The Infatuation has done it again! In honor of Pride Month, the go-to online source for food lovers nationwide has partnered with queer-owned bakeries in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and, for the first time, Miami for its second annual Pride Bake Sale.
Bakeries are showcasing exclusive Pride-themed baked goods for the occasion. In Miami, there’s banana-based ice cream from the beloved Peel Soft Serve, indulgent cookies (available after midnight!) at Night Owl Cookies and exquisite rainbow cupcakes, cakes and macaroons at Dbakers Sweet Studio.
A portion of the profits will be donated to the Queer Food Foundation (QFF), a nationwide resource and platform addressing food insecurity among LGBTQ+ individuals.
“As an organization deeply rooted in the dining and the food industry more widely, we were particularly moved by the foundation’s recognition of the critical role queer individuals have played in the food sector,” says Ryan Pfeffer, senior editor of The Infatuation Miami, on choosing QFF as the beneficiary nonprofit. “Despite their contributions, there has been a notable lack of representation in larger industry discussions, especially concerning intersectional identities.”
QFF, founded in the summer of 2020 during COVID-19, started as a mutual aid fund to help and support people and supply groceries. “As we started building a community, we realized this was a deep-rooted issue across all mediums of food spaces,” says Vanessa Parish, QFF co-founder. “No one else was doing the work, so we decided to do it.”
The foundation, as well as the bake sale, come at a critical time. “The LGBTQ+ community in Miami is at an increased risk of facing food insecurity due to economic hardship, social disadvantage, and discrimination,” says Parish, 31. “Systematic oppression and social bias are significant factors that lead to overall poverty and food insecurity for the LGBTQ+ community.”
For her, Miami’s social disparity should be a wake-up call. “Public policies that ameliorate social conditions and target discriminatory legislation are needed to address food insecurity within the LGBTQ+ community. Easier access to local assistance, such as food banks, is also essential to improving food security.”
According to Pfeffer, 33, the bake sale is not only an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the critical work that QFF does year-round. He also hopes it allows bakeries to act as community hubs for Miami’s LGBTQ+ community, where people can show their support and leave with something delicious.
For more information about The Infatuation’s Miami Pride Bake Sale, visit theinfatuation.com.
For more information about the Queer Food Foundation, visit queerfoodfoundation.org.
Photo by Cleveland Jennings
Night Owl Cookies