February is LGBTQ+ History Month and this year’s theme is “Science & Innovation”. It’s a time to celebrate people of minoritized sexual and gender identities who are spearheading advancements to make our world a better place. In the food sector and in community spaces, there are many LGBTQ+ people who use their expertise, skills and creativity to support others. And as UK inequality rises, access to healthy, affordable food for all is a pressing issue of our times.
Why making food support inclusive for LGBTQ+ people matters
“Wherever you meaningfully look for LGBTQ+ health inequalities, you find them.”
– Michael Brady, national adviser for LGBT health, NHS England.
Trussell finds that minoritised groups like LGBTQ+ people experience food insecurity at double the rate of the general UK population, often facing added barriers to access. On top of this, food insecurity is highest among LGBTQIA+ people who are also women or from a racially minoritised background. In light of this, food support services need to adopt an intersectional, broad approach to inclusivity to be welcoming to the entire community.
How to make food settings more welcoming and affirming spaces
In this video we hear from Reuben Davidson, founder and CEO of The Village Food Bank, on LGBTQ+ inclusion in food support settings. Reuben’s background in social prescribing, combined with learnings from founding and running a food bank supporting low-income LGBTQ+ people since 2024, make him well placed to speak on this important topic.
Reuben explains why health inequalities can make this community more vulnerable to food insecurity and shares practical steps for supporting LGBTQ+ people in your setting. He offers tips on pronouns, suggestions for equalities monitoring forms, and more. The video also features behind the scenes clips of the food bank volunteers preparing for their festive winter session, capturing the uplifting atmosphere of warmth, laughter and abundance.
Find out more
- Visit The Village Food Bank website and contact the team for more info on the topic of LGBTQ+ inclusion.
- Watch Reuben speak on the panel at our webinar Unpacking the latest findings on food insecurity in Brighton & Hove
- Read our full case study on The Village Food Bank for the story of how Reuben and the team are Creating an Inclusive Space for Brighton’s LGBTQ+ Community
- Explore the Emergency Food Network of over 50 Projects providing food support across Brighton & Hove.
