice for Queer Couples Considering Marriage

What you need to know before your
honeymoon or destination wedding

Destination weddings and honeymoons will forever ensure that queer couples are no different than their heterosexual counterparts in a desire to celebrate their love someplace often far, far away. Jill Davies, founder/professional dream weaver at Suitcase of Dreams Travel (https://www.suitcaseofdreamstravel.com/) has solid advice based on her 12 years in the travel business.

What travel safety tips do you have in general for people in the LGBTQIA+ community traveling to other countries?

Davies: Research the political, religious, and cultural norms of the destination. Know the culturally appropriate and acceptable displays of affection of the country/region (this goes for any traveler, not specific to LGBTQIA+). Use LGBTQIA+ welcoming and affirming service providers and brands with affirming language in their mission statement. Honor your gender expression while adhering to local customs. Travel with legal documentation confirming your gender marker and a doctor's note if you've had gender-affirming surgery. Connect with other LGBTQIA+ via social media and apps before traveling. Travel with an organized group of other LGBTQIA+ people.

What special considerations should be made for queer couples wanting a destination wedding in another country?

Davies: Couples should consider whether or not they want a symbolic or legally binding ceremony. Some couples choose to wed legally in their home country and have a symbolic ceremony in another country. It is still important to know the country's laws and cultural considerations even if choosing a symbolic ceremony. For legal ceremonies, many countries have blood test requirements and minimum days in the country before the ceremony. The U.S. Embassy or the country’s tourism office may be the best source of information on legalities.

And what about special considerations for the honeymoons?

Davies: Expressing your love with your new spouse is of the utmost importance! Select a destination where you will have the least amount of concern, anxiety, and rules so you can be free to be authentic with your partner both publicly and privately.

Is there an online resource where people can find the latest laws in different countries where being LGBTQIA+ may be illegal?

Davis: Either iglta.org (https://www.iglta.org/plan-your-trip/travel-guides/same-sex-marriage-guide) or hrw.org (http://www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights).

What countries are great places for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to have a destination wedding or honeymoon where they can truly be themselves?

Davis: Spain (Barcelona), Portugal (Island of Madeira, Lisbon, Porto, Algarve), The Netherlands, Belgium/Germany, Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Mexico City), and Western Europe.

Any other advice specific to LGBTQIA+ people?

Davis: Look for the The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) logo when seeking a travel advisor or any travel-related services. IGLTA vets and screens all member companies.

An Inclusive Partnership

Marquee Holds up Ultrapom’s
Commitment to WECo

By Dave Hoffman

Carolyn Campbell Schwartz hit the big time when she partnered her events company, Ultrapom Event Rental, with Marquee Event Rentals, expanding her capacity for providing event rentals and bringing a heavy hitter into the Chamber’s Wedding and Events Coalition (WECo).

As a member of WECo, Marquee upholds a commitment to be an ally to LGBTQ+ clients. This includes engaging their management and sales teams with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training — which has a considerable influence on the region since the company has locations in five different cities.

“I was excited to bring Marquee into the Chamber as I’ve been a member for a while,” Schwartz said. “It’s important to have a coalition where customers can know they’re being treated fairly and equitably. Part of partnering with Marquee was them making the commitment to WECo’s mission, which is great because Marquee is 10 times larger than my company was in Kansas City alone.”

Schwartz has been a Chamber member for six years, and will continue to represent Marquee going forward.

Marquee coming on board as a Chamber member is an indication of the growing events coalition within the community.

“I know people who have used the WECo directory as a resource for finding the vendors for their weddings. We’re having a wedding expo for LGBTQ+ people and allies,” Schwartz said. “We also have networking events and educational events for all of our members.”

Being a part of the larger company also allowed Schwartz to expand her capacity as an events professional.

“We do rentals, and rent everything anybody could possibly want from tables to chairs to linens,” she said. “It’s exhausting running a rental company, and it’s a great opportunity to be part of a larger organization. I was able to grow more with access to their capital and operations. My small company couldn’t make that leap without their help.”

For more information, visit www.marqueerents.com and www.ultrapom.com.

Light Shines on
Love at Unity Village

1,200-acre campus provides indoor and outdoor weddings for LGBTQ+ couples

By Dave Hoffman

Unity is a spiritual organization striving to practice radical inclusion. Their 1,200-acre campus at Unity Village provides a space for special events in the region and serves as world headquarters for the Unity publishing and prayer work begun in 1889. As they’ve stepped up their support for the LGBTQ+ community, they’ve found that the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce has expanded their reach.

“The Chamber puts us into the community in a larger way,” said Mark Fuss, vice president of outreach and engagement for Unity World Headquarters. “We made a commitment about 10 years ago to get involved with the LGBTQ+ community, and we helped sponsor the Creating Change Conference for the National LGBTQ Task Force.”

Unity Village incorporated as a town of its own. Its central courtyard boasts the largest fountain installation in Kansas City – a city known for its fountains – along with an award-winning rose garden. It’s a popular destination for weddings and events.

Since joining the Chamber, Unity Village has hosted both indoor and outdoor weddings, as well as board meetings, WECo events, Chamber mixers, retreats, and other events. The organization connects with the community through a uniquely American ideology.

“The theology came out of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Transcendentalism, and the Healing Movement,” said Fuss. “One of our ministers who recently passed used to talk about it as ‘radical wholeness.’”

There are 600 Unity churches worldwide (450 in the United States), and it is part of the New Thought Movement, an expression of religion that dates back to the late 1800s.

“I think what sets us apart from most mainstream religions is that instead of viewing people as being born into original sin, we view people as coming from original blessing,” Fuss said.

The group is interdenominational. It’s rooted in Christianity, but open to people of all faiths as well as no faiths. Unity teaches that “everyone is divine and shines with the light of God.”

For more information, visit www.unityvillage.org.