USDA Paid to Study ‘Queer Farmers’, ‘Latinx’ Masculinity, and Worse on Taxpayer Dime

In recent years, American taxpayers have unwittingly footed the bill for tens of thousands of dollars directed towards U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research exploring LGBT issues, a funding avenue now facing scrutiny from the Trump administration.

These research initiatives often hinge on interviews, pricing at approximately $373 per Zoom call, all in pursuit of a researcher’s investigation into alleged widespread discrimination.

One notable example includes a grant aimed at studying the “quality of life for queer farmers in Pennsylvania,” as revealed by federal records. This particular endeavor, under the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Projects — a federally funded branch of the USDA — amounted to a modest $14,997 in 2018.

While this specific grant may seem trivial in the grand scheme, critics argue that such expenditures detract from pressing agricultural issues, including the skyrocketing food prices that have surged during the Biden administration, coinciding with this type of funding.

The aforementioned 2018 grant was awarded to Pennsylvania State University for a project entitled “Sexuality and Sustainable Agriculture: Examining Queer Farmers’ Quality of Life in Pennsylvania.”

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The grant proposal asserts that the subject remains “woefully understudied.”

“The deeply entrenched assumption of heteronormativity in farming has excluded queer farmers from full inclusion and benefits from agriculture, even within sustainable agriculture,” the abstract of the proposal noted.

The graduate student involved in this project, Michaela Hoffelmeyer, subsequently shared the findings at the Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting in Richmond, Virginia. Her research illuminated various challenges faced by queer farmers, indicating that “findings suggest that transgender, non-binary, and women farmers faced additional hurdles” yet forge supportive networks to overcome these obstacles.

Hoffelmeyer has since transitioned to the University of Wisconsin’s faculty, where she has emerged as a prominent voice in media and public policy concerning LGBT issues.

On her university profile, Hoffelmeyer emphasizes her application of “feminist, queer, and labor theories” in her research to “inform agricultural programming and policy on how to make shifts to support viability, well-being, and sustainability.”

The faculty advisor for Hoffelmeyer’s project, Penn State University Assistant Professor Kathleen Sexsmith, has also led a taxpayer-funded initiative in a similar vein.

Latinx Gender Identities

Sexsmith’s grant, awarded during the Biden administration for $14,923 and running from 2021 to 2024, bears the title: “Farming as a Latinx: Analyzing how ethnic and gender identities shape Latino/a participation in sustainable agriculture in Pennsylvania.”

The grant proposal highlights the demographic shift from predominantly white farmers to an influx of Hispanic farmers due to immigration and takes a moment to reflect on Hispanic masculinity.

“How do rural Latin American masculinities become reproduced or reshaped in the U.S. as they establish themselves as sustainable farmers, and how does this impact the ability of women and men to meet sustainable agriculture goals?” the proposal abstract queries.

The researcher conducted 40 Zoom interviews, averaging about 45 minutes, costing taxpayers around $373 per discussion. The project initially aimed to engage farmers directly, but due to challenges in reaching this elusive demographic, the focus pivoted towards institutional perspectives.

The final report articulated that Hispanic farmers contend with systemic discrimination.

Queer Farmers’ Relationships

Another $15,000 grant listed in federal records is titled: “Gender, Sexuality, and Social Sustainability: Exploring Queer Farmers’ Relationships, Ethics, and Practices in the Midwest.” This 2022 grant was awarded to the University of Notre Dame, aiming to cultivate “a more comprehensive understanding of queer farmers’ experiences.”

The proposal claimed that “we still have much to learn about the specific ways that narratives which posit heterosexuality and cisgender identities as ‘normal’ continue to uphold hegemonic power dynamics within alternative agriculture.”

The research’s concluding report indicated that “findings show that queer farmers often struggle to find safe, supportive work or learning opportunities due to perceptions of their gender or sexuality by other farmers, customers, and community members. Even with familial ties to farming, many queer farmers face challenges in securing access to land as their family’s agricultural or social values may not align with their own.”

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The faculty advisors for all three projects have either not responded to inquiries or declined to comment to The Center Square.

Upon assuming office, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order prohibiting federal funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) projects, initiating a systematic review within the federal government.

In the aftermath, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency have been scrutinizing federal spending records, highlighting controversial taxpayer-funded projects, many of which the Trump administration has since abolished.

Legal challenges have arisen regarding these budget cuts, yet the administration’s momentum to reduce costs has gained traction, particularly focusing on federal spending related to DEI and LGBT issues.

The USDA announced in February that it had “begun a comprehensive review of contracts, personnel, and employee training and DEI programs.”

“In many cases, programs funded by the Biden administration focused on DEI initiatives that are contrary to the values of millions of American taxpayers,” the USDA added.

Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.