I get really tired of people who say that they can't bake or cook because the truth is that if you can read, then you can do both. I don't want to hear it.
Watch my video to see how I made rainbow rice krispies!
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.
"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
Despite the fact that Skittles has been supporting the LGBTQ+ community for years—and did so again during Pride 2023—right-wingers are just now calling for a boycott of the company.
This year during Pride Month, Skittles continued their tradition of featuring colorless bags of Skittles as a way of standing with the queer community and showing that at this time of year there is "only one rainbow matters.”
From May to mid-July of this year, the candy brand introduced gray “colorless” Skittles with limited-edition packaging covered in designs made by five different LGBTQ+ artists.
Shanée Benjamin, Mady G, Symone Salib, Bianca Xunise, and Zipeng Zhu all created beautiful pieces of artwork for the packaging, emblazoned with phrases like “Express yourself,” “Be generous with your love,” “Black trans lives matter,” and “Joy is resistance.”
For every “Pride pack” of Skittles sold this year through May and June, the company donated $1 to GLAAD. And the company also curated a collection of queer stories on Audible to celebrate Pride Month.
But even though the beloved candy brand has been doing this same campaign since 2016, conservative bigots have only just now noticed and decided it’s a problem.
With a slogan like “Taste the rainbow” what were they expecting?
Earlier this month, anti-trans advocate and British influencer Oli London took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain about Skittles celebrating the work of LGBTQ+ artists on their packaging.
“Skittles is raising money with each sale of their new ‘Pride it Forward’ kids candies for notorious LGBTQI+ lobby group GLAAD,” London wrote. “The organization is one of the leading and most powerful LGBT groups pushing for medical transitions on children.”
Skittles is raising money with each sale of their new ‘Pride it Forward’ kids candies for notorious LGBTQI+ lobby group GLAAD.
The organization is one of the leading and most powerful LGBT groups pushing for medical transitions on children. pic.twitter.com/UwgdcUBo34
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 12, 2023
Other people on X agreed with this hateful rhetoric, calling for a boycott on yet another brand conservatives deem to be “woke” or supporting queer causes.
One person wrote, “what’s more toxic: colorful candy dye or child cross hormone injections?”
Another commented, “Well let's add this to my not buying list. It's getting longer each month,” while another wrote, “Taste the indoctrination.”
The hate continued on Instagram where homophobic and transphobic conservatives commented under Skittles Pride post. One person commented, “Where’s the straight skittles? Or traditional family values marriage & Christ skittles?”
Another person wrote, “Stop pushing trans agenda down my throat...hope the same as budweiser will happen to you…”
Luckily none of this hateful rhetoric made the Skittles brand back down which hopefully means we’ll get more amazing queer artwork next year!
On its 41st year, Market Days is stronger than ever. The staple LGBTQ+ event brings in thousands of visitors to Chicago every summer and this year was no different.
The two-day festival takes place in the heart of Chicago's gayborhood -- Northalsted -- which is also known as the first recognized gay neighborhood in the United States.
This year, partygoers experienced high drag, incredible performances, mind-blowing circuit parties, epic bar crawls, and plenty of adult fun as well. Check out some of the highlights below!
With performances on five stages by Betty Who, Crystal Waters, Cupcakke, Kylie Sonique Love, and Chicago Drag Race winner Shea Couleé, the stages at the festival had plenty of talent to gag over.
Over 200 local businesses and national brands also filled the streets of the festival to sell some iconic fans, circuit gear, household items, food, drinks, and so much more. It's safe to say many people left with their hands full of new products.
Celebrating its 25th year, CircuitMOM brought all of the good vibes with three parties throughout Market Days weekend.
From incredible laser shows to heart pumping EDM, the circuit gays had, perhaps, too much fun at the Aragon Ballroom. I'm sure they're all taking today to relax (if they're not traveling back to their home cities).
Other circuit parties included MEAT, BRÜT, and QUEEN! at SmartBar. So the singlets, jockstraps, leather gear, and puppy hoods were in abundance in the streets of Chicago... even in the early hours of the day.
Steamworks, the massive bathhouse in the Windy City, also had lines that lasted for hours. The gays really don't rest for anything!
It wouldn't be a party for the gays without some mimosas and go-go dancers at the clubs.
The local nightlife scene had something for everyone including karaoke parties, sickening drag performances, dance floors, dive bars, and more. A few favorites include Roscoe’s, Hydrate, Stacked, Splash, and plenty of others.
Some of the queens spotted at the bars performing included Brooke Lynn Hytes, Courtney Act, Salina EsTitties, Kennedy Davenport, Derrick Barry, Monica Beverly Hillz, and many other Drag Race alum.
Plus, fans also saw sickening local and Ru girls perform at a slew of drag brunches, including the sold-out shows at The River Kitchen + Bar.
If you're like me and didn't put earplugs in the first couple of days, then your ears might still be ringing like mine are today.
Another hotspot included Kathy Osterman Beach, known as Hollywood Beach, as the gays were seen in their Speedos at all hours day and night mingling and tanning, along with plenty of other obvious activities as well.
So rest up, drink plenty of water, and let the countdown begin til Market Days 2024.
When you’re sweating up a storm in the middle of the summer, nothing sounds better than a cold beer, but can you drink one with a clear conscience? We’re living through a time when anti-LGBTQ+ hate is ever present and that’s even true of beer companies.
Bud Light used to be a safe bet, but Anheuser-Busch is currently being boycotted by many after transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney came forward to talk about how she received zero support from the company after facing transphobic attacks stemming from a partnership she did with the company.
Mulvaney recently took to TikTok to call out Bud Light for their abhorrent behavior. “For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse in my opinion than not hiring a trans person at all,” she said. “Because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want. And the hate doesn't end with me, it has serious and grave consequences for the rest of our community.”
Covering your can’s with the faces of queer celebrities is meaningless rainbow washing if the company doesn’t stand behind the marginalized stars they use for their ads.
So what beer companies can you feel confident in supporting? Scroll on to find out!
Modelo Especial
Courtesy of Modelo
Modelo Especial was the top-selling brand for May, 2023 beating out market-leader Bud Light after the brand was boycotted following their treatment of Mulvaney. The Mexican beer is owned by Constellation Brands which has a history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Miller Light
Courtesy of Miller Light
Miller Light partnered with Equality Federation in 2021 to launch their Open & Proud program which seeks to make the 55,000 bars that serve their beer more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community. In the ‘90s, when the queer community was facing discrimination from nearly everyone, Miller Light sponsored PrideFest events and Pride Weeks in New York City and in 2000 they became one of the first companies to offer same-sex domestic partnership benefits.
Coors
Courtesy of Coors
Coors Light was the title sponsor of this year’s Denver Pride Parade and refused to back out even after right-wing extremists started boycotting Bud Light because of their partnership with Mulvaney. In the past, the company has also sold Pride cans with profits going to LGBTQ+ charities.
Heineken
Courtesy of Heineken
In 2014 Heineken launched a campaign featuring Neil Patrick Harris, the brand’s first openly gay ambassador. For Amsterdam Pride the following year Heineken created the slogan #CelebrateLove and made rainbow-branded pins and in 2018 the company sponsored New York City Pride.
Corona
Courtesy of Corona
Both Corona and Modelo Especial are owned by Constellation Brands, who has partnered with Stonewall Sports, an organization that promotes LGBTQ+ participation. In 2020 the brand managed to get a top 100 score on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ equality.
Lagunitas
Courtesy of Lagunitas
Lagunitas has hosted Pride events and last year the brand pledged $10,000 to GLAAD and created a Flavor Rainbow Smoothie IPA where $1 was donated for every pint sold.
Stone Brewing Company
Courtesy of Stone Brewing Company
The brand is dedicated to inclusion and equality and once released an “Equality Ale” to support the Human Rights Campaign. Not only that, but the beer was even brewed with water from the Stonewall Inn, which birthed the gay rights movement.
Gay Beer
Courtesy of Gay Beer
Gay Beer was founded by Jason Pazmino and Jon Moore, two members of the queer community with a passion for beer. The brand is "designed to speak directly and authentically to diverse consumers" and is "intended to pioneer change and inclusivity in the beer market." And don't worry about finding it a local store because they deliver to 45 states.
Samuel Adams
Courtesy of Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams donated $100,000 to GLAAD and last year they created the Love Conquers Ale, a Pride themed beer, and launched Love Conquers All, a Pride platform created in partnership with GLAAD.
Threes Brewing Gender Neutral
Courtesy of Threes Brewing
In 2017 Threes Brewing launched their Gender Neutral pale lager to promote gender equality. Six years later they are still selling it with portions of the proceeds benefiting the Anti-Violence Project which protects the LGBTQ community and those affected by HIV. It’s a small brewing company, but lucky for us they ship!
