Diners, Drive-ins and Divas: What 2SLGBTQIA+ Culture Teaches Us About Real Hospitality

You don’t need chandeliers, marble floors, or perfectly polished silverware to create great hospitality. Sometimes, all it takes is a space where people can truly be themselves and feel seen.

Before it became a symbol of resistance, the Stonewall Inn was just that, a hotel bar in New York’s Greenwich Village with no liquor license, uneven floors, and mismatched furniture. It didn’t boast five-star amenities, but it offered something far rarer: authenticity, safety, and community.The fight for belonging didn’t end in 1969. It evolved. And at the center of that evolution? Drag queens who continue to show up, speak out, and create space in ways that resonate far beyond the stage. The same performers who were once forced to gather in back rooms and basements are now headlining brunches, festivals, and hotel events, still leading, still resisting, and still redefining what it means to feel welcome and to welcome.

The Business of Belonging

In Vancouver, drag is doing more than dazzling on stage. It's transforming recreation, tourism, and hospitality in bold and meaningful ways. From drag bingos and brunches to Pride festivals and cabarets, these events attract visitors from near and far. But beyond the glitz and glam,  they fuel economic activity, build community pride, and offer inclusive experiences that stay with people long after the show ends. 

Businesses that embrace 2SLGBTQIA+ joy through performances and inclusive branding aren’t just filling seats. They’re creating spaces of connection and celebration. Drag shows have moved from the margins to the mainstream, popping up in art galleries, public libraries, and big venues. These events give visitors a vibrant way to connect with local 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and the stories they share. These aren’t just performances. They’re moments rooted in presence, visibility, and joy.

But true hospitality doesn’t stop when the curtain closes, or when Pride Month ends. Building inclusive spaces means looking beyond guest-facing experiences to the full employee experience: from HR policies and uniforms, to leadership practices, benefits, and team culture. The business of belonging isn’t just good for guests, it’s essential for creating workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to thrive.

What Drag Teaches Us About Hospitality

You don’t need grand fixtures, squeaky clean floors and expensive fine china to make people feel valued. The best hospitality, the kind that lingers long after guests leave, isn’t always built on budgets. It’s built on real connection and intention.

Creating spaces where people feel welcome, safe, and seen, especially in an industry that often prioritizes polished experiences over welcoming and belonging, is transformative. It requires courage, creativity, empathy, and emotional intelligence. And above all, it requires a belief that hospitality means belonging. This kind of leadership, often modeled by drag performers and queer community builders, is exactly what the industry needs more of. So let’s recognize it, celebrate it, and keep building spaces that are honest, inviting, and considerate of folks from all walks of life.   

Walking the Talk: Becoming Rainbow Registered

Creating inclusive spaces doesn't happen by accident. It takes care, consistency, and intention.

That’s why programs like Rainbow Registered exist, to help businesses turn their values into visible, lasting action. Created by the Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce, Rainbow Registered is a national accreditation that supports organizations in creating safer, more welcoming environments for both guests and teams. It provides practical tools, meaningful guidance, and credibility for businesses serious about belonging.

If you’re already doing the work, this is how you show it. If you’re just getting started, this is a great place to start. 

Keeping Your Pride Alive Year Round

Pride is more than a seasonal marketing moment or a stretch of summer parties. It’s a year-round movement and a daily celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, their resilience, talent and skills, and love.

Pride never goes out of season, and in true fashion, the queens certainly never go out of style.

Resources

Rainbow Registered – rainbowregistered.ca
What’s On Queer BC – whatsonqueerbc.com
Vancouver Pride Society – vancouverpride.ca
Queer Business BC (formerly LOUD) – loudbusiness.com
Dogwood Monarchist Society - https://dmsvancouver.com/
QMUNITY – qmunity.ca

Know of a resource to add? Let us know.