Current Projects & Initiatives

equity in hospitality

UPCOMING PROJECT

In partnership with the James Beard Foundation, we created the Equity in Hospitality Series, designed to address workplace practices that impact LGBTQIA+allies, hospitality/culinary professionals, and consumers promoting structural solutions to foster equitable strategies for a successful industry. The series is divided into two sections, Employee Experience and Customer Experience, and featured topics not limited to recruitment practices and retention strategies. Our target audience includes chefs/restaurant owners, DEl trainers, and all staff with management and hiring responsibilities.

Our upcoming toolkit will be featured in June!

Interested in contributing your expertise to the toolkit? Fill out the form here!

safe spaces

UPCOMING PROJECT

Looking for more contributors!

In partnership with the CHAAD project, we are combining the intel from multiple subject matter experts, ranging from de-escalation tactics to community guidelines, to serve as a guide for those hosting and curating event spaces. Our goal is to enhance the experience of our community space so that everyone can safely and equitably enjoy them.

Other topics include:

• Breathing room/self-regulation/safety room
• ADA Accessibility
• How do we practice accountability and intentional community when conflict or danger arises
• KYR for when law enforcement does show up
• Protecting Undocumented Immigrants in Community
  Spaces

QUEER ALL YEAR

Queer All Year is about showcasing people and organizations who you should support long after Pride and LGBTQA+ History Month are over; with the long-term goal of curating and building a network of queer food folks — from farmers, beekeepers, and sommeliers to hospitality workers, caters, and food media experts.

Additionally, we started this initiative with an emphasis on long-term strategic partnerships rather than partnerships only during Pride. 

Starting our 4th year, QFF has partnered with the James Beard Foundation to bring virtual education panels that highlight and offer insight into the lives of Queer Food folks in their respective industries. 

Some notable panels: Queer Food Cookbook Authors, Queer AAPI Food Folks and Queer Pastry Chefs Queer

Watch all of the panels here!

public PROGRAMs

Utilizing our network of queer food workers and chefs, we work with organizations to host and curate informative, fun, and collaborative events. 

Previous Public Programming Includes: 

Panels with the James Beard Foundation
Llama Inn Fundraising Event
Panels with Penn State University
Queer Beer Fest 

Panels with No Kid Hungry

University of Michigan: Queer Food Systems

Community Project with Open Art Space at MOMA

MOFAD x QFF: Food and Queer Bodies

Queer food directory

A public resource offered on the QFF website for Queer Food folks to submit and connect with others in the industry all over the globe.

Submit & Search 

support resources

Services:

Throughout the year, QFF sends funding and products to community fridges, Pay As You Can Food events, and emergency response support to food spaces that have been hate-crimed.

Outreach:

Our joy is to assist in finding folks job opportunities, volunteer spaces, and community building. We travel to meet and connect folks right in their own neighborhoods while offering a safe place to do so.

Events:

QFF hosts collaborative events around the country from dinner parties, drag bingo, queer trivia to community park festivals!

shared space

Shared Space with SFA & QFF is an intimate networking event that brings together queer-owned food businesses and allies to connect, collaborate, and inspire. It is a space to join ideas, build relationships, and foster a community that supports creativity and growth in the food world—held at the Specialty Food Association Fancy FoodShows.

We offer discounts and networking-focused panels as well!

Summer Fancy Food show in NYC is underway! Sign up to attend. Subscribe to our newsletter to access discounts! 

national food drive

The National Food Drive brings food banks, resturants, and volunteers around the country to help get resources to those in need. Having its first run in February 2025, the initiative brought together participants in Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida, and more!

Interested in participating next year? Email us!