Queer communities have a long history of creating neighborhoods that are vibrant, unique and diverse. For Pride Month, we partnered with the GLBT Historical Society to feature the LGBTQ+ communities we love and serve every day. As part of this effort, we wanted to showcase the communities where our own employees live, work and play.
Kathryn Gonzalez
Design & Engineering Manager
San Francisco, CA
Where you are from: Born in the Philippines, grew up in South Carolina
Favorite neighborhood spot: Stonemill Matcha / Atlas Cafe — Stonemill because it caters to my bougieness and love of Matcha, and Atlas because I can sit there and hang out with friends while munching on a rice noodle salad.
What does community mean to you? The people that understand you, that support you, and that love you even when things get hard. And alongside the people, it’s also the spaces that give you the safety and freedom to be yourself.
How did you find your community?: I came out as trans to the first set of folks in my life a little over a year ago — how people would react was an unknown, and I had spent my entire life hiding from folks, so it was a scary moment starting to come out to them. I’ve been blessed to have so many of those people — my family, my friends, my coworkers — accept and support me in that time. To be safe, proud, and able to be fully myself — that’s what having a community is about.
Danika Snodgrass
Office Program Manager
San Francisco, CA
Where you are from: Southern California, a suburb of LA called Palos Verdes
Current city: Mission District in San Francisco since 2008
Favorite neighborhood spot: Wild Side West is my favorite bar in the city. It’s women-owned and they have a pool table, cheap drinks and a beautiful garden outside? Yes, please.
What does community mean to you? Having a bond with a person or a place or a group of people. It’s a common understanding of one another and the things we experience in life. I identify strongly with the queer community and I am so thankful for that. And within that community, I have found people that feel like family to me. They are my community.
How did you find your community? I found my community when I moved to Long Beach, CA. I was living on my own for the first time and was so excited to feel a real sense of freedom. I frequented a popular bar & restaurant called Hamburger Mary’s, where I found a group of amazing people who took me in as one of their own. It was the first time I had lesbian friends who were all friends with the gay men and the drag queens and everyone in between. I really grew during those years because I felt like I could be myself. Since then I have found many people who share the same values as me, who have become my community and my friends for life.
Gabrielle Mantley
Support Escalations Representative
Phoenix, AZ
Where you are from: Originally from Jersey City but I’ve been in Arizona for about 8 years on and off.
Current city: Phoenix, AZ
Favorite neighborhood spot: Target! But my favorite part of my neighborhood is the fact that it’s always changing and evolving.
What does community mean to you? A place where I can be myself. A place that embraces me in all aspects. A place I feel safe.
How did you find your community? I have several communities, some of which include: FFXIV (Final Fantasy XIV), Breastfeeding Mothers of Arizona, groups on Facebook, and bisexual friends I have. I found these communities by word of mouth and just going out and exploring. The small group of friends I do have who identify as bisexual or lesbian makes me feel like I’m free. Sometimes, it’s hard for people to accept that I’m bisexual, but around them, I can just be me. There’s no judgment. It makes me feel comfortable and safe to have people I can talk to about how I feel and my views. Community = friends in a nutshell.
Sam Sanders
Software Engineer
Eugene, OR
Where you are from: Crescent City, California
Current city: Eugene Oregon
Favorite neighborhood spot: Game Pub in Eugene, OR
What does community mean to you? Where you can exist without questions or gawks or dirty looks.
How did you find your community? Finding community has been an interesting journey for me. Growing up, I was called all kinds of epithets for wearing a kilt (no makeup, nothing too pretty, just a kilt). I got used to it, but it was never comfortable or fun. I moved between Santa Cruz, San Jose, and later San Francisco. While people accepted my queerness, I always struggled with a very obvious wealth disparity between the rich and poor. Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money, so it impacted my identity and ability to connect with certain people. However, once I moved to Eugene, I finally feel I can be myself. I can put a skirt on, drink cheap beer, be a general goon and everyone seems on board for all of it.
Michael Smith
Launch Operations Specialist
Ellenwood, GA
Where you are from: Born and raised in Decatur, GA but also lived in North Dakota and Britain
Current city: Ellenwood, GA for the last three years. Georgia will always be my home.
Favorite neighborhood spot: Pilgreen’s on Lake Dow. It has the best atmosphere and there are lots of people with interesting stories to tell. Everyone is always so welcoming.
What does community mean to you? How did you find your community? Honestly, growing up as both a racial and sexual minority in Georgia in the early 2000s wasn’t the easiest, but things keep getting better. And my DoorDash family is proof of that. The community I’ve found here at DoorDash is encouraging and positive. As the company grows, so does the number of diverse, supportive people I come into contact with on a daily basis. A special shout-out has to go out to my fellow team members, Nick and Olivia, who continuously support and encourage me to stay true to who I am.
Elliot Velez
Merchant Operations Associate
Chicago, IL
Where you are from:
Chicago, IL
Current city:
Chicago for 27 years
Favorite neighborhood spot: The food trucks in Humboldt Park
What does community mean to you? A place where an individual can go and always feel welcomed.
How did you find your community? Humbolt Park has always been a place where I spent a lot of my childhood. As I got older I knew I wanted to live in the Humbolt Park community because of the history and community leaders/activist. Throughout Humbolt Park, you will find many murals and sculptures that represent the Puerto Rican culture and activist work in the community. Some of my favorite murals in the Humbolt Park community are Sea of Flags, Birds of Latin America, and History of Puerto Rico. Humbolt Park is a secret treasure of amazing food, art, and history.
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We appreciate the Pride@ employee resource group sharing their wisdom so that others can feel a stronger sense of belonging at DoorDash. Thank you for “making room at the table.” We are proud to call you our coworkers and friends.
Celebrating Pride@ DoorDash was originally published in DoorDash on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.