Recipe for Change: Heartfelt Conversations on LGBTQIA+ Community and Acceptance
B. Scott, Mal Wright, & Hayley Kiyoko Speak on LGBTQIA+ Community and Acceptance
By: Eboné Chatman
In the heart of the entertainment industry, where stories of resilience and triumph often emerge, a new episode of the YouTube series Recipe for Change from Spring Hill shines a spotlight on the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community. This particular installment features a diverse group of queer personalities, including B. Scott, Mal Wright, Hayley Kiyoko, Chrishell Stause, and Jesse Sullivan, as they engage in heartfelt discussions about community, safe spaces, and the profound journey of self-acceptance.
A Feast for Thought
Recipe for Change is known for its unique format, blending sumptuous meals with meaningful conversations. Each episode begins with a round table where participants enjoy exquisite dishes and delve into various topics relevant to the entertainment industry and beyond.
In this episode, renowned chef Susan Feniger, celebrated for her work on the Food Network's *Too Hot Tamales* and her influential Los Angeles restaurants SOCALO and Border Grill, takes the culinary helm.
The dinner starts with a vibrant vegetable ceviche, a dish as colorful as the guests' personalities! For the main course, Feniger serves a delectable Crispy Legged Thigh Chicken paired with crispy cauliflower, salsa verde, and pickled tomatoes. The meal concludes with an indulgent double chocolate espresso cake, providing a sweet backdrop to the evening's profound discussions.
Conversations that Matter
As dinner begins, a unique tradition unfolds. Each guest draws a question from a bowl, sparking conversations that are both personal and universal. The first question posed is, "What kind of reactions did you receive when coming out to people?"
Dine with Hayley Kiyoko, B. Scott & more | Recipe For Change: Honoring Queer Voices
Jesse Sullivan started the conversation by saying, “I came out twice. I came out as lesbian first,… but coming out as trans four years ago was a completely different story. Obviously this was a time where America was very Trump forward i’ll call it …and the reaction I had from people was just so different than coming out as gay. I lost a lot of family members, I lost a lot of people from the LGBTQ community, my lesbian friends at the time…It was so shocking to me because I didn't expect that”.
Hayley Kiyoko says, “you’re consistently coming out because, from my experience and from what I know, you’re coming out to yourself over and over and over again and you are trying to convince yourself that you love yourself and you love who you are. And on top of that you are coming out to others.”
She also states that she is hopeful that the “younger generations are able to create space for them to be themselves and at an earlier age.”
Scott shares struggles with identity as there were a few iterations from androgynous then gender non-conforming, “which was before there was all of the inclusion you see today. Now the trans non-binary fits the best”.
Scott continues the conversation and adds that, “It's so important that people understand the complexities of it all. Gender identity is one component of it and how you express is another. There are so many variations of how you can express and I'm happy that I made it to the point now where there is more inclusion so I can hold space and feel like I don’t really belong.”
Mal Wright shares her experience with being the “only / other” in the room and wonders if the reason why she gets invited to speak in rooms that she wasn’t in before is because she is “digestible” as she has friends that look like her that aren’t invited into the same spaces, and why not?
A Call to Acceptance
As the episode draws to a close, the message is clear: true acceptance begins with listening and understanding. The guests' stories resonate deeply, reminding viewers of the importance of supporting one another and celebrating our unique identities.
Recipe for Change continues to set a high standard for meaningful content in the digital age. This episode, in particular, serves as a poignant reminder of the power of community and the ongoing journey toward self-acceptance. Through the lens of food and conversation, it invites us all to reflect on our own paths and the ways we can contribute to a more inclusive and accepting world.
In a society where divisions often seem insurmountable, Recipe for Change offers a recipe for unity, one conversation at a time.
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Meet Eboné Chatman, Producer & Media Correspondent for 247 Live Culture!