Peter Mohr, the owner of The Avenue Pub and The Bachelor Forum—the oldest gay-owned queer bars in western New York—believes that Pride Month is a time of unity, celebration, and an occasion to honor those in the LGBTQ+ community who have and continue to fight for equality and acceptance.
“It’s important for bars, restaurants, and hospitality establishments to celebrate Pride Month because it demonstrates that your establishment is accepting of the Queer/gay community and that you run a business that supports inclusiveness,” shared Mohr.
Mohr’s Avenue Pub is celebrating its 50th year of serving the LGBTQ+ community. It opened in 1975 and has always strived to create a safe environment where patrons feel welcome, accepted, and protected from discrimination and harassment. The Bachelor Forum is celebrating its 53rd year as a Queer bar. Both establishments are located in Rochester, New York, and both participate in the local Pride parade and celebrate Pride all year long.
“Pride Month is a time for a world that appears to be very divisive to come together, to accept people as they are, to take the time to meet someone new, and to learn about that person,” said Mohr. “If we all had a better understanding of others, I think we would all realize we have so much more in common than we realize."
For Mohr, his goal at both of his bars is to provide a safe environment where his customers feel like they belong. He encourages other owners and operators in the bar, restaurant, and hospitality industry to do the same, and demonstrate that their establishment is supportive and inclusive during Pride Month and all year long.
“As patrons enter my establishment at any time of the year, I want them to know once they walk in the door, they are going to be accepted, feel safe, and have a good time,” said Mohr.
Pride Month: A Time of Celebration, Education, and Community
In addition to The Avenue Pub and The Bachelor Forum, many other bars, restaurants, and hospitality establishments across the United States will be celebrating Pride Month this June, and/or they’ll be showing their support to the LGBTQ+ community in various ways throughout the year.
At Azure, a Greek restaurant on the rooftop of The Tampa EDITION hotel in Tampa, Fla., they’re hosting a Pride Brunch with Jewels Sparkles from RuPaul’s Drag Race. The event, dubbed “Pride & Sparkle,” will feature a curated menu of bites and mimosas, as well as the drag performance.
At the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver, they host an annual rooftop Pride Party that’s always a big hit, as well as a Gospel Drag Brunch that’s a collaborative, charitable effort.
In Washington D.C. at Moon Rabbit—a critically-acclaimed, James Beard-nominated Vietnamese restaurant—they have a bar program that highlights Queer-owned brands throughout the year, as a way to show economic support. The restaurant also hosts events that raise funds for local LGBTQ+ non-profits.
At Arlo Hotels, they’ll be offering a special Pride cocktail at all of their properties, with proceeds benefitting The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ+ youth. “We allow each property to create its own signature drink, but the donation is made on behalf of Arlo Hotels as a whole,” said Kristen Daniels, director of marketing at Arlo Hotels, an experiential lifestyle brand with hotels, bars, rooftops, and restaurants in N.Y.C., Miami, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
Over at DanDan in Milwaukee, Wis.—an American-Chinese restaurant and James Beard Award semi-finalist—they’re offering a Pride-themed cocktail. A portion of the proceeds will go to Courage MKE, a local collaborative to provide housing, resources, and services for displaced and unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.
At Alma Cafe Mid-City in New Orleans this June, they’re extending a heartfelt invitation to the local community, to experience the love, inclusivity, and Queer culture that has flourished within their walls. The restaurant will celebrate Pride all month long in June, as well as throughout the year by offering internships to LGBTQ+ college students. They’re also hosting a series of drag brunches in June, which will soon become a staple of the restaurant.
Why Is It Important to Celebrate Pride?
Thi Nguyen, an award-winning bartender at Moon Rabbit, said that hospitality, at its core, is all about welcoming people; thus, celebrating Pride Month is one of the many ways the restaurant shows its LGBTQ+ staff, guests, and neighbors that they belong.
“It is about visibility, support, and creating safe, affirming spaces where people can be their full selves,” said Nguyen. “Pride reminds us that inclusion is not a one-time campaign. It is a value we should live out daily in our hiring practices, our partnerships, our menus, and the way we treat each other.”
Aimee King, director of sales and marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco—a luxury hotel that’s deeply connected to the city’s culture and community—thinks Pride Month is a chance for the bar, restaurant, and hospitality industry to go beyond service, show real support for the LGBTQ+ community, and create welcoming spaces that reflect a diversity of guests.
“True support for the LGBTQ+ community must be rooted in authenticity and a long-term commitment to inclusion,” explained King. “When programming and partnerships are thoughtfully created to uplift and celebrate LGBTQ+ voices, guests recognize and appreciate that sincerity. Pride Month is not simply a moment to attract new customers, it is an opportunity for organizations to reflect on how they can be more intentional in creating a welcoming, inclusive environment and celebrating diverse perspectives in meaningful, lasting ways.”
At The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, they’ve welcomed guests with live performances from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, curated afternoon teas with Pride, and crafted cocktails that showcase the diverse local community. “It’s our way of celebrating community, creativity, and the inclusive spirit that defines both our city and our hotel,” added King.
Courtney Blake, owner and managing partner at Pilot Light Consulting—which helps hospitality owners with strategy and launching a new operation—said that when a bar, restaurant or hospitality business chooses to welcome, celebrate, and uplift members of the community, it can be a very powerful experience. However, she said businesses should only celebrate Pride if it reflects their genuine values and uplifts its customers and team.
“No one wants to see a rainbow in the window just because it’s good for business,” said Blake. “It should be because you have a culture of inclusivity and for providing a safe place for your guests no matter the day or month. Pride started when a police raid on a bar [The Stonewall Inn] caused a riot. Bar culture is inextricably linked to many social movements in the United States, especially to that of gay rights. It’s an honor to remember that heritage and to work to create spaces that are welcoming, especially if those places are welcoming all year long.”
For Ryan Parker, the general manager of the Kimpton La Peer hotel and Ladyhawk restaurant in West Hollywood, Calif., Pride Month is not only a fun celebration, it’s an opportunity for education and awareness. The hotel and restaurant are located right on the parade route for the West Hollywood Pride parade, and the venue hosts many events for LGBTQ+ organizations. The hotel itself created a Pride page for its website, showing a map of LGBTQ+ owned bars and establishments in the area, and it offers Queer-owned spirits and features Pride packages.
“Visibility means everything,” said Parker, speaking on Pride celebrations. “Gosh, I think about being so young and growing up in New Hampshire and not knowing anything about LGBTQ+ except the marriage debate and HIV/AIDS. Having Pride month brings awareness to both the fun part of our lives and the joy of being free to be, but also the crucial education and awareness of the realities we face. Modern me, living in West Hollywood, is so glad to have my surroundings in many ways feeling very Prideful always. I’m glad places around the world that maybe don’t have this welcoming diversity make efforts to have Pride for those who feel isolated.”
Dario Rodas, the service manager at Alma Cafe Mid-City, New Orleans, said that during this particular moment in time, nothing is more vital than embracing and expressing Pride.
“Now more than ever, we must unite—just as the courageous Queer pioneers before us did—so that today’s youth can live as their authentic selves, free from fear, judgment, or hate,” shared Rodas. “As hospitality workers, it’s important to create an inclusive environment. Restaurants are platforms—we can echo messages to a large audience.”
According to Jason Berry, co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based KNEAD Hospitality + Design, celebrating Pride Month or Pride throughout the year is not a marketing trend. “Efforts should be authentic and come from a place of purpose, not profit,” he said.
KNEAD Hospitality + Design is a James Beard–nominated, multi-unit restaurant group with 15 locations across 10 distinct concepts. It’s the largest LGBTQ+ owned and operated hospitality group in the United States, and they conceptualize, design, and operate restaurants that deliver bold, inclusive, and unforgettable dining experiences, where authenticity and community thrive.
Berry said that in the bar, restaurant, and hospitality industry, there’s a unique opportunity to celebrate identity and foster belonging. For Berry and his company, Pride is more than just good business.
“For KNEAD, Pride is a special reflection of who we are and an honor we don’t take lightly,” said Berry. “As we celebrate our 10th year, we continue to focus as a place where authenticity is celebrated, where our team and guests feel welcome and safe, and where community comes first. Pride is a reminder that visibility matters, and that when we lead with purpose, we create space for our team, our guests, and our stakeholders to thrive. This Pride—and always—we proudly celebrate love, diversity, and the incredible community that supports us.”
Should You Celebrate Pride to Attract New Customers?
For Andrea Murray—director of sales and marketing for Evolution Hospitality in San Clemente, Calif. and Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs, Calif.—the spirit of Pride is already too heavily monetized, as a means to attract customers and capitalize.
“Authenticity is a big deal and people can sense it when a business is not authentic,” said Murray. “Don’t do it for money, do it to build out a more inclusive space, to offer a change up in the atmosphere, to bring an energy into the space, add some artistic or creative value, a more fun, welcoming atmosphere. Hospitality and inclusiveness should go hand in hand, right?”
Allie Singer, vice president of commercial strategy and asset management at Ardmore, Pa.-based Willner Realty & Development Co.—which operates numerous hospitality establishments, including the SkyBar + Grille in St. Petersburg, Fla.—agrees that celebrating Pride should come from a place of genuine love and support, and not profit.
“Hospitality is about more than service; it’s about coming from the heart,” noted Singer. “It’s not just a chance to market to a new demographic. In a city like St. Pete, where inclusivity is woven into the fabric of the community, people look for authenticity in action. At SkyBar + Grille, we celebrate Pride because it reflects who we are and what we stand for. If that brings in new guests who value inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly spaces, that’s a welcome bonus—but at the core, it’s about showing up for the community and creating a space where everyone feels welcome, year-round.”
Parker, of Kimpton La Peer and Ladyhawk, said why not celebrate Pride to attract new customers—as long as it’s sincere. “If its authentic, we can sniff that out and certainly throw some support towards that business,” he said. “We know it matters who we do business with and whom we support. If we sense rainbow washing for profit, I think people can see that and they move on.”
Rodas, of Alma Cafe Mid-City, said many companies jump on the Pride bandwagon purely for profit. “They showcase rainbow logos in June, but their support rarely goes deeper than surface-level marketing,” he said. “For the queer community, Pride is not just a seasonal trend—it's about visibility, history, and the ongoing fight for equality. We deserve more than performative allyship. We deserve real commitment.”
Blake, of Pilot Light Consulting, said that if a business celebrates Pride as a marketing ploy, it’ll backfire because guests will be able to tell it’s not genuine. “If your business is truly a safe place that is welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ community and you would like for people to know that by celebrating Pride to bring people into your establishment, then I think it’s a great idea,” she said.
Listen and Then Collaborate, “Your Role Is to Uplift, Not to Lead”
One way to celebrate Pride Month or to show support to the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year is to collaborate with local, Queer-owned businesses or LGBTQ+ non-profits.
Blake said there are a lot of opportunities for bars, restaurants, and hospitality businesses to successfully celebrating Pride through collaboration. “That might look like raising funds or awareness for a youth center, sponsoring a booth or float at a festival or parade, highlighting local activist voices, or any number of other opportunities,” she said. “Once you move beyond using your platform to amplify the voices of those doing good work in your community, I’ve also seen bars and restaurants host some fantastic parties with DJs, drag shows, cookouts, and produce limited run swag to commemorate Pride. All are great ways to celebrate, so long as the celebrations align with what you say and do for the rest of the year.”
Rodas, of Alma Cafe Mid-City, noted that a business can make a real impact by donating time, money, or resources, or simply by providing a safe space where people can exist without judgment, hate, or fear. “True allyship goes beyond a month of celebration; it’s about creating lasting, meaningful support for those who need it most.”
King, of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, said partnering with local LGBTQ+ organizations, artists, and community leaders is a meaningful way to ground efforts in authenticity and relevance. “These collaborations help ensure your support reflects what the community truly values,” she said. “It’s essential to approach these relationships with humility and a willingness to listen—understanding that your role is to uplift, not to lead.”
At KNEAD Hospitality + Design establishments, their special Pride cocktail benefits Capital Pride Alliance, a Washington D.C.-based LGBTQ+ organization that coordinates Pride events and more. Also, KNEAD’s longtime partnership with Tito’s Vodka means every cocktail sold results in a matching donation from Tito’s, up to $15,000. Additionally, KNEAD is sponsoring key Pride events across Washington, D.C., including the local Pride Run and Taste of Pride.
“Pride is rooted in community, and businesses should uplift local LGBTQ+ organizations, artists, and advocates,” said Michael Reginbogin, co-founder of KNEAD. “Partner with nonprofits, host inclusive events, make donations to LGBTQ+ charities, and highlight LGBTQ+ voices year-round.”
Fiona Hynes, corporate director of food and beverage at Arlo Hotels, said that if an owner/operator is struggling to connect with local partners, talent, or brands, reach out to existing vendors and see if there are opportunities to support some internal Pride initiatives that their brand may be looking to activate. “As an example, one of our rooftops doesn’t lend itself well to DJ AV setups or space for drag performances,” said Hynes. “Instead, we reached out to one of our liquor reps to see if they had a Pride-themed photo backdrop that we could pop up at the rooftop during June for some great cross-branded moments that build Pride memories for our patrons. It’s also a great way to build relationships and visibility for vendors who have aligned viewpoints.”
Nguyen, of Moon Rabbit, suggested that owners and operator of bars, restaurants, and hospitality businesses approach LGBTQ+ community engagement and collaborations with humility and respect.
“Listen first,” advised Nguyen. “Ask how you can support, not what the community can do for you. Partner with local LGBTQ+ organizations and give back in ways that matter, whether that is through fundraising, sharing your platform, or creating safer spaces. Collaborations should be built on trust and shared values, not just optics.”
Blake, of Pilot Light Consulting, said that if a business supports or aligns with another organization or individual to celebrate Pride, make sure the business is ready to stand behind the partnership. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a lot more divisive rhetoric in our society lately, and you may need to stand by your decisions if some folks in your community disagree with you,” she said.
Get Support from Your Local LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce or Center
John Mitterling, vice president of engagement at Harmony: NC LGBT+ Allied Chamber of Commerce suggested that businesses do their research on the LGBTQ+ community as a first step.
“Try to find out what the needs of the community are, and that’s done by connecting with a chamber of commerce like ours, or connecting with your local LGBTQ+ center,” advised Mitterling, who said these organizations can offer advice on what not to do when celebrating Pride, or how to work with and partner with the local LGBTQ+ community.
Mitterling’s organization, based in Raleigh, N.C., fosters opportunities for LGBTQ+ and allied businesses and professionals on a regional level, to come together in support of business growth, education, and connectivity. They also host their local PrideLife Business Summit, designed to bring together service insights and resources for LGBT+ businesses. On a wider scale, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce acts as the business voice of the LGBTQ+ community across the country, and offer support.
Mitterling said businesses can simply Google their regional LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce or center, or they can contact the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to get resources.
“The whole focus [of Pride] should be on inclusion and celebration,” said Mitterling. “I think if you go beyond that, and you begin to get more political, you run the risk of losing the message of inclusion. This is a different environment we’re in right now, and we’re politically divided, and I think what we all want to do is come together to make people feel included and to make people feel seen and heard. So, if you can do that as a business, not only is it the right thing to do, but it’ll be good for your business.”
Show Pride All Year Long, Show up with Purpose and Care
Overall, when it comes to Pride, the best thing to do is to celebrate with intention, according to Nguyen of Moon Rabbit.
“Do not just change your logo or host a themed night and call it support,” suggested Nguyen. “Go deeper. Ask yourself if you are actively supporting LGBTQ+ voices, creators, and brands. Are your spaces truly inclusive? Pride Month is a chance to build relationships, amplify the community, and show allyship in meaningful ways.”
King, of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, concluded that supporting the LGBTQ+ community should be an integral part of an organization’s culture—reflected through inclusive hiring practices, ongoing training, charitable partnerships, and authentic representation throughout the guest experience. “Pride is not a moment in time, but a continual commitment to showing up with purpose and care,” she said.
Aaron Kiel is an award-winning journalist and public relations professional in Raleigh, N.C. He’s worked in the beverage, tea, and coffee industries for two decades, as well as hospitality and technology. He’s a journalist at heart, but he also wears a PR and communications hat through his consultancy, ak PR Group. Aaron is a contributing writer/reporter for Questex’s Bar & Restaurant News and he’s a past editor of Questex’s World Tea News. In 2023, he was a finalist and honorable mention in the “Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards” for “Range of Work by a Single Author – B2B” for World Tea News, and in 2024, he won two awards for his work with Bar & Restaurant News, including a Gold Northeast Region Award in the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ (ASBPE) Azbee Awards under the “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” category, and a “Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Award” in the B2B article category for “Culture & Community.” He also received a 2024/2025 ASBPE Diversity Fellowship Award, which supports and recognizes diversity in the field of B2B journalism. Connect with him on Instagram: @adventurer_explorer or visit akprgroup.com.
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