[New York Diary] Why Did a Rainbow Cake Appear at the Famous New York Diner Visited by Jung Haein?

Stories from Everyday Life in America, Reported from New York

On the morning of the 1st (local time), at 11 a.m., a rainbow-colored carpet was laid out and a large "Rainbow Cake" appeared in front of 'Ellen's Stardust Diner' located on Broadway in New York, USA. Known as a unique restaurant where Broadway musical actors and aspiring performers serve food while singing, this place gained even more fame in Korea after actor Jung Hae-in visited it on a travel program, making it a so-called "Broadway tourist hotspot."

On that day, Ellen Hart Sturm, the restaurant founder, stood in front of the microphone wearing a rainbow-colored scarf and shouted "Happy Pride." Cameron Mitchell Bell, who appeared in musicals such as "Beauty and the Beast," along with Broadway actors and aspiring servers, all sang the song "I Am What I Am" together.

They cut the large rainbow cake to celebrate the start of June, the Pride Month, which is dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights. Ellen, the founder, announced that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of rainbow cakes, rainbow milkshakes, and rainbow merchandise sold at the restaurant throughout the month would be donated to a Broadway nonprofit organization dedicated to disease prevention, including AIDS.

After the event, Ellen met separately with domestic and international reporters and explained the background of holding an event supporting the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, etc.) community: "Everyone should be able to be themselves and not face discrimination." She emphasized again, "It is important to believe 'I am what I am.' This place is a melting pot of all races and nationalities," adding, "I believe there should be no discrimination."

Pride Month holds even greater significance for New Yorkers. It originated from the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn located in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan, New York, where minorities resisted violent police raids and oppression. This became a turning point for the global LGBTQ+ rights movement. Decades later, it represents movements worldwide supporting sexual minorities, expressing diverse gender identities, and opposing discrimination. The rainbow, composed of various colors, symbolizes a world where sexual minorities live without discrimination.

However, recently in the U.S., companies engaging in pro-LGBTQ+ marketing have faced backlash, known as "rainbow capitalism." For example, Target faced criticism from both sides after placing transgender and other LGBTQ+ related products prominently in stores nationwide ahead of June and then withdrawing them amid controversy. Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, also experienced a sharp decline in sales after promoting LGBTQ+ related promotions that led to boycotts.

Regarding this, Ellen said, "We donate our own things," adding, "We believe in our society and think that people are increasingly accepting everyone." Scott Barbarino, the artistic director of Ellen's Stardust Diner, said, "From the beginning, we welcomed LGBTQ+ performers from across the country, and this has been their home." Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC Tourism who attended the event, stated, "The theme of this year's NYC Pride is 'strength in solidarity.'" He evaluated, "54 years after the Stonewall uprising, the fight for equality continues through people like Ellen welcoming tourists visiting New York."

Ellen Hart Sturm, the founder of Ellen's Stardust Diner

Opened in 1987, Ellen's Stardust Diner is a representative Broadway tourist spot where long lines form daily even without "rainbow marketing." During the event, Dixon said, "New York City's tourism industry has recently experienced a strong rebound," adding, "It sounds like a joke, but it's true. We use the line outside Ellen's Stardust Diner as an indicator of tourism." Even while the event was ongoing, tourists and customers kept coming to the restaurant endlessly.

The servers here work when there are no performances and use the income to cover vocal training fees, audition expenses, and living costs. Actor Cameron Mitchell Bell said, "The best thing about this place is that after traveling around for Broadway shows, you can come back again," adding, "Broadway is literally based on contracts, so when there are no shows, you can come back and sing here."

Ellen, the founder, explained the background of opening this type of themed restaurant by saying, "Since I also sang, I thought it would be nice to take turns singing." She said, "Many people who worked as servers have appeared in Broadway shows. Singing, practicing, and auditioning every day is almost the same," adding, "And someone is discovering them."

When asked about the know-how that allowed the business to continue for a long time, she said, "We had to close during the pandemic," adding, "Fortunately, we are a very well-known place, so tourists returned and we were able to reopen. Tourists are the foundation of the restaurant above all," expressing her gratitude.