When asked what they loved about their community, there was no hesitation from Suz, “What I love is how we show up for each other. My friends and I joke about passing our pennies back and forth: We are not a very well-resourced community in terms of money, access to care, and different spheres, but what we have, we give to each other. And I didn’t really know that community could be like that, where you really show up for each other, regardless of whether or not you deserve help.”
Suz has a master’s degree, teaches in higher education, and plays an active role in many community-oriented organizations in Fayette County. She brings creativity to the things that she loves, like cooking for their wife and writing poetry, and she is looking forward to learning more about gardening this summer. One might assume that a person like them doesn’t have to worry about accessing nourishment, but Suz wishes more people understood that having an advanced degree doesn’t always mean stability. Immediate employment or employment with a livable wage isn’t always guaranteed, which can create a situation where money is really tight, especially with the current costs of housing and food. Many hardworking, educated people have found themselves in this exact scenario, including Suz and their wife. Thankfully, when support was needed to ensure food made it to their table, a God’s Pantry Food Bank partner pantry was there for them.
Although the Lexington Pride Center gives dedicated attention to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, they welcome any neighbor seeking services, like their weekly food distributions. “We received help for six or seven months, maybe longer, and it made a huge difference for us,” Suz recalled. “It was such a gift to not have to worry about othering and scary experiences when getting food help.”
Unfortunately, these “othering” experiences can be common. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community have to consider how their identity is going to impact their ability to access resources like employment, healthcare, or even food. In fact, LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely to face hunger than non-LGBTQ+ adults. Suz says, “There’s this calculus where [we ask], ‘how much of myself can I bring to the world without it costing me something?’ I think that people deserve to have what they need. And it breaks my heart when I see that not happening for people in my community.”
God’s Pantry Food Bank believes food is a human right. This belief drives our commitment to work alongside food pantries, providing equitable, supportive services where individuals can access food with dignity and respect in spaces where they feel safe. And we couldn’t agree more when Suz told us, “We need to get to know our neighbors and figure out ways to take care of each other,” because, like them, we know it’s through the power of neighbors helping neighbors, during Pride Month and beyond, that will bring forth a future with a nourished, thriving life for every Kentuckian.
