On a daily basis, discrimination threatens to infiltrate the otherwise mundane for LGBTQ people. For LGBTQ homeowners, fear of judgment or discomfort may surface when having to take care of and repair their homes. Since the industry is overwhelmingly dominated by masculine, straight white men, queer homeowners may worry about unfriendliness from contractors and other construction professionals.
That’s not a fear for clients of Rainbow Roofers. The company, based in and servicing metro Atlanta, is the only roofing and exterior company in the country specifically for the LGBTQ community.
“There’s a lot of prejudice,” Gerry, who owns and runs the company with his partner, told Georgia Voice. “I’ve heard comments from other roofers, and a lot of times the prices are higher for LGBTQ people. You would be surprised.”
Rainbow Roofers, while a relatively new company, is the culmination of decades of experience, from Gerry, his partner, and the members of their crews. The company offers roof replacement, roof repair, fortified roofing systems, new build roof installations, roof inspections, exterior design services, emergency assistance, and insurance claims. They service all kinds of roofs, including asphalt shingles, metal, tile, slate shingles, and cedar shake siding.
Gerry’s vision is not only to make LGBTQ homeowners feel more comfortable, but also to also create a space for LGBTQ people looking to get into contracting.
“The whole goal is to hire from within the community, train young people, and give them a new career path and also give homeowners a more approachable contractor that embraces everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or race,” he said. “That’s my dream. I want something that’s very comfortable for people within the community.”
According to a 2015 survey from Architects’ Journal, 85 percent of surveyed gay contracting employees had heard homophobic comments in the workplace over the past year, 22 percentage points higher than the general construction industry average of 63 percent. Only 27 percent of gay construction employees felt comfortable being open about their sexual orientation with colleagues.
These numbers align with Gerry’s personal experience. While he said he rarely experiences discrimination on a daily basis with clients, he has felt uncomfortable around other contractors at roofing conventions and other industry events.
“People take a double look at you and wonder what business you have doing what you’re doing,” he said.
While Gerry prefers to hire within the LGBTQ community, Rainbow Roofers employs a number of allied crew members as well — several of whom are women, who as of 2022 only make up 10.9 percent of the entire U.S. construction workforce.
Above all else, Gerry is about personally taking care of clients and their homes in a friendly and open manner.
“On the house, the roof is the most important aspect,” Gerry said. “That’s what protects everything under there … I’m the boots on the ground. I’m very much a part of my job. I enjoy what I do.”
As for the future, Gerry’s greatest hope is to eventually expand and bring Rainbow Roofers to other LGBTQ homeowners and families outside of Atlanta.
To set up a free in-home consultation with Rainbow Roofers, you can visit rainbowroofers.com or call Gerry at 404-680-6777.