It's more than just a vodka soda.
For many years, people have ordered "gay water" at bars, restaurants, clubs, and any queer function that comes to mind.
Spencer Hoddeson decided to put this signature drink in a can and market it to the LGBTQ+ community, thus bringing more representation into every day lives.
"The idea behind this brand is to create representation for the community where there is none like liquor stores, bars, grocery stores, convenient stores [and] concert venues. There are obviously queer people working or visiting those spaces. This business wouldn't exist if not for people in the community," Hoddeson tells PRIDE.
When it comes to the food and beverage industry, very few products are actually marketed for the LGBTQ+ community. The statistics are very disproportionate to other communities in the grocery aisle.
"We're such an important and inclusive community and yet there's very few products out there that represent us. The vegetarian community in the US is five percent. The LGBTQ+ community is seven percent. There's over 60,000 vegetarian products in the food and beverage space. There's less than a handful for the community."
In the media world, LGBTQ+ visibility is a vital and often hot topic. However, Hoddeson argues that representation in every day and regular activities is even more vital.
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"We're such a presence globally. There's no reason that there shouldn't be representation beyond the things that we focus on [like] film and TV representation or representation in the media. What about representation in your grocery store? What's the difference between the screen in your living room and the physical place that you actually go to?"
Not only is Hoddeson hoping to make a difference, but he's bringing delicious flavors to places all across the country. When people crack open a can of Gay Water, the vodka sodas range in a variety of flavors and contain four percent of alcohol.
"It's so simple! It's 80 calories. It's vodka, soda, and fruit extract from four different flavors — lime, peach, watermelon, and grapefruit. We didn't reinvent the wheel here! It's a vodka soda. It's timeless. It's classic!"
As Hoddeson takes the initiative to tackle more industries that don't focus on the LGBTQ+ community, he hopes aspiring queer business owners will pursue their dreams as well.
"I want other queer entrepreneurs to feel inspired to start their own businesses. There needs to be more queer businesses out there. Period."
To order a pack of gay water, check out the official website here. To see the full interview with Spencer Hoddeson, check out the video below.
Spencer Hoddeson Elevates LGBTQ+ Representation With 'Gay Water'youtu.be
Liz Liguori