Hey, straight people. Stop gog to gay bars. : The Indiepennt

Contents:

• WHY GAY BARS ARE DISAPPEARG ACROSS AMERI
• DO YOU WANNA FUNK WH ME?: A BEGNER’S GUI TO GAY NIGHTCLUBS
• WHY I DON’T GO TO GAY BARS
• HEY, STRAIGHT PEOPLE. STOP GOG TO GAY BARS.
• THE DOS & DON'TS OF GAY CLUBBG
• LET'S TALK ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE QUEER SPAC"I WANT STRAIGHT PEOPLE TO QUTN THEMSELV WHEN THEY GO TO A QUEER SPACE, WHY DO I FEEL ENTLED TO GO TO THIS PLACE?"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY BOBBY BOXNOVEMBER 4, 2021/2:24 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3840PX;WIDTH:5760PX;}GETTYGROUP OF YOUNG CHEERFUL PEOPLE ARE HAVG FUN THE NIGHT CLUB, DRKG CKTAILS, SG, BONDG, CLUBBG, CHEERG AND DANCG.BY BOBBY BOXNOVEMBER 4, 2021 / 2:24 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LET'S TALK ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE QUEER SPAC","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2021-11-04T18:24:36.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2021-11-04T18:24:36.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BOBBY BOX","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN I MOVED TO TORONTO OM MY HOMETOWN OF HATON, ONCE MORTIFYGLY CROWNED THE CY WH THE MOST HATE CRIM CANADA, WAS 2018, AND I ONLY HAD ONE IEND. IN A SPERATE ATTEMPT TO MAKE IENDS AND MONEY, I CREATED A GRDR PROFILE LOOKG FOR A JOB AS A BARTENR SCE I LIVED ONE STREET AWAY OM THE CY’S GAY VILLAGE. I RECEIVED AN OFFER 24 HOURS LATER TO WORK AT ONE OF THE CY’S MOST POPULAR BARS, WHICH HOSTED DRAG SHOWS EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK AND WAS PARTICULARLY POPULAR AMONG QUEER STUNTS AND STRAIGHT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DURG MY STT AS A BARTENR AND BAR-BACK, MENTS LIKE, “IT’S A SHAME THAT YOU’RE GAY,” AND UNSOLICED ASS- AND CROTCH-GRABBG, WERE NIGHTLY OCCURRENC ALMOST EXCLIVELY OM STRAIGHT WOMEN CLIENTELE. ON ONE PARTICULAR OCSN, I LOOKED BACK AT A DNKEN ASS-GRABBER TO SLD HER. SHE RPOND BY WKG AND MOUTHG THE WORDS, “YOU’RE WELE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A VETERAN -WORKER LATER ASSURED ME, “YOU’LL GET ED TO . IT’S JT PART OF THE JOB.” I QU AFTER TWO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THERE ARE TWO TYP OF STRAIGHT PEOPLE THAT TYPILLY E TO QUEER SPAC: THE ON WHO E LARGE NUMBERS AND HAVE NO RPECT OF HOW TO BEHAVE A QUEER SPACE AND TRY TO TAKE OVER, AND THERE ARE THE ALLI, WHO ARE WELL-TED AND UNRSTAND THAT THEY ARE GUTS OUR SPACE,” TORONTO-BASED DRAG PERFORMER KERO SALEIB TELLS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OVER THE PHONE, KERO RELLS A PARTICULARLY HARROWG EXPERIENCE A POPULAR DRAG BAR. HE AND A GROUP OF IENDS WERE WATCHG A DRAG SHOW WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN APPROACHED AND PLIMENTED HIM. TAKG HIS KDNS AS A GREEN LIGHT TO PH FURTHER, SHE GRABBED HIS CHT AND STARTED BBG HIS CROTCH WHILE LGHG. TO PROVE A POT, KERO GRABBED HER CHT. SHE RPOND BY SLAPPG HIM.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“IF ISN'T OKAY FOR ME TO DO THIS TO YOU WHOUT [YOUR] NSENT, WHAT MAK YOU THK YOU N DO THAT TO ME?’” HE ASKED. “SHE THEN TRIED TO JTIFY THAT BEE I’M GAY, I SHOULDN'T RE, AND I HAD NO IA WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT. I EVENTUALLY HAD HER KICKED OUT OF THE BAR WHEN SHE TRIED TO GET EVEN MORE VLENT WH ME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MORE I SPOKE WH OTHER QUEER NIGHTLIFE PROFSNALS AND ENTHIASTS, THE MORE STORI LIKE THIS I HEARD. MIKHAIL, 34, REMEMBERS BEG OUT DANCG WH HIS HBAND WHEN A WOMAN OM A BACHELORETTE PARTY PHED HER FGER THROUGH HIS SHORTS AND TOUCHED HIS ASSHOLE ON THE DANCE FLOOR. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OR EVEN THE MOST RECENT TIME HE OR HIS HBAND WERE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“JT LAST MONTH, MY HBAND WAS KNOCKED OVER BY A GROUP OF DNK STRAIGHT WOMEN WHO WERE 10 MUT LATE TO THE DRAG SHOW AND WANTED TO BE UP ONT,” HE TELLS LOGO. AS THE DRKS NTUED TO FLOW THAT EVENG, THE SAME GROUP WOULD LATER PH MIKHAIL AND HIS HBAND TOGETHER, ENURAGG THEM TO KISS. THE UPLE SUDNLY BEME A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN AN RMAL POLL ON TWTER, I ASKED MY QUEER FOLLOWERS HOW THEY FELT ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE OUR SPAC. NEARLY 80% OF THE 250-PL PEOPLE WHO VOTED WERE AGAST . THOUGH THIS POLL TENTNALLY LACKED NUANCE (I ONLY GAVE “YAY” OR “NAY” OPTNS), MOST SAID THE ANSWER PENDS ON THE DIVIDUAL AND THEIR MOTIVATNS. “STRAIGHT ALLI ARE WELE, BUT STRAIGHT TOURISTS ARE NOT,” ONE VOTER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN BOYSTOWN: SEX AND COMMUNY CHIGO, THOR AND QUEER SOCLOGIST JASON ORNE S THIS BEHAVR “ON SAFARI.” STRAIGHT PEOPLE OFTEN VIS QUEER SPAC AS ONE MIGHT VIS A ZOO, ONLY STEAD OF OGLG TIGERS AND LNS, THEY’RE ENTERTAED BY BEARS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A PRR NVERSATN WH ORNE FOR IN MAGAZE, HE EXPLAED THERE ARE BOTH PH AND PULL FACTORS THAT LEAD STRAIGHT WOMEN TO GAY BARS. FOR STANCE, SOME STRAIGHT WOMEN MIGHT BE DRAWN TO GAY BARS AS SAFE HAVENS OM CREEPY STRAIGHT BROS, WHICH IS PLETELY UNRSTANDABLE. OTHERS MIGHT REGARD GAY CULTURE AS SAFE AND FUN EROTICISM WHOUT UNRSTANDG HETEROSEXISM, OR THE REJECTN OF RPECTABILY THAT WH .GETTY IMAGPORTRA OF SG IENDS LOOKG AT MERA AND HOLDG DRKS AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PERCEPTN IS ALSO A FACTOR THIS NVERSATN SCE YOU N’T ALWAYS TELL IF SOMEONE IS LGBTQ BY THEIR APPEARANCE. FOR EXAMPLE, A TRANS MAN AND TRANS WOMAN TOGETHER MIGHT LOOK LIKE A STRAIGHT UPLE. FEMME LBIANS OR MASCULE GAY MEN MIGHT BE MISTAKEN FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE. BY ATTEMPTG TO QUANTIFY PEOPLE’S QUEERNS BASED ON HOW THEY LOOK, YOU ALSO N THE RISK OF VALIDATG BISEXUALS, PANSEXUALS, AND OTHER QUEER PEOPLE WH FLUID SEXUAL ORIENTATNS, PECIALLY IF THEY ENTER A SPACE A HETERO-PRENTG PARTNERSHIP. QUEER BARS AND CLUBS ARE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR MUNY, NOT JT THOSE OF WHO READ AS VISIBLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT’S MORE, QUEER PEOPLE N BE JT AS GRABBY WH STRAIGHT WOMEN AS THEY ARE WH . I’VE SPOKEN WH MANY STRAIGHT WOMEN WHO’VE HAD THEIR BREASTS TOUCHED BY GAY MEN WHOUT NSENT, AND THE RATNALY IS THE SAME ON BOTH SIS: BEE WE AREN’T SEXUALLY PATIBLE, THIS KD OF NTACT IS EMED NOCENT OR HARMLS. I N TELL YOU OM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT UNWELE TOUCH ARE VASIVE NO MATTER WHO THEY E {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INAPPROPRIATE GRABBG ASI, MANY LGBTQ PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAID A STRAIGHT PERSON’S PRENCE A MAJORY-QUEER SPACE N MAKE THEM FEEL UNFORTABLE OR UNSAFE, AND FEATS THE VERY PURPOSE OF A QUEER SPACE THE FIRST PLACE. THIS UNEASE N BE MAGNIFIED SEXUAL SPAC, WHERE ACTG ON OUR SIR N BE REGARD AS ENTERTAG — OR WORSE, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN JAB, 28, ATTEND MARKET DAYS, AN LGBTQ FTIVAL CHIGO, WH A STRAIGHT GIRLIEND, SHE MENTED ON HOW PUP MASKS ARE “SRY” AND DIDN’T UNRSTAND THEIR RELEVANCE AT THE EVENT. “AS A GAY MAN, I KNOW WHAT ’S LIKE TO WANT ANONYMY, AND I N UNRSTAND WHY WOULD BE A KK OR SEXUAL SIRE,” HE TELLS LOGO. JAB BELIEV MANY STRAIGHT PEOPLE STGGLE TO GRASP THIS NCEPT BEE THEY THEMSELV HAVE NEVER HAD TO HI PART OF WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY SIRE OM THEIR LOVED ON.OMER MSGER/GETTY IMAGBERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 26: PARTICIPANTS WH PUP-FETISH MASKS TAKE PART THE QUEERSCHUTZ NOW! (QUEER PROTECTN NOW!) MARCH MEMORATN AND CELEBRATN OF CHRISTOPHER STREET DAY ON JUNE 26, 2021 BERL, GERMANY. A VARIETY OF GAY PRI MARCH AND GATHERGS ARE TAKG PLACE ACROSS THE CY TODAY, EACH WH S OWN POLIL OR THEMATIC EMPHASIS. THE MARCH ARE TAKG PLACE CLOSE TO THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1969 RTS FOLLOWG A POLICE RAID AT THE STONEWALL INN NEW YORK CY THAT IGNED THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. (PHOTO BY OMER MSGER/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ACTOR DANIEL CRAIG MA HEADL LAST MONTH WHEN HE TOLD THE LUNCH WH BCE PODST HE ENJOYS GOG TO QUEER SPAC BEE HE “DON’T GET TO FIGHTS GAY BARS THAT OFTEN,” AND THEY ARE “VERY SAFE PLACE[S] TO BE.” HE ALSO NFSED HE WENT TO GAY BARS AS A TEEN TO PICK UP STRAIGHT WOMEN. HIS MENTS HAD QUEER FOLKS DIVID. SOME APPLD HIM FOR HIS HIS SUAL ALLYSHIP, WHEREAS OTHERS CHASTISED HIM FOR EXPLOG QUEER SPAC FOR HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHETHER WE DIVIDUALLY WELE THEM OR NOT, STRAIGHT PATRONS HELP KEEP QUEER TABLISHMENTS AFLOAT. MANY BS WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN WHOUT THE BOOST, PECIALLY NSIRG RISG RENT PRIC, GENTRIFITN, AND NOTED E DISPARI BETWEEN LGBTQ AND CIS-HETERO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE STUDY FOUND THAT BETWEEN 2007 AND 2019, 37% OF GAY BARS AMERI HAD CLOSED, AND 14% OF THOSE CLOSUR OCCURRED OM 2017–2019. IN 2020, THE LBIAN BAR PROJECT UNTED JT 15 REMAG LBIAN BARS THE ENTIRE UNTRY. IT’S THE ULTIMATE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, WHICH IS WHY THIS TURF WAR WILL NEVER BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I WANT STRAIGHT PEOPLE TO QUTN THEMSELV WHEN THEY GO TO A QUEER SPACE, WHY DO I FEEL ENTLED TO GO TO THIS PLACE?” ORNE TOLD ME. “IT’S THE SAME QUTN I THK PEOPLE SHOULD ASK ANY TIME THEY ENJOY SOMETHG THAT DON’T STEM OM A HERAGE THEY HAVE. NOT TO NOT DO , BUT TO JT ASK WHY. THAT ACT, I HOPE, WOULD MAKE THEM BE A B MORE RPECTFUL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, CIS-HETEROS WILL NTUE EQUENTG OUR SPAC, AND THERE’S NOT MUCH WE N DO ABOUT . WE’RE WELE THEIR SPAC, AND ALTHOUGH WE EXPERIENCE MARGALIZATN THEY WILL NEVER UNRSTAND, THEY ARE WELE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SCE WE N’T ENFORCE A “YOU’RE ONLY WELE IF…” LE, OUR ENERGY IS BETTER SPENT TG STRAIGHT FOLKS ON HOW TO NDUCT THEMSELV AS GUTS OUR SPACE. IS THIS OUR RPONSIBILY? OF URSE NOT, BUT ’S A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN HAVG TO AL WH A BARRAGE OF BELLIGERENT BACHELORETTE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

WHY GAY BARS ARE DISAPPEARG ACROSS AMERI

A nfluence of factors ntribute to the rapid disappearance of gay bars and queer spac across Ameri, acrdg to Zach Stafford, edor--chief of Grdr’s magaze INTO. Many blame datg apps as the digal accs to potential partners obviat the need for -real-life flirtg and, as Stafford not on this week’s episo of the Eater Upsell podst, “People n make any space through the apps a gay bar, a gay club, and you kd of now unrstand that gay people are everywhere.

Also changg gay bars as we know them across the untry: gentrifitn and a prsure to ter to straight dienc and sell them ritur of what pop culture says a gay bar should be. Upsell -host Dan Geneen and I spoke wh Stafford to discs the lnch of an Eater documentary he starred lled Boystown, which he explor the changg hospaly dtry Ameri’s olst gayborhood. Others are simply phed out by the risg pric that a now-affluent and now-tablished gay muny has wrought.

Part of the change is posive, that gay liftyle and culture is so readily accepted now, so part of the mastream, that the gay muny don’t need rved out spac orr to feel safe, meet one another, or be themselv. And there’s somethg to be said for the fact that straight bar and rtrant goers are so attracted by aspects of the gay liftyle that the drag clubs have bee statns. “As the thgs change, and the spac bee more sanized, and more people go there jt to explore, and ’s kd of voyristic, you feel that you’re losg that sense of omniprence of gayns that ed to feel like a protectn, ” says Stafford.

DO YOU WANNA FUNK WH ME?: A BEGNER’S GUI TO GAY NIGHTCLUBS

Boystown, like many gay neighborhoods around the Uned Stat, grew to an affluent muny that eventually attracted wealthy straight rints. As gay bars and clubs close and the neighborhood be ls foced on nightlife, real tate velopments, trendy rtrants, and rporate enti like Target take their plac.

If this nightmare sounds faiar to you, might be bee 's what actually happens to me almost every Saturday night whenever I go out on the gay 't get me wrong: The gay scene n offer the ocsnal magil and rmative experience.

As ltle gay boys, many of our first flirtatns wh the scene were surrept viss to bars where we'd drk cheap beer, unrage, and get sh-sred the mute that someone spared a prolonged glance our directn. And as we get olr, gay clubs n bee our sanctuari, our safe spac.

WHY I DON’T GO TO GAY BARS

Dcribed as a place to meet "others whout the strs of havg to drk loads as well, " the typ of sober gathergs might take you way out of your fort zone, but 's weirdly fortg to know that everyone will probably be feelg that way, too (not somethg you n say about your lol gay waterg hole). "The Gay Book ClubThere's never a bad time to start readg more, bee (say wh me) readg is fun-da-men-tal. Show up, fd your queer muny, and be your Bt Gay Media Meet-UpsSocial media might have stolen an electn and killed onle journalism.

HEY, STRAIGHT PEOPLE. STOP GOG TO GAY BARS.

Good advice, but you uld jt do the easy way: fd the bit gay club town. (By “gay bar”, I mean any bar that ters primarily to gay men or lbians. But if you want to go dance, party, and have a good time, tst me — a gay club is where you should be head.

To be fair, there are straight clubs that play great mic and have fun, nonjudgmental crowds, and there are gay bars that are nothg more than S and M (Stand and Mol) clubs. Certa gay/lbian clubs have their target clientele, of urse — wboys and wgirls (The Round-up Saloon Dallas), leather men (La Track Montreal), punk lbians (The Dyke Bar Brighton, UK), and drag queens (1001 Pub Maryl Istanbul), for stance — but what I’m talkg about is your basic glter-ball, all-wele, humpg-on-the-dance-floor dis. This wouldn’t have happened at any of the gay bars town, and we fely would have had a better time, as the doorman was jt the first of numero snooty employe we enuntered, there.

If you’ve never been to a gay bar, there are a few thgs you need to unrstand so that you n have the right attu. That may seem obv, but ’s amazg how many people enter what is clearly a gay bar and say, “Hey, thar’s a bunch a queers ‘ere. ” And the homosexuals who are there will be dancg wh one another, holdg hands, huggg, and, y, kissg.

THE DOS & DON'TS OF GAY CLUBBG

A gay bar is one of the few plac where homosexuals n exprs their affectn for one another whout beg subjected to someone’s narrow judgment, or, prumably, riskg harm to themselv, so expect to happen. I went wh three iends — a lbian and a straight uple — to a gay nightclub a while back, but was separated om them immediately after enterg the crowd club. Unlike what you may have seen on Queer as Folk, the overwhelmg majory of gay bars don’t have backrooms and hallways where wild i are takg place.

Dg e, particularly the e of ecstasy and other signer dgs, is higher among the gay populatn than the straight populatn, and some gays and lbians equate a night on the town wh a night of high-energy, dg-duced spastic dancg. In my qut for the perfect dance club, I tried, or was dragged to, diss of all varieti, so I know om experience that the bt dance mic is a gay bar. And numero dance masters and producers market their goods to gay clubs specifilly.

Sylvter, the late dis diva of the ’80s, was one of the first to target gay dienc, and he tablished a proud tradn of producg multi-layered tracks to which even the most rhythmilly-challenged uld dance. Even though he was straight and had a girliend, Ron and I went dancg together often; we both loved to dance, and if no one wanted to go out wh , we knew we uld dance a gay bar whout beg hassled.

LET'S TALK ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE QUEER SPAC"I WANT STRAIGHT PEOPLE TO QUTN THEMSELV WHEN THEY GO TO A QUEER SPACE, WHY DO I FEEL ENTLED TO GO TO THIS PLACE?"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CULTUREBY BOBBY BOXNOVEMBER 4, 2021/2:24 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3840PX;WIDTH:5760PX;}GETTYGROUP OF YOUNG CHEERFUL PEOPLE ARE HAVG FUN THE NIGHT CLUB, DRKG CKTAILS, SG, BONDG, CLUBBG, CHEERG AND DANCG.BY BOBBY BOXNOVEMBER 4, 2021 / 2:24 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LET'S TALK ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE QUEER SPAC","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2021-11-04T18:24:36.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2021-11-04T18:24:36.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BOBBY BOX","ARTICLESECTN":"CULTURE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN I MOVED TO TORONTO OM MY HOMETOWN OF HATON, ONCE MORTIFYGLY CROWNED THE CY WH THE MOST HATE CRIM CANADA, WAS 2018, AND I ONLY HAD ONE IEND. IN A SPERATE ATTEMPT TO MAKE IENDS AND MONEY, I CREATED A GRDR PROFILE LOOKG FOR A JOB AS A BARTENR SCE I LIVED ONE STREET AWAY OM THE CY’S GAY VILLAGE. I RECEIVED AN OFFER 24 HOURS LATER TO WORK AT ONE OF THE CY’S MOST POPULAR BARS, WHICH HOSTED DRAG SHOWS EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK AND WAS PARTICULARLY POPULAR AMONG QUEER STUNTS AND STRAIGHT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DURG MY STT AS A BARTENR AND BAR-BACK, MENTS LIKE, “IT’S A SHAME THAT YOU’RE GAY,” AND UNSOLICED ASS- AND CROTCH-GRABBG, WERE NIGHTLY OCCURRENC ALMOST EXCLIVELY OM STRAIGHT WOMEN CLIENTELE. ON ONE PARTICULAR OCSN, I LOOKED BACK AT A DNKEN ASS-GRABBER TO SLD HER. SHE RPOND BY WKG AND MOUTHG THE WORDS, “YOU’RE WELE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A VETERAN -WORKER LATER ASSURED ME, “YOU’LL GET ED TO . IT’S JT PART OF THE JOB.” I QU AFTER TWO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THERE ARE TWO TYP OF STRAIGHT PEOPLE THAT TYPILLY E TO QUEER SPAC: THE ON WHO E LARGE NUMBERS AND HAVE NO RPECT OF HOW TO BEHAVE A QUEER SPACE AND TRY TO TAKE OVER, AND THERE ARE THE ALLI, WHO ARE WELL-TED AND UNRSTAND THAT THEY ARE GUTS OUR SPACE,” TORONTO-BASED DRAG PERFORMER KERO SALEIB TELLS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OVER THE PHONE, KERO RELLS A PARTICULARLY HARROWG EXPERIENCE A POPULAR DRAG BAR. HE AND A GROUP OF IENDS WERE WATCHG A DRAG SHOW WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN APPROACHED AND PLIMENTED HIM. TAKG HIS KDNS AS A GREEN LIGHT TO PH FURTHER, SHE GRABBED HIS CHT AND STARTED BBG HIS CROTCH WHILE LGHG. TO PROVE A POT, KERO GRABBED HER CHT. SHE RPOND BY SLAPPG HIM.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“IF ISN'T OKAY FOR ME TO DO THIS TO YOU WHOUT [YOUR] NSENT, WHAT MAK YOU THK YOU N DO THAT TO ME?’” HE ASKED. “SHE THEN TRIED TO JTIFY THAT BEE I’M GAY, I SHOULDN'T RE, AND I HAD NO IA WHAT SHE MEANT BY THAT. I EVENTUALLY HAD HER KICKED OUT OF THE BAR WHEN SHE TRIED TO GET EVEN MORE VLENT WH ME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MORE I SPOKE WH OTHER QUEER NIGHTLIFE PROFSNALS AND ENTHIASTS, THE MORE STORI LIKE THIS I HEARD. MIKHAIL, 34, REMEMBERS BEG OUT DANCG WH HIS HBAND WHEN A WOMAN OM A BACHELORETTE PARTY PHED HER FGER THROUGH HIS SHORTS AND TOUCHED HIS ASSHOLE ON THE DANCE FLOOR. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OR EVEN THE MOST RECENT TIME HE OR HIS HBAND WERE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“JT LAST MONTH, MY HBAND WAS KNOCKED OVER BY A GROUP OF DNK STRAIGHT WOMEN WHO WERE 10 MUT LATE TO THE DRAG SHOW AND WANTED TO BE UP ONT,” HE TELLS LOGO. AS THE DRKS NTUED TO FLOW THAT EVENG, THE SAME GROUP WOULD LATER PH MIKHAIL AND HIS HBAND TOGETHER, ENURAGG THEM TO KISS. THE UPLE SUDNLY BEME A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN AN RMAL POLL ON TWTER, I ASKED MY QUEER FOLLOWERS HOW THEY FELT ABOUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE OUR SPAC. NEARLY 80% OF THE 250-PL PEOPLE WHO VOTED WERE AGAST . THOUGH THIS POLL TENTNALLY LACKED NUANCE (I ONLY GAVE “YAY” OR “NAY” OPTNS), MOST SAID THE ANSWER PENDS ON THE DIVIDUAL AND THEIR MOTIVATNS. “STRAIGHT ALLI ARE WELE, BUT STRAIGHT TOURISTS ARE NOT,” ONE VOTER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN BOYSTOWN: SEX AND COMMUNY CHIGO, THOR AND QUEER SOCLOGIST JASON ORNE S THIS BEHAVR “ON SAFARI.” STRAIGHT PEOPLE OFTEN VIS QUEER SPAC AS ONE MIGHT VIS A ZOO, ONLY STEAD OF OGLG TIGERS AND LNS, THEY’RE ENTERTAED BY BEARS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A PRR NVERSATN WH ORNE FOR IN MAGAZE, HE EXPLAED THERE ARE BOTH PH AND PULL FACTORS THAT LEAD STRAIGHT WOMEN TO GAY BARS. FOR STANCE, SOME STRAIGHT WOMEN MIGHT BE DRAWN TO GAY BARS AS SAFE HAVENS OM CREEPY STRAIGHT BROS, WHICH IS PLETELY UNRSTANDABLE. OTHERS MIGHT REGARD GAY CULTURE AS SAFE AND FUN EROTICISM WHOUT UNRSTANDG HETEROSEXISM, OR THE REJECTN OF RPECTABILY THAT WH .GETTY IMAGPORTRA OF SG IENDS LOOKG AT MERA AND HOLDG DRKS AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PERCEPTN IS ALSO A FACTOR THIS NVERSATN SCE YOU N’T ALWAYS TELL IF SOMEONE IS LGBTQ BY THEIR APPEARANCE. FOR EXAMPLE, A TRANS MAN AND TRANS WOMAN TOGETHER MIGHT LOOK LIKE A STRAIGHT UPLE. FEMME LBIANS OR MASCULE GAY MEN MIGHT BE MISTAKEN FOR STRAIGHT PEOPLE. BY ATTEMPTG TO QUANTIFY PEOPLE’S QUEERNS BASED ON HOW THEY LOOK, YOU ALSO N THE RISK OF VALIDATG BISEXUALS, PANSEXUALS, AND OTHER QUEER PEOPLE WH FLUID SEXUAL ORIENTATNS, PECIALLY IF THEY ENTER A SPACE A HETERO-PRENTG PARTNERSHIP. QUEER BARS AND CLUBS ARE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR MUNY, NOT JT THOSE OF WHO READ AS VISIBLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT’S MORE, QUEER PEOPLE N BE JT AS GRABBY WH STRAIGHT WOMEN AS THEY ARE WH . I’VE SPOKEN WH MANY STRAIGHT WOMEN WHO’VE HAD THEIR BREASTS TOUCHED BY GAY MEN WHOUT NSENT, AND THE RATNALY IS THE SAME ON BOTH SIS: BEE WE AREN’T SEXUALLY PATIBLE, THIS KD OF NTACT IS EMED NOCENT OR HARMLS. I N TELL YOU OM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT UNWELE TOUCH ARE VASIVE NO MATTER WHO THEY E {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INAPPROPRIATE GRABBG ASI, MANY LGBTQ PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAID A STRAIGHT PERSON’S PRENCE A MAJORY-QUEER SPACE N MAKE THEM FEEL UNFORTABLE OR UNSAFE, AND FEATS THE VERY PURPOSE OF A QUEER SPACE THE FIRST PLACE. THIS UNEASE N BE MAGNIFIED SEXUAL SPAC, WHERE ACTG ON OUR SIR N BE REGARD AS ENTERTAG — OR WORSE, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN JAB, 28, ATTEND MARKET DAYS, AN LGBTQ FTIVAL CHIGO, WH A STRAIGHT GIRLIEND, SHE MENTED ON HOW PUP MASKS ARE “SRY” AND DIDN’T UNRSTAND THEIR RELEVANCE AT THE EVENT. “AS A GAY MAN, I KNOW WHAT ’S LIKE TO WANT ANONYMY, AND I N UNRSTAND WHY WOULD BE A KK OR SEXUAL SIRE,” HE TELLS LOGO. JAB BELIEV MANY STRAIGHT PEOPLE STGGLE TO GRASP THIS NCEPT BEE THEY THEMSELV HAVE NEVER HAD TO HI PART OF WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY SIRE OM THEIR LOVED ON.OMER MSGER/GETTY IMAGBERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 26: PARTICIPANTS WH PUP-FETISH MASKS TAKE PART THE QUEERSCHUTZ NOW! (QUEER PROTECTN NOW!) MARCH MEMORATN AND CELEBRATN OF CHRISTOPHER STREET DAY ON JUNE 26, 2021 BERL, GERMANY. A VARIETY OF GAY PRI MARCH AND GATHERGS ARE TAKG PLACE ACROSS THE CY TODAY, EACH WH S OWN POLIL OR THEMATIC EMPHASIS. THE MARCH ARE TAKG PLACE CLOSE TO THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1969 RTS FOLLOWG A POLICE RAID AT THE STONEWALL INN NEW YORK CY THAT IGNED THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. (PHOTO BY OMER MSGER/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ACTOR DANIEL CRAIG MA HEADL LAST MONTH WHEN HE TOLD THE LUNCH WH BCE PODST HE ENJOYS GOG TO QUEER SPAC BEE HE “DON’T GET TO FIGHTS GAY BARS THAT OFTEN,” AND THEY ARE “VERY SAFE PLACE[S] TO BE.” HE ALSO NFSED HE WENT TO GAY BARS AS A TEEN TO PICK UP STRAIGHT WOMEN. HIS MENTS HAD QUEER FOLKS DIVID. SOME APPLD HIM FOR HIS HIS SUAL ALLYSHIP, WHEREAS OTHERS CHASTISED HIM FOR EXPLOG QUEER SPAC FOR HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHETHER WE DIVIDUALLY WELE THEM OR NOT, STRAIGHT PATRONS HELP KEEP QUEER TABLISHMENTS AFLOAT. MANY BS WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN WHOUT THE BOOST, PECIALLY NSIRG RISG RENT PRIC, GENTRIFITN, AND NOTED E DISPARI BETWEEN LGBTQ AND CIS-HETERO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE STUDY FOUND THAT BETWEEN 2007 AND 2019, 37% OF GAY BARS AMERI HAD CLOSED, AND 14% OF THOSE CLOSUR OCCURRED OM 2017–2019. IN 2020, THE LBIAN BAR PROJECT UNTED JT 15 REMAG LBIAN BARS THE ENTIRE UNTRY. IT’S THE ULTIMATE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, WHICH IS WHY THIS TURF WAR WILL NEVER BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I WANT STRAIGHT PEOPLE TO QUTN THEMSELV WHEN THEY GO TO A QUEER SPACE, WHY DO I FEEL ENTLED TO GO TO THIS PLACE?” ORNE TOLD ME. “IT’S THE SAME QUTN I THK PEOPLE SHOULD ASK ANY TIME THEY ENJOY SOMETHG THAT DON’T STEM OM A HERAGE THEY HAVE. NOT TO NOT DO , BUT TO JT ASK WHY. THAT ACT, I HOPE, WOULD MAKE THEM BE A B MORE RPECTFUL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, CIS-HETEROS WILL NTUE EQUENTG OUR SPAC, AND THERE’S NOT MUCH WE N DO ABOUT . WE’RE WELE THEIR SPAC, AND ALTHOUGH WE EXPERIENCE MARGALIZATN THEY WILL NEVER UNRSTAND, THEY ARE WELE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SCE WE N’T ENFORCE A “YOU’RE ONLY WELE IF…” LE, OUR ENERGY IS BETTER SPENT TG STRAIGHT FOLKS ON HOW TO NDUCT THEMSELV AS GUTS OUR SPACE. IS THIS OUR RPONSIBILY? OF URSE NOT, BUT ’S A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN HAVG TO AL WH A BARRAGE OF BELLIGERENT BACHELORETTE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

From gym gods to nerds to fag hags (the latter beg the straight women who hang wh their gay male iends) to straight upl who want to try some place new — don’t matter. Although, to be hont, the more you look like a er ught the headlights, the more the regulars will look at you oddly, so try not to eak out when you see your first drag queen or gay/lbian uple makg out. Still, there are a few thgs to keep md before venturg to your first gay bar.

And often, gay clubs smaller towns or ral areas are entrance-by-membership-only, to keep out the rednecks and others who want stir up trouble.

When I attend llege the homophobic town of Wa, Texas, gettg to the one gay bar town remd me of enterg a speak-easy durg Prohibn, but once si, the patrons were all nice and easy-gog. Dependg on the cy, the parts of town where gay bars are loted are often rough, and crime rat are high.