BY: DM
Published 5 days ago
If you are looking for a quick meal inspired by Pride Month, the LGBT sandwich is perfect. Marks & Spencer first introduced the “LGBT” sandwich in early May 2019 to kick off Pride season across the UK and Ireland. Alongside the quirky packaging, M&S backed its Pride push with real cash: a £10,000 donation ($13,474 USD) to the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT), which helps homeless LGBTQIA+ young people, plus €1,000 ($1,347 USD) to Ireland’s BeLonG To Youth Services, according to The Standard.
Five years later, the LGBT sandwich remains a talking point each Pride season. It resurfaces online whenever brands mix activism with advertising, prompting fresh debates about rainbow-washing versus real impact. Here is a look at what ingredients go into an LGBT sandwich and where to snag one.
What’s inside an LGBT sandwich?
The “LGBT” sandwich stays true to its acronym. It consists of four simple ingredients between two slices of soft, bloomer-style bread. It layers lettuce, guacamole, bacon, and fresh tomatoes — lettuce for “L,” guacamole for “G,” bacon for “B,” and tomato for “T.” Folks across the pond can score this limited edition sarnie exclusively at Marks & Spencer locations across the UK and Ireland.
The Players Retreat in Raleigh brings the LGBTQ+ sandwich home. Their version layers crisp lettuce, creamy guacamole, smoky bacon, fresh tomato, a swipe of mayo, and a sprinkle of queso fresco between hearty multigrain bread. Better yet, 100 percent of the proceeds fund Equality North Carolina, the state’s oldest LGBTQIA+ advocacy group working on everything from policy change to youth programs.
“At the Players Retreat, we’re proud of many things — our food, our team, and especially the welcoming spirit that has defined us since 1951,” the website explains. “We’ve always believed that everyone deserves a seat at the table. That’s why our Pride Flag doesn’t just fly in June — it flies year-round, as a constant reminder that whoever you are, you’re welcome here, just as you are.”
They’re serving the sandwich through Monday, June 30, during lunch, dinner, and late-night hours. If you can’t make it to Raleigh, keep your eyes peeled at queer owned cafés, bars, and delis that offer specialty sandwiches.
LGBTQIA+ culture is influencing the world.
Since the beginning of time, LGBTQIA+ culture has inspired mainstream movements. Even large brands can’t resist tapping into the queer food wave. From rainbow-sprinkled doughnuts at national chains to limited-edition Pride snacks, companies lean into colorful packaging and donate proceeds to LGBTQIA+ nonprofits.
However, the influence does not stop with food. Converse lit up May with its eleventh annual “Proud To Be” line. According to WWD, the brand has funneled nearly $3.4 million into LGBTQIA+ nonprofits since 2015. Tech brands joined the celebration, too. Apple released its Pride Edition Sport Band for the Apple Watch, with each band featuring a unique rainbow pattern. They also introduced custom watch faces and wallpapers, so users can deck out their iOS devices in Pride flair. Audio brand Skullcandy rode in with its “All Love” collection, wrapping its Dime Evo earbuds and Icon ANC headphones in chrome rainbow casings.
Do you think food can be a tool for activism, or is this just another case of rainbow washing? Comment below!
