How Lemon Bars Became the Official Dessert of Bisexual Pride

Many accessories signal to others in the LGBTQIA2S+ community that you're also queer: flags, bandanas, a carabiner. But now anyone in the Bi+ umbrella (bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, and other multi-gender sexual identities) has an official dessert: lemon bars.

What started as a cheeky comment turned into a meme among bisexuals around the world, and as the notion went viral, it turned out that — for some kismet reason — a lot of bisexuals do love lemon bars.

Here's how the underdog of a pastry became canon in the queer community, plus our favorite lemon bar recipes to make at home.

A Baked Good Turned Bicon

Like all good internet lore, it started on Reddit. In 2018, Redditor @Tuxedo-T-Shirt (who has since deleted the account) was a married bisexual person coming to terms with their sexuality. They were deeply closeted and found community and acceptance in the r/Bisexual subreddit. In a post addressing new members, the Redditor made a comment, riffing off an already famous dessert meme in the “Star Wars” community: “Come to the Dark side, we have cookies.”

Then, Redditor @llamadoctorsbabygirl played off the comment with a photo of lemon bars. The baked good featured a crumb topping colored in the Bisexual Pride flag. “Come to the Bi side.. we have lemon bars” the post read.

And from there, it took off like cuffed jeans, NASA T-shirts and all the other lighthearted tropes about bisexuals. It became such a thing that the Bisexual subreddit even introduced a lemon bar flair, an icon community members can add to posts to signal fandom. Flair typically means a subject is popular enough to warrant constant discussion or enthusiasm.

And seven years later, lemon bars are still going strong in the Bi+ community. But why lemon bars specifically? Why not a more famous tray bake?

A Layer (Bar) of Metaphors

Seven years ago, before @Tuxedo-T-Shirt deleted their account, they addressed the viral meme in a long post and clarified why they specifically referenced lemon bars and not something more commercial like cake or pie.

“Lemon bars are the unsung heroes of the pastry world,” they said. “And they're crazy f***ing delicious. But they get put in the background all the time behind less bold flavors, like those in cookies and brownies.”

@Tuxedo-T-Shirt went on to say that they wanted to remind people how delicious lemon bars are, and that gets to the root of a big, big elephant in the Bi+ community: stigma.

Compared to gays and lesbians, the Bi+ community faces a specific type of antagonism and phobia — often directly from gays and lesbians — that is fueled by stereotypes of hypersexuality or being “greedy” about sexual partners and experiences. And that fans the flames of dangerous myths that bisexual people are promiscuous and have higher rates of STIs or that they’re “not gay enough” to be in the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Like a lemon bar, I’ve often felt sour and polarizing around fellow queer women — particularly “gold star lesbians” who consider Bi+ women dirty for previous sexual experiences. Because for all the jokes and memes, bisexuals face the highest rates of sexual abuse and intimate partner violence in the LGBTQIA2S+ community — as well as higher rates of substance abuse, depression and suicide ideation and attempts.

Queer comedian DeAnne Smith, who is “chronically online” and all too familiar with the lemon bar discourse is quick to see the bittersweet symbolism. They told Food Network the baked good is the perfect dessert for the Bi+ community because “It’s tart. It’s sweet. It’s often overlooked. It doesn’t compromise.”

“I’ve always been a vocal supporter of my Bi buds,” they said. “I remember the prejudice a lot of lesbians had against Bi people when I came out in the late 90s, and I always thought that was nonsense. Bi pride forever!”

Lemon Bar Tips From a Queer Chef

Like DeAnne Smith, Pastry chef Tatiana Azan also told Food Network they’re “chronically online,” but the owner of Sweet T’s Bake Shoppe in Miami hadn’t heard of lemon bars in the bisexual community until they got my email.

“It does make sense,” they said. “Queer people are sweet but also not afraid to be a bit zesty.”

Sweet T’s is known for their chocolate cake, but Tatiana did share a tip for lemon bars that they picked up at Johnson & Wales University while studying baking and pastry arts.

“I picked up this trick in school nine years ago, and I still use it to this day,” they said. “I like to add rosemary to the crust. It always pairs well with citrus, and the rosemary really cuts the acidity and takes the bar to the next level.”

Another pro tip: Don’t overcook your filling. “If you want creamy, dreamy lemon bars, cook them at a lower temperature for a longer time,” they said. “The filling is a custard, and if you cook it at too high a heat or for too long, it will break and the texture will be compromised.”

Baking Lemon Bars as Activism and Celebration

TikTok creator Krystin Samms is known for her colorful bakes that integrate different flags from the LGBTQIA2S+ community. The bisexual baker, based in Seattle, has helped raise thousands of dollars for queer organizations such as The Trevor Project and she’s completely self taught. A Senior Research Scientist in biotech by day, she started baking during the pandemic and hasn’t stopped.

“Lemon bars have come to represent love and support in the community,” Krystin told Food Network. “And more than anything, they represent being seen. As a bisexual individual, there are often situations where you are made to feel invalidated, that your sexuality is just a phase,” she added. “Lemon bars can be a bit like that as well; they are often not the first dessert someone thinks of. But if you give lemon bars a chance, you understand that they are a valid dessert option. Lemon bars have such a wonderful balance of sweet and tart.”

“We love who we love,” she added. “People cannot invalidate the feelings you experience with mere words. I firmly believe in seeking out communities that are supportive and welcoming, whether they are online or in real life. Find a group of people who will come together and share lemon bars with you!”

Best Lemon Bar Recipes

Ready to make your own lemon bars? This classic recipe from Food Network Magazine is great for newbies. Or level up with these Lemon Meringue Bars from our test kitchen chefs.

And The Most-Lemony Lemon Bar of All Time is packed with tart flavor and features a little lemon slice candy topping — a lemon flair that’s a nod to the Reddit post that started it all.