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.