The LGBTQIA+ movement is still very active today,
as the community fights for protection against discrimination, representation, access to healthcare, and safe spaces to congregate without fear of violence. There is a wonderfully robust population of talented LGBTQIA+ people that comprise our industry, and in the spirit of Pride, I wanted to discuss some super easy ways bars and restaurants can create safe and healthy spaces for their LGTBQIA+ workforce and guests. We will start with removing gendered language from our drinks and communication.
First of all, there’s no such thing as a girly drink or a manly drink. Spirits are spirits and drinks are drinks, and as long as mine has Jägermeister in it, I’m happy! But in all seriousness, stop gendering your drinks and just make them deliciously balanced. Here’s the quick and dirty on gender-neutral language and why we need it. Not everyone fits neatly into the girl/boy box. Biologically, it’s far more complex than that. Not everyone fits into the feminine and masculine gender assignments slapped on us like a nutrition label when we are born either. Gender is a social construct, it is superfluid, and some people do not align with any of the genders our society has created. Our sense of self-identity is critical to our well-being, and without it, can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Affirming how a person identifies is the most basic way to treat them with dignity and respect.
Instead of making assumptions about how our guests or our teammates identify, try introducing yourself along with your pronouns. Our pronouns are how we would refer to ourselves or others, like if they were not present in the room. For example, “Hi, my name is Amie. I go by she/her pronouns.” This will invite the person you’re speaking with to reciprocate with their preferred pronouns. If that communication skill does not yet feel right for you, try approaching guests with gender-inclusive greetings. Instead of, “Hey guys/gals!” try, “Hey friends/pals/y’all/party people/brunch crew/happy humans!” You get the idea. Be creative, have fun, and challenge yourself to be more inclusive!
The LGBTQIA+ movement is still very active today,
as the community fights for protection against discrimination, representation, access to healthcare, and safe spaces to congregate without fear of violence. There is a wonderfully robust population of talented LGBTQIA+ people that comprise our industry, and in the spirit of Pride, I wanted to discuss some super easy ways bars and restaurants can create safe and healthy spaces for their LGTBQIA+ workforce and guests. We will start with removing gendered language from our drinks and communication.
First of all, there’s no such thing as a girly drink or a manly drink. Spirits are spirits and drinks are drinks, and as long as mine has Jägermeister in it, I’m happy! But in all seriousness, stop gendering your drinks and just make them deliciously balanced. Here’s the quick and dirty on gender-neutral language and why we need it. Not everyone fits neatly into the girl/boy box. Biologically, it’s far more complex than that. Not everyone fits into the feminine and masculine gender assignments slapped on us like a nutrition label when we are born either. Gender is a social construct, it is superfluid, and some people do not align with any of the genders our society has created. Our sense of self-identity is critical to our well-being, and without it, can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Affirming how a person identifies is the most basic way to treat them with dignity and respect.
Instead of making assumptions about how our guests or our teammates identify, try introducing yourself along with your pronouns. Our pronouns are how we would refer to ourselves or others, like if they were not present in the room. For example, “Hi, my name is Amie. I go by she/her pronouns.” This will invite the person you’re speaking with to reciprocate with their preferred pronouns. If that communication skill does not yet feel right for you, try approaching guests with gender-inclusive greetings. Instead of, “Hey guys/gals!” try, “Hey friends/pals/y’all/party people/brunch crew/happy humans!” You get the idea. Be creative, have fun, and challenge yourself to be more inclusive!
