A new event is putting the spotlight on including the LGBTQ+ community in Kentucky’s largest industry, bourbon. The first Queer bourbon week, Bourbon & Belonging, will plant its rainbow flag across bourbon country in October, bringing with it notable partners such as Maker’s Mark, Angel’s Envy and New Riff Distilling.
We chatted with Missy Spears, executive director of Queer Kentucky, a LGBTQ+ run non-profit based in Louisville, Kentucky that is leading the organization of the event. Spears shares their thoughts behind the timing of the event (and why it’s purposefully not during Pride), how it is helping to stake a claim in bourbon culture, what support from major Kentucky brands means in a state with increasing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and how bourbon can counter its cis-male image.
What was the inspiration behind Bourbon & Belonging?
Bourbon and Belonging was born from a desire to highlight the beauty of our commonwealth and the people within it, allowing Kentucky to share a different version of itself that is not often shown on the national news or late night talk shows. Inspired by major LGBTQ+ events like Gay Wine Weekend and Queer Beer Week, Bourbon and Belonging uplifts the inclusivity and diversity happening in Kentucky’s most popular export: bourbon.
What’s the scope of the event and what has it been like getting participants and partners on board?
Bourbon and Belonging is a collection of curated events taking place across eight different destinations at once, where interested attendees can choose from a list of activities in each area including rare tastings, tours, dinners, bottle painting classes, drag brunches and more. Given the vast scope of this project, we recognize that this has only been possible because of the incredible partners that jumped on board at the beginning of this project.
International hospitality group HospitableMe and the tourism bureaus for Louisville, NKY, Lexington, Bardstown, Bullitt County, Winchester, Paducah, and Frankfort, as well as the Kentucky Distillers Association, have all been instrumental in activating their networks across the state. Every day we are contacted by a new distillery, hotel, bar or restaurant that wants to get involved.
The event is happening in October, is there a reason it’s not happening during Pride month?
Fall is bourbon season in Kentucky, with a number of festivals and celebrations taking place across the state in September and October. It felt important to us to bring inclusivity into that timeframe by staking claim to the first week in October and declaring it Queer Bourbon Week. Pride month is incredible, but it’s important that LGBTQ+ events exist year-round.
Bourbon is Kentucky’s largest industry, and Kentucky as a state has some strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws — what does it mean (or what do you hope it means) for some of these economic leaders and big brands to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community?
The LGBTQ+ community has had a complicated relationship with corporate America over the years, and in Kentucky it’s been compounded with more and more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation proposed each year. We live in a society where freedom and fairness are determined by where the money flows, and our elected officials are far more likely to back off of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation when major brands speak up, instead of their actual constituents. With the amount of corporate support that Bourbon and Belonging is receiving, I am hopeful that the impact will continue long past October.
Bourbon has such a cis, white male image, what can be done to counter that?
The bourbon industry is becoming more inclusive behind the scenes, and we are hoping that events like Bourbon and Belonging, as well as more media attention showcasing the diverse talent in the industry, will help change that image and show that there is not just an audience for representation, but a thirst for more.
In addition to producing Bourbon and Belonging, our nonprofit Queer Kentucky is creating a gorgeous coffee table-esque publication featuring gorgeous profiles on the top LGBTQ+ talent in the industry. There are Queer CEO’s, founders, master tasters, and more in this industry and we can’t wait to showcase these people to a larger audience.
When planning this event have you or your team encountered concerns or hesitation from either bourbon companies or people in the LGBTQ+ community in light of the events surrounding BudLight and Dylan Mulvaney last year? Curious how that controversy has filtered into the discussion around this event?
This was definitely something that we over prepared for, only to be pleasantly surprised by the immediate support of the bourbon industry. Prior to our launch, our team discussed potential pushback, even creating an anticipated list of questions so we were prepared to discuss these hard topics. Amazingly, the adult beverage industry has jumped in head-first, excited to plan events and ensure a safe and inclusive atmosphere, without a mention of the events last year.