Alphabet – Southland’s queer and allies networking space

Alphabet is a Southland-based networking group creating a welcoming, respectful space for LGBTQI+ people in business, work, and leadership, and for allies who value inclusion and connection.

The name is a quiet nod to queer culture and the diversity within our community. Like alphabet soup, we’re made up of many identities, experiences, industries, and stories. All different, all valid, and better together.

The first gathering showed there’s real value in having a space like this in Southland. People stayed, conversations flowed, and we saw new faces who hadn’t been to Chamber events before.

Alphabet exists to:

create a safe, low-pressure environment to connect with others who “get it”
support queer professionals, business owners, employees, creatives, and leaders
foster genuine conversation, shared experiences, and professional relationships
welcome allies who want to listen, learn, and stand alongside the community

This isn’t about pitching, labels, or performative inclusion. It’s about showing up as you are, building trust, and finding connection in a region where those spaces don’t always exist, especially in professional settings.

Alphabet is intentionally informal and inclusive. Some events will be relaxed networking, others may introduce light structure, but the focus remains the same: connection, relevance, and a space where people feel comfortable.

Whether you’re out, not out, questioning, an ally, running a business, working the shop floor, climbing the ladder, or simply looking for connection, there’s a place for you here.

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