The association's stated mission is "to combine business development, leadership and social action to expand economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community and those who support equality for all.
[5] In 2009, GSBA was the host affiliate chamber for NGLCC's Sixth Annual Out for Business Conference, held in Seattle.
This referendum would have overturned the state's third and final expansion of domestic partnership law passed by the legislature earlier that year.
GSBA was among 282 coalition partners of Washington Families Standing Together, the organization that led the campaign to approve Referendum 71.
The forum has featured candidates from local races such as city and county councils as well as larger offices including Washington Governor and U.S. House of Representatives.
[10] In 2009, then mayoral candidate Mike McGinn was criticized for his "rude" treatment of GSBA staff members while attending that year's event.
[12] In 1998, Richard C. Rolfs (a Wenatchee-native and longtime gay rights activist) bequeathed $200,000 to the GSBA Scholarship Fund, establishing an endowment in his name.