California’s Associated General Constractors’ partners with LGBTQ industry group
AGC of California partners with LGBTQ industry group that includes execs from Turner, Jacobs, Gilbane
“This is the culture that the industry is adopting and moving toward,” said the CEO of the Associated General Contractors of California.
When the Associated General Contractors of California unveiled a new partnership and initiative to help grow LGBTQ-owned construction companies earlier this month, a small number of its association firms pushed back, threatening to pull their membership.
“When we put it out there, we got hate mail from the construction community saying, ‘Stay in your lane,’” said Peter Tateishi, AGC California’s CEO. “We were told not to fall into spouting ‘liberal propaganda.’”
Tateishi noted that in general, the organization has received overwhelming support for the initiative. But for those contractors who shunned the move, Tateishi said he has an unequivocal response.
“From our perspective, if we no longer align with you, then you shouldn’t be part of AGC of California,” Tateishi said. “This is the direction our board says we’re going in, and this is the culture that the industry is adopting and moving toward. If you don’t support that, this may not be your best home anymore.”