New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres will introduce a bill Thursday that would certify businesses owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-people through the city, allowing them to tap into a program to help underserved groups compete for government contracts.

The bill calls for the Department of Small Businesses Services’ Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity to certify these businesses, as the agency does already in an effort to promote equity and opportunity among minority- and women-owned businesses.

Other cities, like Nashville, Tenn., and states, including Massachusetts and California, already extend this type of certification to LGBT-owned businesses, according to Mr. Torres.

Mr. Torres, a Bronx Democrat, said LGBT businesses are missing out on contracting opportunities without certification.

“Even though the LGBTQ community creates immense economic activity to the city, and the city is known as a bastion of LGBTQ equality, there’s no certification that recognizes LGBTQ business as part of the diversity of the marketplace,” he said.