While June presents a meaningful opportunity to reflect on and uplift the queer lives and stories that have indelibly shaped and enriched our nation’s history, the PBFA team is committed to honoring and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community year-round, and to ensuring that the pillars of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion are the foundation of all of the work that we do, within our food system and beyond. But as we gather with friends and family to mark this year’s Pride Month and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, we also know that the march towards true equality has many miles left to go—and it’s up to all of us to ensure that we not only secure the ground we’ve already gained, but keep our compass pointed firmly in the direction of continued progress. To keep our eyes on education and action, we’ve curated a list of educational resources covering the rich history of the Pride movement, along with a guide to LGBTQ+ charities and organizations nationwide in need of our support.
The influence of the LGBTQ+ community on our industry cannot be overstated – many of the leaders and trailblazers who have taken plant-based foods to unprecedented heights are members and champions of the queer community. However, historically marginalized communities continue to face oppression and prejudice, and in the midst of a disturbing rise in hateful rhetoric and threats to equality, our industry has a responsibility to speak up, show up, and fight for a better world for LGBTQ+ people in our community and beyond. .
Where do we start? In a piece published last year in celebration of Pride, we had the wonderful opportunity to speak to Becky Harrison, a leader in our industry, a member of the PBFA Board of Directors, and a self-identified member of the LGBTQ+ community, who spoke to her own experience existing as a queer person within our industry, and gave us helpful tips to keep in mind as we navigate the workplace:
“There are a lot more people that have seats at the table. And that’s really good, because that’s not always been the case, but do the people at the table have a voice? Do the people at the table feel comfortable to use that voice? […] I’ve come to learn more that I’m not a single identity. So at the table, do people have a voice to say ‘my identity changed’?”
Becky Harrison, Plant Based Foods Association Board Member
Accountability requires constant learning, an openness to discomfort, and personal/group reflection. Within our own work environments, we must ask ourselves these difficult questions and be prepared for answers that may push ourselves out of our comfort zones to grow in the direction of inclusivity. The more we set aside our egos in an effort to uplift our peers and foster a sense of equity within our communities, the stronger we will be as our industry grows and welcomes more collaborators to the table.
Becky continues on: “From the company perspective, it’s nice that you can say ‘Happy Pride’ and put a spotlight on it, but if you look at the big stakeholders in your company, if you look at your investors, are they really investing specifically in the larger political landscape? Are they investing into causes and people that are pro-LGBTQ? […] Where you put your money matters. […] donate to people who are really moving the ball forward as far as true equality, because that’s what we need.” PBFA remains committed to partnering with organizations and companies that live our values everyday, and we want to emphasize that ensuring PBFA is a safe space for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community is of paramount importance to our team.
We could not be more proud to champion and collaborate with members of all genders and orientations, who hail from communities across the spectrum of religion, culture, and ethnicity. The fight for LGBTQ+ rights is ongoing, and so much of the incredible progress made is owed to the brave individuals who have held a torch for their friends and neighbors in the face of oppression, and advocated for the intersectional ideals that celebrate and uplift tolerance, justice, and equality. Thank you to the members of the plant-based foods space, who continue this fight within our own industry and beyond, and we wish everyone a happy and safe celebration! Please take a look at the resources below and consider providing volunteer or financial assistance to any of the organizations listed.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
- Library of Congress: About Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month
- 20th century timeline of LGBTQ+ History
- Library of Congress: About the 1969 Stonewall Uprising
- Human Rights Campaign: Being an LGBTQ+ Ally
- Becky Harrison on How to Be a Better LGBTQ+ Ally Within the Plant-Based Industry
- The Trevor Project Resource Center
- 10 black LGBTQ leaders to know Juneteenth and Pride month
- Racial Equity Tools’ Library of Intersectional Resources and Tools (Fundamentals of Intersectionality)
TAKE ACTION
- Donate to The Trevor Project, a 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ young people
- Donate to Lambda Legal, a pro bono legal aid foundation that supports and provides legal representation to LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV/AIDS
- Search for and support LGBTQ+-owned businesses in your area using this business directory
- Donate to the GSA Network to support trans and queer youth uniting for racial and gender justice
- Donate to the Transgender Law Center, the largest national trans-led organization advocating for self-determination and trans rights for over two decades
- Participate in an Ally Training run through The Trevor Project
- Donate to the Victory Institute’s efforts to ban conversion therapy nationwide
TAKE ACTION IN TEXAS
- Texas residents, find and contact your local representatives and legislators and go the extra step by reaching out to the Office of Governor Greg Abbott
- Non-residents, you can still make your voice heard!
- Get involved with the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)
- Accepting volunteers and donations for an emergency relief fund
- Get involved with and support Equality Texas
- Texas residents, visit this page to make your voice heard at organizing events
- Support Organización Latina de Trans Texas (OLTT), a community-based organization made of trans women of the Latinx community.
TAKE ACTION IN FLORIDA
- Florida residents, find and contact your local representatives and legislators
- Non-residents, you can still make your voice heard!
- Get involved with and support Equality Florida
- Donate to the onePULSE Foundation to memorialize the lives lost at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub in 2016, attend their events, and assist with annual scholarships for LGBTQ+ youth
- Support LGBTQ+ youth in Jacksonville, Florida through JASMYN, an organization that provides queer youth aid with student, housing, family, and health services
- Support the KindRED Pride Foundation, run by leaders of affiliate member company Seed Food and Wine Festival