Every June, people across the country celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and Pride Month to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Celebrations include colorful parades and community charity events.

LGBTQ+ is an acronym encompassing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the five initials.

Each year more and more businesses have pledged their support for the LGBTQ+ community by posting on social media or changing their logos to feature rainbow design elements. But many customers and employees call for businesses to do more for the community by making workplaces friendly and inclusive.  

Despite the growing participation of companies during Pride Month, many employees are still battling discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, and identity, especially in restaurants. 23% of restaurant workers report having experienced verbal abuse related to their sexual orientation.

The restaurant industry is the second-largest employer in the U.S., representing over 15 million workers, including many LGBTQ+ employees. This means that restaurants and management have the responsibility and opportunity to create an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ employees and customers.

Learn what Menufy's seasoned restaurant veterans, who have experienced firsthand what it takes to promote a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ employees and customers, recommend.

Creating an LGBTQ+ Friendly Environment for Restaurant Staff and Customers

Pride Partnerships

Connecting with local and national LGBTQ+ organizations can help restaurant operators develop inclusivity and find direct ways to empower the local community. Resources such as the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and the Movement Advancement Project list ways businesses can get involved and support the community.

Restaurant management is perfectly poised to "champion efforts by attending and engaging in events in support of our LGBTQ community," explained Jenna.

To honor Pride Month, restaurants can also dedicate time for employees to attend marches and events. Or your business can participate by serving food at festivities or creating an online ordering coupon code, via the Menufy Manager portal, like "PRIDE5" to celebrate the month.

LGBTQ+ and Ally Leadership

As a restaurant owner, finding a qualified management team that exemplifies inclusion and diversity is the first step to building an environment that is LGBTQ+ friendly. 

Restaurants can attract suitable candidates by updating job descriptions with language that encourages allies and LGBTQ+ chefs, servers, or managers to join their teams. 

Jenna Eichberg, Chief People Officer for Menufy’s parent organization HungerRush, recommends crafting messaging focused on diversity. She suggests using "pronouns and inclusive role descriptions and job postings and ensuring that your hiring and promotion assessment processes employ practices and language that promote inclusion of all."

As Jenna mentioned, it is important not to use exclusive wording while trying to find inclusive new hires. Be sure to specify that your restaurant welcomes applicants from all nationalities, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and identities.

With restaurateurs facing staffing shortages, consider promoting veteran employees within your organization as they are likely to already have a strong grasp of the desired work culture.

Supportive Policies 

It's upsetting to report that transgender individuals in the service industry are more likely than cisgender people to experience harassment at their workplace.

Restaurant operators can stop this problem from growing by creating anti-discrimination policies that train employees on diversity and harassment. The policy should be included in employee handbooks in addition to being explained to new hires verbally.

According to Jenna, inclusive workplace policies and practices that encourage a sense of belonging can come in many forms. "Some examples include creating communities that connect our LGBTQ and allies to one another and ensuring benefits that support the needs of our LGBTQ community, such as parental leave for those who pursue adoption or surrogacy and gender-neutral bathroom options."

As with any back-of-house process, it's important to maintain and update policies over time. Long-haul staff, including management, should continually receive diversity training to uphold the restaurant's commitment to providing a safe work environment for all employees, especially those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Jenna suggests that training doesn't stop with hourly employees. "As leaders, we should ensure that we continuously educate ourselves about the LGBTQ community and, rather than making assumptions, ask questions and show a genuine interest in getting to know an associate's full self," explained Jenna.

Take Action

Restaurant owners should embrace and enforce a zero-tolerance policy for derogatory language or behavior. 

Taking action to build an LGBTQ-friendly workplace means expecting employees to speak and write in a way that does not discriminate against a particular sex, social gender, or gender identity and does not perpetuate gender stereotypes.

Employees and customers should be held accountable for discriminating "jokes," the intentional use of wrong pronouns (he/she/they), and intrusive comments or questions. 

It's good practice to include a pronoun preference section on employment applications and to ask current staff members to indicate their preferred pronouns. 

Chloe Helling, a digital marketing specialist at Menufy and former shift lead at a popular bar in Kansas City, says that it is crucial for leaders to set the tone in a restaurant environment. "Creating an inclusive workplace starts with leading by example. For instance, management can establish expectations by introducing themselves to new employees by including their preferred pronouns," she suggested.

Make a Stand Online

Posting rainbow flags and menu items on social media during Pride Month lets customers and potential employees know that your restaurant supports the queer community. 

But true LGBTQ+ support extends beyond the month of June. 

Google gives restaurant owners the ability to add "attributes" to their Google Business Profile. These attributes include helpful information for customers who are viewing a restaurant's Google listing. 

Carlos Gomez, a Menufy web optimization specialist, recommends that management utilize these attributes to indicate options such as "delivery" and "brunch." But attributes can also be used to advertise your restaurant's inclusivity. "It's simple to fill out Google listing attributes that describe a restaurant's climate. By selecting 'LGBTQ-friendly' or 'Transgender Safe Space,' you will let customers know that your restaurant is an ally," explained Carlos.

Management should even consider including a mission statement on their restaurant's website that highlights their commitment to creating a safe place for LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized communities.

The Last Bite

Pride Month promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity for LGBTQ+ and other minority communities. 

Restaurant operators who work to create a safe environment for marginalized employees and customers will benefit in many ways. 

Work culture will ultimately improve when staff feel recognized and supported, leading to happier employees. Customers also appreciate businesses that stand with the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, three out of four Americans choose to spend their money at establishments that support equality, according to Reuters.

It's clear that customers want to feel comfortable being and expressing who they are when they choose to dine out at a restaurant.

We encourage every restaurant to do what they can to create a safe work environment for their employees, especially those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other gender identities and sexual orientations. 

Order delivery or takeout online from a restaurant in your neighborhood by visiting www.menufy.com or downloading our mobile app (Android or iOS).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Dimmitt, Marketing Communications Coordinator
Melissa is the Marketing Communications Coordinator for Menufy by HungerRush. She began working with restaurant managers and executive chefs over a decade ago, coordinating seasonal menu releases, executing photoshoots, and creating fresh digital content.