This Pride Month, restaurants and bars nationwide have been using their platform to celebrate diversity and inclusion in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
On a local level, operators and venues from Los Angeles to New York have found unique ways to spotlight the work of nonprofits in their communities and create a welcoming environment for customers.
Philadelphia’s FCM Hospitality hosted the largest Philly Gay Pride Month restaurant fundraiser – Cocktails for a Cause – at 11 properties. In addition, they hosted BOS Philly – a philanthropic event production team dedicated to bringing circuit back to the city – for a Pride party at Concourse Dance Bar, and they had Pride Day at Parks on Tap.
Washington D.C.’s Dacha Beer Garden had a cross promotion event with DC Brau, D.C.’s popular craft brewery, to reveal the winning design of its 5th annual Pride Pils. In support of The Blade Foundation and SMYAL, DC Brau partnered with local artist Chord Bezerra of District Co-Op to design this year’s can, with locals voting for their favorite art on The Washington Blade.
While these examples are all beautiful, there are Do’s and Don’ts for bars and restaurants surrounding Pride Month.
Avram Hornik, owner of FCM Hospitality in Philadelphia, said his best advice is to be creative, be fun, be authentic and be inclusive. “Pride is a celebration of inclusivity; therefore, events should also highlight that,” she explained. “Talk to your team and ask how they want to celebrate and honor Pride Month – what are their ideas, engage LGBTQ+ team members and allies, and use events and Pride Month to bring together an internal community – it only makes things more authentic and more meaningful. If you are doing a benefit and tying in a charity, pick one that has impact locally and meaning to your team – and aim to develop a connection with them that hopefully can go beyond just pride month.”
Do not just throw a rainbow on something and call it Pride. Hornik said there are countless ways to engage guests, you just have to find what works for you and your venue – as well as the community you operate in and are supporting.
Educate your staff and team members on related topics and issues, especially if you feel as though it is not in their everyday wheelhouse. For example, Hornik said the assumed gender of a guest when using a restroom or using pronouns when addressing a group. Switching “Hi guys” or “Good evening, ladies” with “Hi friends” is an easy way to assure the comfort of all involved.
More Suggested Do's and Don'ts
Gay business owner Dmitri Chekaldin, co-owner of two Dacha Beer Garden and restaurants in Washington, D.C., along with co-owner, Ilya Alter, offered his do's:
- Find like-minded local small businesses to help make your Pride effort a bigger and more interesting occasion or celebration. Reach out to your town's craft makers, food makers and artists and invite them to display their wares.
- Use this annual opportunity to help LGBTQ+ nonprofits fundraise as much as possible every day of Pride month.
- Acknowledge and celebrate your LGBTQ+ staff and their children, whether human or otherwise.
- Do not forget to conduct a refresher training for your security personnel. They are the face of your establishment, and they need to be cognizant of Pride month dynamics.
Chekaldin’s don’t’s:
- Don't just put up a Pride flag and call it a day… or a month. Put some thought into what you really want to accomplish and how to make it happen. Transparency is important to customers, so do not put up obligatory signs or posts on social media about Pride Month if you are really just trying to cover the bases.
- Don't be exclusionary – meaning, support the Pride community, but at the same time continue to welcome regulars and tourists that may not be fully aware of Pride Month.
Cara Patricia is an advanced sommelier, CEO and co-founder of DECANTsf, a woman-, queer- and BIPOC-owned bottle shop and bar in San Francisco.
Patricia's do's:
- Recognize your privilege! Always.
- Celebrate authentically, whether as a queer person or as an ally.
- Give queer staff the opportunity to have a voice in any special promotions, features, and any other ways you're showing support for Pride in June.
- Give queer staff space during this time, including honoring time-off requests, shift switches, and time to live their lives out loud.
- Feature your queer staff on your social media and ask them what pride means to THEM (with their consent and ONLY if it’s safe for them to be publicly out).
- Do the research and find LGBTQ+ businesses to support. You can stock the bar with queer-owned wine, beer, spirits and non-alcoholic brands, and keep them around all year long.
- Encourage customers to give cold hard cash to great queer organizations.
- Create a seasonal Pride cocktail for the menu and donate the proceeds of each sale to a local queer youth arts foundation. Waive a private dining fee for a queer nonprofit organization’s staff outing. Have live music? Invite drag performers or queer musicians into the space. There are plenty of ways to put money back into the community!
Patricia’s don’t’s:
- Don’t Rainbow-wash for one day or month of the year. Pride is 24/7/365, so show your support for the LGBTQ+ community all year long.
- Don’t support businesses in your supply chain that actively donate to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations or politicians (put your money where your mouth is). Ordering from U-Line for your to-go bags? Maybe it’s time to stop, she advised. Have Bulleit on your backbar? Should you? Take a minute to think about how your business’ dollars are contributing to the negative impact on LGBTQ+ lives and equal rights in America, and see if you can make any improvements in your supply chain.
- Don’t enforce a strict dress code during Pride parade days. It’s hot and sticky out there; maybe that’s a day where folks doesn’t need to wear a jacket, or basketball shorts and sneakers are allowed.
- Don’t gatekeep queerness. Pride is about inclusion, not exclusivity. Open the doors regardless of race, gender identity, class, etc. Invite everyone and thank them for coming.
'Remember Why'
Matt Montrose worked as a wine director and sommelier alongside numerous celebrity chefs and acclaimed beverage programs, such as Atelier Crenn, Bar Crenn, Michael Mina, Manresa, and Chez TJ. He advises operators themselves, as well as their team members, to avoid overindulging, partying irresponsibly and, of course, drinking and driving during Pride Month.
“This is a very lively month for reveling and celebrating, but it's very easy to overdo it,” said Montrose, who's the CEO of OMVino, an international marketing and communications agency that specializes in working with food, beverage and lifestyle clients. “Be smart, be responsible, don't do anything illegal, and make sure you are enjoying the month's activity with a group of friends that you trust. Keep an eye on one another and keep each other safe.”
Another big do is to remember the reason for the celebrations – this month isn't strictly for partying. “Remember why we are here,” shared Montrose. “Pride Month is meant to celebrate the wonderful diversity in the world and to acknowledge and recognize the different people that make the LGBTQIA+ community as beautiful as we are. Many people before us have fought and died for our rights to exist. Recognize, respect, and never forget the massive sacrifice our predecessors made for the future we live in. We still have a long fight ahead of us.”
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