News Queer As Food A series exploring the role of food in LGBTQ+ communities. By Mary-Frances Heck Published on June 23, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations commemorating the protest efforts at the Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village. Among others, Marsha P. Johnson, a Black gender non-conforming person, refused to be harassed by the police. The patrons of the bar fought back, and the ensuing days of riots were a turning point for the gay rights movement. Police brutality is the tip of the iceberg in reckoning with the inequalities in this country. As a food-focused person, I feel hyper-aware of the hunger issues that plague the U.S. due to prejudicial food distribution and the misplaced priorities of agricultural policy. There is enough food. We just haven't done a very good job at getting it to those who need it. As a cook and a member of the queer community, I've been interested in the intersectionality of food and drink with gender and sexuality. This Pride month—in the time of Covid and protests and long-overdue change—I've spent time considering the role of food in the queer community. How does it nourish, please, connect, and inspire queer people? What is "Queer Food"? What is "Gay Food"? Is it a cuisine? A feeling? A movement? Where is Queer Food eaten, and by whom? The idea of Queer Food, I thought, must be as big and varied as the community itself. I was curious about the perspectives of other people, and how their opinions were informed. So, Food & Wine editors reached out to a wide array of queer people in the food and entertainment industries to ask these questions. Here's what they had to say. The Dean of Queer Cooking Photo of James Beard by Bob Sibilia / Photo of John Birdsall by Bart Nagel In researching The Man Who Ate Too Much, biographer John Birdsall uncovered James Beard's letters and diaries, and got more than a glimpse into the semi-secret queer life of America's most celebrated cook. Read More. By John Birdsall, as told to Mary-Frances Heck Roundtable: What Is Queer Food? Mary-Frances Heck Several of the country's leading queer hospitality pros discuss gender in the kitchen, why gay bars aren't for everyone, and how to be more inclusive on both sides of the house. Read More. By Mary-Frances Heck When Okra Means Hope Yeji Kim The Okra Project and its founder Ianne Fields Stewart are seeking to honor the lives of Black trans people, starting with healthy, home-cooked meals. Read More. By Paul O. Mims Poem: At the Parkway Deli Eric Jeon Poet and transgender activist Stephanie Burt reflects on a moment in her childhood that revealed a truth she had yet to discover. Read More. By Stephanie Burt 'Top Chef' Winner Melissa King Finds Creative Ways to Support the Queer Community Bravo / Getty Images "I want everyone to be welcome in that space, regardless what color skin you have or what your sexuality is; food has no boundaries." Read More. By Melissa King, as told to Mary-Frances Heck Paxx Caraballo Moll: Inclusive Kitchens Are Possible and They Work Ramona Rosales The 2019 F&W Best New Chef opens up about building a queer kitchen, their trans pride, and the future of restaurants. Read More. By Paxx Caraballo Moll, as told to Maria Yagoda Lock Down, Rise Up, Make Food Courtesy of Jennifer Crawford MasterChef Canada winner Jennifer E. Crawford on finding self-created joy in Queer Food. Read More. By Kerry Manders Steven Canals Nourishes the Characters of 'Pose' One Scene at a Time Ariel Pomerantz The Pose co-creator explores food's starring role in the groundbreaking TV show. Read More. By Aaron Hutcherson 'The L Word: Generation Q' Showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan Cooks for Her Chosen Family Courtesy of Showtime "Cooking for pleasure and not having to worry about feeding your family is not my experience of what it feels like to be queer." Read More. By Marja-Lewis Ryan, as told to Mary-Frances Heck Comedian James Adomian on the Loneliness of Pride 2020 Sharan Alagna "As awful as the pandemic is, I'm realizing that I have a lot of great memories, and all I have to do is spark my memories in some way and I'll remember a lot of dear, wonderful people who I've known over the years." Read More. By James Adomian, as told to Ryan Grim 13 Cookbooks by LGBTQ+ Authors of Color to Buy Right Now Amazon From Coconuts and Collards to Masala Farm, here's what we're reading. Read More. By Justin Chapple Communal Table Podcast: Justin Burke Carter Short Photography Baker Justin Burke talks about inclusive spaces, being a queer single dad, and baking as activism. Read More. By Kat Kinsman Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit