GAY BARS IN CLEVEAND have been existence sce at least the 1940s and have served as important s for the cy’s LGBTQ muny to socialize, anize, and distribute rmatn and rourc. ,
Contents:
- GAY BARS IN CLEVELAND
- GAY COMMUNITY 1970S
- DIRK SHAFER, PLAYGIRL CENTERFOLD WHO REVEALED HE WAS GAY, DI AT 52
- EXPLORE GAY ROOMS & RENTALS SHAKER HEIGHTS
GAY BARS IN CLEVELAND
* gay shaker *
GAY BARS IN CLEVEAND have been existence sce at least the 1940s and have served as important s for the cy’s LGBTQ muny to socialize, anize, and distribute rmatn and rourc. In the 1940s, there were several bars for gay men bs.
GRAUER, a bar lled Ltle Ted’s, which was suated unr a rtrant of the same name near the CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, as well as a bar lled Mac & Jerry’s, which was not exclively gay but was a popular spot for the cy’s dtrial workers. Some gay bars the 1940s were also part of the early drag scene. In the 1950s and 1960s, Cleveland’s gay bar scene grew nsirably, as did the number of bars that were not exclively gay, but gay-iendly.
GAY COMMUNITY 1970S
GAY COMMUNITY IN THE 1970S. The 1970s marked an important perd the history of the Gay Communy of Cleveland. This article provis tails on var aspects of the muny the cril followg Stonewall., * gay shaker *
Ale’s Bar at East 115th Street and Euclid Avenue was one such spot, where stunts om the nearby CASE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY would gather alongsi members of Cleveland’s gay muny. Gay bars also opened the suburbs surroundg Cleveland.
The Kg’s Room CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, suated at Taylor and Cedar, had an almost exclively gay patronage, as did the Shaker Club SHAKER SQUARE. In the 1970s, Cleveland had dozens of gay bars equented by gay men and lbians the muny.
The Leather Stalln was a popular gay bar that opened the 1970s the downtown area and has remaed open sce. The CADILLAC LOUNGE closed late 1970, but other bars owned by Gloria Lenihan like the Pickwood Lounge on Clifton Avenue remaed popular spots for Cleveland’s gay and lbian muny. Durg this time, the area around Clifton Boulevard was already a signifint part of the gay bar scene that clud other venu the Nantucket Lounge, across om the Pickwood.
DIRK SHAFER, PLAYGIRL CENTERFOLD WHO REVEALED HE WAS GAY, DI AT 52
In a mock documentary lled “Man of the Year,” Mr. Shafer explored the ramifitns of beg a closeted gay man who is a sex symbol for straight women. * gay shaker *
This area is still home to many gay bars today (2022). As the gay liberatn took hold Cleveland the 1970s, members of the gay muny created new gatherg spac that served as alternativ to the gay bars.
In 1977, the openg of the offic of LESBIAN/GAY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER OF GREATER CLEVELAND provid a space for members of the gay muny to socialize, anize polilly, and share rourc and rmatn.
Gay bars mataed their prence Cleveland, and they were signifint for gay publitns like HIGH GEAR which ed them as pots of distributn, but they were no longer the only plac which to socialize openly and safely. Although Cleveland’s gay bars have been valuable spac for members of the gay muny to gather, their patrons have not always been treated an equable manner. Discrimatn agast Black patrons at gay bars has been a signifint problem that many members of the gay muny have mobilized agast.
EXPLORE GAY ROOMS & RENTALS SHAKER HEIGHTS
The Midwt Regnal Discrimatn Rponse System, a project of Black and Whe Men Together, formed orr to report stanc of racial discrimatn wh the gay and lbian muny and discrimatn agast the muny. In 1985, the anizatn mobilized agast the Rz, a bar Cleveland that accepted members of the gay muny on Sundays, which had been the subject of plats of discrimatn agast Black men and women attemptg to enter. Discrimatn agast women at gay bars has also served as a pot of mobilizatn for the gay muny.
In 1975, the Cleveland Gay Polil Unn boytted the 620 Club on Frankfort Avenue bee refed to adm women.
In 1977, reporters for the PLAIN DEALER wrg an article on the gay bar scene noted the bar’s ntued polici agast admtg women.