Melissa Kravitz

Bio

Melissa is a staff writer at Mic, where she has written lifestyle news and features since 2016. She specifically covers food, travel and personal finance, with a focus on LGBTQ+ people and culture. Melissa’s bylines have also appeared in Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, VICE, and several more publications. She earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, with a concentration in fiction, from Columbia University. When Melissa is not writing articles, she's likely writing and/or reading fiction. She is very into wine, which probably helps with all that reading/writing and can't resist an impractical cooking project. She loves exploring New York City, travels frequently and is constantly trying to improve her French. You can follow Melissa on Twitter at @melissabethk and learn more about her and her work at www.melissabethk.com. She is represented by Kristy Hunter of The Knight Agency.
How to be an ally in a queer space without exploiting the LGBTQ+ community
By Melissa Kravitz
During Pride month, both Taylor Swift and Joe Biden — two straight, cisgender celebrities — ignited controversy for appearing at the Stonewall Inn, the legendary gay bar known for the pivotal queer rights uprising that occurred in the space 50 years…
Canceling your trip to the Dominican Republic could make the travel crisis worse
By Melissa Kravitz
In the past year, 10 American tourists have died while on vacation in the Dominican Republic, with several of the deaths sharing disturbingly similar circumstances. Although no formal connection has been made between the incidents so far, people are…
Cheetos and KFC's new chicken sandwich is the ungodly, possibly delicious collab of the summer
By Melissa Kravitz
Colonel Sanders and Chester Cheetah have teamed up for the junk food collaboration of the summer. A KFC Cheetos chicken sandwich is hitting KFC's menus this July, and it's being promoted as the "sandwich of your dreams" (or nightmares, depending on…
'Queer Eye' star Tan France will make over Tina Fey, Pete Davidson and more on his new show
By Melissa Kravitz
Fans may still be celebrating Netflix's recent renewal of Queer Eye for two more seasons, but followers of stylist Tan France now have another reason to rejoice. Buzzfeed reports that the Utah-based fashionista will star in his own makeover series,…
For years, LGBTQ+ couples didn’t get tax benefits. Elizabeth Warren wants to fix that.
By Melissa Kravitz
LGBTQ+ Americans have historically received unjust treatment by the United States government, but some politicians are now looking to correct past wrongs. On June 20, Massachusetts Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren…
Janet Mock is teaming up with Netflix in a history-making deal for trans women of color
By Melissa Kravitz
As a bestselling author, TV director, and trans icon, Janet Mock has often made history throughout her decades-long career in media. And now, the 36-year-old is breaking yet another glass ceiling. As reported by Variety on June 19, Mock has landed a…
How to tell if your chocolate was made through child labor
By Melissa Kravitz
Chocolate may be a regular treat for many Americans, but it's not always an innocent indulgence. A recent report from The Washington Post found that the country's largest chocolate companies — Nestle, Mars and Hershey — don't necessarily make their…
A guide to brands with Pride merch that actually gives back to the LGBTQ+ community
By Melissa Kravitz
As Pride celebrations across the nation take hold this June, revelers are finding themselves surrounded by rainbow-themed parades and events, not to mention plenty of swag, too. In 2019, companies with Pride-themed merch giving back to LGBTQ+…
Mic partners with Common's 'Imagine Justice' to advocate for criminal justice reform
By Melissa Kravitz
On Friday, June 7, Mic will host a free community concert in collaboration with Imagine Justice, a new nonprofit founded by Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award Winning Artist and Activist Common. The organization aims to instill hope, love…
Your stress is probably giving your dog anxiety, according to this new study
By Melissa Kravitz
Playing with your dog may feel like a major stress reliever, but your stress might actually be spreading to your pet. A new study, published in the academic journal Scientific Reports on June 6, found that dogs can pick up on their owners' anxiety.…
CPR is only taught on male dummies. Changing that could save women's lives.
By Melissa Kravitz
Like countless other things in our culture, the plastic dummies used to train medical professionals and others to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are designed for men. Despite the fact that roughly half the population has breasts,…
Yelp's new features can help you find LGBTQ+-owned businesses
By Melissa Kravitz
While many people would like nothing more than to spend their money at LGBTQ+-owned businesses, finding them can be a task, to say the least (just try Googling "Lesbian Chef-Owner Paris" and see how little info you actually get). It isn't for a lack…
The average American adult hasn't made a new friend in five years
By Melissa Kravitz
Is your social group feeling stale? If so, you're far from the only one. A recent study by OnePoll in collaboration with Evite looked at the social habits of 2,000 American adults and found that on average, no one had made a new friend in the past…
Millennials are on even shakier financial ground than you thought
By Melissa Kravitz
Just over a decade after the 2008 recession that financially plagued Millennial job-seekers and students, many members of the generation are still hurting. According to a new Deloitte study reported by The Washington Post, American millennials have…
Ben & Jerry's wants to make CBD-infused ice cream and people are very on-board
By Melissa Kravitz
While CBD can be found in many fast food and specialty products across the country, no major national grocery brands have yet to make the leap into infusing the hemp-derived substance into their products — until now. CBD-infused Ben & Jerry's pints…
Juul may open physical stores, despite growing backlash
By Melissa Kravitz
America's largest vaping company is possibly opening up its own retail stores. According to an anonymous source in The Wall Street Journal, Juul has reportedly begun hiring employees for potential storefronts in Dallas and Houston, and a Juul store…
You can now let your Lyft driver know what pronouns you prefer in advance
By Melissa Kravitz
A new feature on the Lyft app might make ridesharing a better, safer experience for LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming passengers. As announced on May 30, Lyft has become the first rideshare app to allow passengers to share their pronouns with drivers…
It's actually totally fine if you don't take 10,000 steps a day
By Melissa Kravitz
10,000 steps a day may be the walking goal for many Fitbit enthusiasts, but new research posits that the optimal step count for women is actually significantly less. The Journal of the American Medical Association study, published on May 29, found…
Your terrible Uber rating could actually get you kicked off the app now
By Melissa Kravitz
Thanks to a new Uber policy, your passenger rating may now be worth more than just a five-star boost to your ego. On May 29, the rideshare service announced that passengers in the United States and Canada can now be banned from using the app if they…
A first timer’s complete guide to exploring the Grand Canyon
By Melissa Kravitz
Perhaps the most famous National Park in North America, the Grand Canyon attracts nearly six millions visitors from all over the world annually. At 277 miles wide — and up to a mile deep at its lowest point! — the canyon is an impressive natural…