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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Closing down of gay bars- good or bad?

I think there's been a trend over the years to shut down a lot of gay bars, at least one's that I've known. I've seen a lot of them close, and if they are still there, they charge outrageous cover, or like a popular lesbian bar in Indianapolis, they require an extensive security check at the door, At another in L. A., parking became difficult when nearby street parking required local stickers, even late at night.  Hey, I even got a $45 parking ticket -OUCH!

Anyway, I sometimes felt that it was a little unfortunate that they only common meeting places for gay people have traditionally bars where expensive covers and alcohol and clouds of ciggie smoke are ever-present.  So if the gay bar scene is getting sparser, do you think it's a good or bad thing?  I'm certain non-gays wouldn't have a problem with it.  


obtuse's picture

a bad thing...

This is a good point, and needs further observation.  I fear the worst:  it's becoming a T.R.E.N.D. to be in a gay bar.  I know lots of people who prefer to party in gay bars. My city is quite gay-friendly.  I don't go to bars much anymore, so I don't have any personal experience, but judging by storefronts only, I could see how (given the stereotype of DECORATING) it could be the current fashion to have the Best Club, and be Seen By The Most Important Gay People...what do you think? Party people? Tell us what you know!

Dirty Marteeni's picture

Sad Story..

I recently tried my local gay club for the first time and half of the people there were straight men trying to pick up on me.  I felt very uncomfortable.
lovecatcadillac's picture

*looks perturbed* Oh, hell

*looks perturbed* Oh, hell no. I'm going to be going to my first gay bar soon enough. If I get even one horny straight guy staring at my rack and trying to pick me up with the award-winning line so many men try out on me ("You know what your problem is?"), I will be pissed beyond all words.
Dirty Marteeni's picture

I know...

It was horrid!  I  had one guy actually pull my arm trying to get me on the dance floor...he would not let go and I had to jerk away and tell him VERY firmly that I was NOT interested!! 
Momma Bear's picture

I don't miss

going to gay bars....it's like high school all over again when I went. I live in Philly so there is no more smokin, but to be honest I would rahter go to the bar up the block from my house and enjoy a cheap Top Shelf cocktail for $3 than $6 in the city. Also, I find that I don't like to segregate myself from people. The bars I go to everyone knows I am gay and could care less. They love my girlfriend and it's all good.

I don't feel uncomfortable when I put my arm around her or kiss her. Besides I get free drinks, it rocks. No one messes with me or is out of line. And if they were trust me I have 10 patrons that would kick their ass if they were.

 

But does anynoe see the difference between men and women bars. Better drink specials, better music, better drugs..just joking but not really. I mean cheaper covers and everything. Well I will continue to go to my bar up the street and the others also and make myself visible.

 

 

 

 

 

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aliveinreflection's picture

Just me...

I've never been to a gay bar but I'd assume it's in ways like a Christian bookstore. Smaller clientelle (sp?) generally means everything costs more and also limited selection means less competition, generally resulting in lower quality products.

Just for clarity I don't mean quality in girls but rather the alcohol and all of that.

I do think that for the girls who don't feel comfortable around guys that they should continue to exist and I'd hope they're made more accessible and better in general =x.

Turn off the lights and turn off the shyness
'Cause all of our moves make up for the silence

poet haute's picture

Gay bars are more fun

No there's no doubt in my mind that gay bars are more fun than other bars-  it's just a less inhibited atmoshphere and they play better music-  I'm just thinking thta they seem to be closing a lot of them-

Maybe there's some kind of alternative- like coffee shops as well- I'm thinking about Little fridas on Santa Monica Blvd in LA- Is it still there?-  Haven't been there now for some time.

As much as I didn't like Disco when it was first out- I finally got to really liking discos-   There's something about a lighted dance floor, and that music had great instrumentals.  I felt out of place, cause I was still a male, and had a couple of really stupid looking leisure suits, that I didn't realize didn't get much respect outside of the disco.

Then I recall dancing in the "Mosh pit" when punk and New Wave came along.  I was banging bodies with a bunch of mmale freaks one night back about 1980 at the Whiskey A Go Goi- and the band playing was the go- Go's-  before MTV or anybody had heard of them outside of LA.  I had one of those shiney warm up jackets then. That slam dancing was a little stupid!

I don't like Line Dancing at gay bars-  too conformist.

Anonymous's picture

I know what you mean

I know what you mean Obtuse...it has become a trend to go to the gay clubs. I mean, I don't even consider the gay club here a GAY club anymore, there seems to be more straight people there than gay people. Hell, even my straight sister and her friends go, quite often actually. But I guess I can't complain, cause I'd rather have very open-minded people than ignorant bastards around this city (being in a red state-bible belt area)...it's really not that bad here in Kansas as you would probably think. Anyways, I guess "they"--being the straight folks-- like to go because of the music at the gay clubs, which I admit, is good. Well, I am totally digressing, but yeah, we recently had a gay club close here. The music was good, but it was located in a weird area of town, so they didn't make much money, and when it comes down to it, it's all about the bottom line when running any kind of business.
Sarah C.'s picture

My Experience...

I've only been to one gay club, the one near my University, and I'll have to say it was such a pleasant experience. There was a nice mix of gay guys, gay girls, and of course the straight girls just there to dance (annoying at times, but not a bother at all). But I found plenty of girls to dance with/ hit on so it wasn't really an issue for me. I guess it all depends on the bar/club, the clientele they attract and the area that it is in. I would be really sad if the gay club near me closed, but every club has different issues.
zerbibnik's picture

i hope not...

i live in a very small community, and i live far away from any large cities. so there are no "clubs" of any sort for me to go to. i hope they don't close any down in the cities i plan on visiting in the winter months, like miami. i'm going to the "white party" this year and plan on visiting the keys as well. and because i've never been to an all girl bar, those are the type of places that i want to go to the most. 

is it a lack of business, or the behavior of the patrons that is closing down the gay bars? if it is the lack of business, is it the fault of the owners or the community? and if it is the behavior of the patrons in the neighborhood bars, are they being under or over patroled by the police, or is it the neighborhood having problems with the bar being for gays, or the bartender for serving the patrons too much of something they can't handle?