In the vibrant tapestry of our society, the hospitality industry plays a pivotal role in creating inclusive spaces where everyone can feel welcomed and celebrated. While Pride month is a time when we can focus on and show our support in the workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community, we should foster a culture of acceptance, respect, and understanding all year round.
Supportive policies and staff education that emphasize empathy and awareness are all steppingstones to set the standard for inclusivity. That’s why we asked chefs and industry experts to share actionable steps that you can take to uplift and support LGBTQIA+ team members, creating safe kitchens where diversity is not just acknowledged but embraced.
LGBTQ+ and Hospitality
Before diving into tips to make your kitchen a safer and more inclusive place, it’s important to have an overview of the issues the LGBTQIA+ community is facing in the food industry.
According to a study by the Williams Institute,1 47% of LGBTQ workers have experienced discrimination or harassment at work, a figure that reaches a staggering 55% when asking trans and nonbinary workforce.
These experiences range from not being hired or promoted to being verbally or physically harassed in the workplace.1 Another study by the University of Melbourne revealed that many owners rely on LGBTQ+* workers to make their premises look more inclusive, without promoting any actual inclusion or awareness.2
Despite the efforts to recognize and promote the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, various forms of discrimination and prejudice still exist. If not acted against, these behaviors can create an intolerant and negative environment, that can take a toll on queer workforce.3 Team building for restaurant employees can play a significant role in fostering understanding, respect, and inclusivity.
The public nature of hospitality jobs can make LGBTQIA+ workers feel vulnerable and unsafe; that’s why it’s essential we all play our part in shaping better and more inclusive kitchens for the future. Ensuring that every team member in a restaurant understands the importance of inclusivity is key to building a supportive environment.
6 Tips to Create an Inclusive Workplace
1. Educate your staff
Knowledge is the first ingredient in creating a supportive kitchen environment. Begin with staff training that focuses on LGBTQIA+ issues, terminology, and the challenges that members of the community face. Workshops can cover topics such as:
Understanding pronouns: Encourage the use of correct pronouns and provide training on how to ask respectfully. This can help create a culture of acceptance where all kitchen team members feel recognized.
Allyship: Teach staff how to be allies, highlighting the importance of standing up against discrimination and microaggressions. Allyship fosters support in the workplace and builds a team that uplifts all members, from chefs to front-of-house staff.
Pride Month: Go deep into the historical origins and importance of Pride Month, sharing resources and material with the crew. This can include hosting team-building sessions for restaurant employees. Consider celebrating with dedicated dining experiences that highlight LGBTQIA+ chefs or dishes inspired by LGBTQIA+ culture.
Gregory Leon, chef and owner at Amilinda, believes in the power of training to create awareness and promote inclusion in the kitchen: “Educate yourself and your team on the challenges and issues faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. Provide regular training on diversity, equity and inclusion. Establish and enforce strict anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.”
2. Promote emotional safety in the kitchen
At the heart of supportive workplace culture, there should be empathy and emotional safety. In harmony with two pillars of the TEAMS Code – Togetherness & Empathy – staff members should feel included and free to express themselves.
Simple changes, such as using gender-neutral terms and being mindful of jokes or comments that might marginalize individuals, can create a more welcoming atmosphere.
“Tell the team your kitchen is a peaceful environment where everyone should feel safe, welcome and empowered.” says Gaby Weir Vera, culinary instructor and columnist at Feast Magazine. “Implement LGBTQIA+ inclusive policies, like gender-neutral language and pronoun respect. [...] Value the voices of all team members, especially those from marginalized communities.”
3. Collaborate with a queer community
Another great way to show allyship in the kitchen is to collaborate with queer communities and networks, such as Queer Food Foundation.” A Positive Kitchen is an environment where everyone can be authentic, free from discrimination or bias”, says its founder Vanessa Parish, “As a leader, it's my responsibility to ensure that my team feels safe, supported, and valued for who they are.”
These partnerships can help raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ stories and experiences, which will help your kitchen team members feel heard and cared for. This kind of collaboration also promotes team building among restaurant employees, helping create stronger bonds and a shared commitment to inclusivity among staff.
Beth Oliver, head chef at EDIT restaurant, shares two more platforms that spread awareness in the hospitality industry: “Platforms such as Queers in Food and Beverage and initiatives like Kelly’s Cause are communities that help. Community is everything and finding spaces both online and in person, to discuss problems, find peers and organize how we can help each other is exactly what the queer community does best.”
Watch our Fair Chat about LGBTQIA+ in the kitchen here
4. Foster positive communication
Create an environment where people feel safe to open up about their identities and experiences. Regular team meetings can be an opportunity not only for team building but also for sharing ideas and feedback on how to make the kitchen more inclusive. These efforts contribute to building support in the workplace.
Seth Boylan, a personal chef, believes that one of the best things you can do is open the conversation around stigma and inclusivity: “Talk to your team about their life outside of work. These personal conversations create an inviting space, where they can share their challenges and concerns openly.”
What’s more, he highlights the importance of positive and supportive language: “Shut down any unwelcome remark that is intended to make someone feel uncomfortable. Ignorant comments should not be tolerated.”
You might also want to read: What is An Hour for Us.
5. Talent is genderless
Show your commitment to diversity and inclusion by building a diverse team. By having kitchen team members from various backgrounds, including the LGBTQIA+ community, you create a more inclusive culture while demonstrating support in the workplace. A diverse team brings different skills and perspectives that enrich your kitchen.
James Khoza, Executive Chef at Sandton Sun Hotel and president of the South Africa Chefs Association, stresses the importance of championing diverse talent: “It's important, in this day and age, to have a team that's diverse. We’re human beings first, regardless of who we are racially, our gender, sexuality or what our belief systems are. Value the person because of what they are made of and the talent that they have.”
Find more inspiration on diversity and inclusion: Why Diversity is Good for a Positive Kitchen
6. Enforce anti-discrimination policies
Establish clear anti-discrimination policies that explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity. These policies should outline zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination, creating a safe space for all kitchen team members. Involve your staff in the development of these policies to ensure they reflect the values and needs of your team.
Kate Morgan, head Chef at Willows, advocates for representation of minorities when making business decisions: “Keep pushing for diversity and inclusivity training, mental health first aid courses and clear, comprehensive anti-discrimination policies. Advocate for staff members in upper management discussions, especially those who may find it difficult to speak up. Representing them and ensuring their anonymity can be so helpful.”
A More Inclusive Industry is Possible
At Positive Kitchens, we believe that every member of the LGBTQIA+ community should be treated fairly, not just for one moment in the year, but every day, every week, every month and every year.
Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment on a daily basis is essential to help your kitchen team members feel safe, accepted and appreciated, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Clear policies, ongoing training, and fostering support in the workplace help build a kitchen culture where everyone feels valued, included, and empowered.
*Intersex and asexual were not represented in this study.
References:
LGBTQ People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
Almost half (47%) of LGBTQ employees reported experiencing discrimination or harassment at work (including being fired, not hired, not promoted, or being verbally, physically, or sexually harassed) because of their sexual orientation or gender identity during their lifetime.
You can be a better customer for LGBTQ+ hospitality workers.
Our recent research suggests that LGBTQ+ hospitality workers (noting that I use the LGBTQ+ acronym because intersex and asexual people were not represented in my study) are often relied on by venue owners and managers to make spaces look and feel inclusive – without any material recognition of the additional labour this entails.
Inclusive Hospitality: Nurturing Mental Health for LGBTQIA+ Professionals
While progress has been made in promoting diversity and inclusivity within the hospitality industry, reports of discrimination and harassment against LGBTQIA+ employees continue to surface. Hostile work environments can take a severe toll on mental health, fostering feelings of powerlessness, anger, and self-doubt. This can lead to decreased job satisfaction, lower self-esteem, and reduced productivity among LGBTQIA+ workers.
