Gay, Lbian, Bisexual, Transgenr, Queer News & Polics

Contents:

•  TENNSEE LBIAN AND GAY BARS, RTRANTS, LODGG, PRI EVENT, BS MAPS
• GAYT PLAC IN KANSAS FOR 2020
• WILTON MANORS: AN LGBTQ TRAVEL GUI TO FLORIDA’S GAYT CY
• GAY NIGHTLIFE THE ROCKI: BT BARS, CLUBS, & MORE
• BT GAY BARS IN MNOTA
• THE BEST JERSEY SHORE GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS JERSEY SHORE
• WHY I LOVE JOHNSON CY, AN LGBT IDYLL RIGHT THE HEART OF BIBLE BELTHOME AND AWAYCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLENJOHNSON CY IS TENNSEE, A STATE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS NSIRG AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS. BUT, AS AN LGBT TRAVELER, 'S ALSO THE THOR'S FAVORE PLACE TO BE.SAMANTHA ALLENUPDATED MAR. 10, 2019 2:05PM EDT / PUBLISHED MAR. 09, 2019 9:40PM EST JOHNSON CY, TENNSEE IS THE SORT OF PLACE YOU N’T LEAVE BEHD. NOT FULLY.IN 1985, PHYSICIAN ABRAHAM VERGHE MOVED OM BOSTON BACK TO THE JOHNSON CY WHERE HE HAD PREVLY FISHED HIS RINCY. IT WAS THERE RAL EAST TENNSEE THAT THE YOUNG DOCTOR BEGAN SEEG GAY MEN WH HIV, BEG BOTH THEIR PHYSICIAN AND THEIR NFIDANTE. AS THE NEW YORK TIM NOTED S 1994 REVIEW OF VERGHE’S HEART-WRENCHG MEMOIR MY OWN COUNTRY, PATIENTS FLOCKED TO HIM—“MOSTLY GAY MEN WHO WERE MOVG BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWNS AFTER YEARS AWAY.”  LIKE MANY LGBT PEOPLE THAT ERA, THE TIM REPORTED, THE TENNSEE MEN HAD ABSND TO ASTAL CI BUT “NOW THEY WERE SICK, AND WERE G BACK TO THEIR FAI.” VERGHE HAD MA JOHNSON CY TO AN UNEXPECTED APPALACHIAN STATN WHERE GAY MEN WH HIV ULD AT LEAST FD SOME PASSN THE ABSENCE OF A CURE. MORE THAN TWO S LATER, THE RIPPL OF VERGHE’S EMPATHY STILL N THROUGH JOHNSON CY. IN 2018, WHEN A PRI FTIVAL ME TO THE LLEGE TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, A STAGGERG 10,000 PEOPLE ATTEND, AS WJHL REPORTED. (ONLY 66,000 PEOPLE LIVE JOHNSON CY.) EVER SCE I STARTED VISG 2013, G BACK ALMOST EVERY YEAR, I HAVE BEEN DISARMED BY THE WELE S RINTS GAVE TO AN OPENLY QUEER AND TRANSGENR WOMAN LIKE ME.MY JOHNSON CY IEND JEFF CLARK, THOUGH, ISN’T SURPRISED. WHEN HE ASKED ME RECENTLY IF I KNEW WHY THIS SMALL APPALACHIAN CY HAD SUCH AN VG LGBT MUNY, HE POTED PART TO VERGHE’S CISN TO E BACK THE MID-1980S. JOHNSON CY IS A SPECIAL PLACE, BUT NOT SOME SORT OF SMIC SENSE: IT HAS BEEN MA SPECIAL BY THOSE WHO RE FOR . COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN Y, JOHNSON CY IS AMERI’S BIBLE BELT. MORE SPECIFILLY ’S TENNSEE—A STATE WHERE AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS ARE CURRENTLY UNR NSIRATN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT ’S ALSO THE PLACE WHICH I HAVE FELT THE MOST AT HOME—AND HAD THE MOST FUN—AS AN OUT LGBT TRAVELER.WHEN I TRAVERSED THE UNTRY FOR TWO MONTHS THE SUMMER OF 2017 TO WRE MY NEW BOOK REAL QUEER AMERI ABOUT LGBT LIFE RED STAT, JOHNSON CY WAS THE ONE STATN WHERE I STOPPED WORKG AND JT RELAXED. ONE NIGHT, I FOUND MYSELF SWIMMG JEFF’S POOL, PHG MY BISEXUAL BT IEND AROUND ON A MAKHIFT RAFT BUILT OUT OF SWIM TOYS. ADVERTISEMENT AFTERWARD, WE ALL GATHERED BY THE FIRE P TO SIP BOURBON OUT OF A SHARED MASON JAR. THAT’S THE CLOST I’VE E TO HEAVEN. IF THIS IS THE FIRST YOU’RE HEARG ABOUT JOHNSON CY, WELL, THAT’S A DAMN SHAME. THE CLOST MAJOR LANDMARK IS ASHEVILLE, ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH, AND ALTHOUGH THAT NORTH CAROLA CY HAS A CERTA CHET DUE TO S POPULATN OF ARTISTS AND MICIANS AND LGBT PEOPLE, JOHNSON CY HAS BEEN STG ACROSS THE STATE LE THE WHOLE TIME, WAG FOR S OWN RICH TO BE NOTICED.AN OLD RAILROAD TOWN NTLED THE MOUNTAS, JOHNSON CY NOW HAS PARKS, RTRANTS, AND BREWERI WHERE S TRA STATNS ED TO BE. ORAL HISTORY HAS THAT AL CAPONE SMUGGLED LIQUOR THROUGH THE CY DURG PROHIBN—AND WALKG AMONG ALL THE 1920S ARCHECTURE DOWNTOWN, YOU’LL WANT TO BELIEVE THOSE STORI, EVEN IF THEY N’T BE VERIFIED. THE FT ROOM AND BOARD TOWN—THE CARNEGIE—IS A HOTEL OM THE GOLN AGE OF HOTELS, WH TAXIRMY, AN ORNATE LOBBY, AND AN ATTACHED STEAKHOE WHERE A BARTENR SERV UP DRKS LONG AFTER THE KCHEN CLOS.(BUT IF HUNGER DO STRIKE AT A LATE HOUR, YOU N ALWAYS GRAB A BE AT THE MID CY GRILL DOWNTOWN WHICH STAYS OPEN UNTIL THE RIPE HOUR OF 4 AM. BRG YOUR OWN BEER AND ORR THE BECKATOR BURGER. TST ME.) ADVERTISEMENT “THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR 'NEWBI' AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S 'ANANDA' AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK” THERE’S NO NYG THAT JOHNSON CY IS EP SI TMP UNTRY, JUDGG OM 2016 ELECTN RULTS, AS BROKEN DOWN BY UNTY. BUT IS PERHAPS BEE IS SUCH A EP-RED PART OF THE UNED STAT THAT S OWN POCKETS OF LGBT ACCEPTANCE FEEL SO WELG, THE SAME WAY THAT A MUG OF HOT A TAST BETTER WHEN YOU N SEE THE SNOW FALLG OUTSI YOUR WDOW.THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR “NEWBI” AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S “ANANDA” AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK. DURG THE DAY, THE WILLOW TREE FFEE SHOP DOWNTOWN OFFERS A STEADY SUPPLY OF FFEE AND BOOKS AND LIVE MIC, ALL SERVED UP AN LGBT-IENDLY SPACE. THE LOL LLEGE, EAST TENNSEE STATE, OFFERS EVENTS FOR LGBT STUNTS, LIKE A RUPL’S DRAG RACE VIEWG PARTY, A TRANSGENR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE VIGIL, OR A READG OM NON-BARY POET ANDREA GIBSON. A SCENIC JOHNSON CY OVERLOOKCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN EVERY YEAR I E BACK, SEEMS, THE LOL LGBT MUNY IS GATHERG STRENGTH. IN 2017, THE ANIZATN TRIPRI WAS FOUND TO SERVE JOHNSON CY AND TWO OF S NEIGHBORS, LLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE TRI-CI. 2018 WAS THE PRI PARA. WHO KNOWS WHAT 2019 WILL BRG? ONE LOL GROUP HOP TO OPENA MUNY CENTER DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR. ADVERTISEMENT LGBT PEOPLE STILL ENUNTER PLENTY OF PREJUDICE JOHNSON CY, AS MY IENDS WHO LIVE THERE N PERSONALLY ATTT. I N’T SELL AS A QUEER PARADISE. NOR N I PRETEND AS THOUGH JOHNSON CY PET WH MEGALOPOLIS LIKE THE BAY AREA OR NEW YORK WHEN TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF OPTNS FOR LGBT SOCIALIZG. BUT WHAT LACKS QUANTY, MAK UP FOR HEART. I FIRST DROVE TO JOHNSON CY 2013 WH WHAT I N NOW ADM WAS SOME TREPIDATN MY GAS-PEDAL FOOT. LIVG GEIA AT THE TIME, I WAS AWARE OF TENNSEE’S LS-THAN-STELLAR REPUTATN ON LGBT RIGHTS, WHICH ONLY HEIGHTENED MY HATN TO VIS DURG THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF MY GENR TRANSN—BUT SOME IENDS I HAD MA ONLE WERE EAGER FOR ME TO SEE THEIR HOME.SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVG, I HAD BEEN TRODUCED TO THE MOST AMAZG GROUP OF LGBT AND ALLI: STUNTS, ARTISTS, EVEN A MALE MOL, ALL OF WHOM HAD SOME SORT OF PERSONAL OR FAIAL TIE TO JOHNSON CY. SOME HAVE SCE MOVED AWAY—AS DR. VERGHE EVENTUALLY DID, CINTALLY—AND OTHERS HAVE STAYED, BUT ALL STILL SHARE A EP AND ABIDG FONDNS FOR THIS STRANGE, OFTEN-IGNORED PLACE. IT’S NOT PERFECT BUT NO HOME EVER IS. “SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE” I FELL LOVE WH THE WELG, TIGHT-KN NATURE OF JOHNSON CY’S LGBT MUNY—A QUALY I HAVE SCE ENUNTERED REPEATEDLY SIAR RED-STATE CI. IN A LARGE METROPOLIS LIKE, SAY, LOS ANGEL, BIRDS OF A FEATHER DON’T HAVE TO FLOCK TOGETHER THANKS TO ABUNDANT BARS AND SOCIAL EVENTS THAT TER TO CREDIBLY SPECIFIC SUBSETS OF THE LGBT CROWD. ADVERTISEMENT IN JOHNSON CY, BY PARISON I MET ONE BISEXUAL PERSON—FELLOW WRER JENNIFER CULP—AND THEN, SEEMGLY, MET ALL THE BISEXUAL PEOPLE AS SHE TRODUCED THE RT OF THEM TO ME RAPID SUCCSN. SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE.I ME BACK TO JOHNSON CY AFTER THAT FIRST VIS—AND THEN I ME BACK AGA AND AGA AND AGA. ON ONE VIS, I WATCHED JENNIFER PERFORM A LOL PRODUCTN OF THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. ON ANOTHER, I WAS THE NNER-UP A LOL BAR’S GOTH PROM STUME NTT. THERE HAVE BEEN HALLOWEEN PARTI AND BIRTHDAY DANC AND LONG, LAZY HOURS SPENT WATCHG BAD MOVI WHILE JENNIFER’S TORTOISE, ZELDA, CRAWLS AROUND ON THE FLOOR. COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN MY REASONS FOR RETURNG HAVE NEVER BEEN AS NOBLE AS DR. VERGHE‘S MISSN OF HELPG RAL GAY MEN DURG THE HIV EPIMIC—BUT I, TOO, FOUND JOHNSON CY LODGED MY HEART AFTER I LEFT THE FIRST TIME. I ULD LEAVE, SURE—BUT I ULDN’T STAY AWAY.WHEN I LIVED ATLANTA, I WOULD MAKE THE FIVE-HOUR DRIVE NORTH THROUGH THE MOUNTAS, OFTEN ALONE. WHEN I MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA, I HAD TO FLY TO CHARLOTTE AND THEN TAKE AN AGG PROPELLER PLANE TO THE TRI-CI AIRPORT, WHERE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WORKG THE SECURY LE THAN THERE ARE GOG THROUGH . IT ST ALMOST AS MUCH AS A DISUNTED FLIGHT TO EUROPE. BUT I MA THE PILGRIMAGE BEE I HAD BEE A BELIEVER. JOHNSON CY HAD PROVED TO ME THAT LGBT ACCEPTANCE N BE FOUND ALMOST ANYWHERE, PECIALLY WHERE I DIDN’T EXPECT . ADVERTISEMENT REAL QUEER AMERI: LGBT STORI OM RED STAT IS AVAILABLE NOW. SAMANTHA ALLEN
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• WHY I LOVE JOHNSON CY, AN LGBT IDYLL RIGHT THE HEART OF BIBLE BELTHOME AND AWAYCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLENJOHNSON CY IS TENNSEE, A STATE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS NSIRG AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS. BUT, AS AN LGBT TRAVELER, 'S ALSO THE THOR'S FAVORE PLACE TO BE.SAMANTHA ALLENUPDATED MAR. 10, 2019 2:05PM EDT / PUBLISHED MAR. 09, 2019 9:40PM EST JOHNSON CY, TENNSEE IS THE SORT OF PLACE YOU N’T LEAVE BEHD. NOT FULLY.IN 1985, PHYSICIAN ABRAHAM VERGHE MOVED OM BOSTON BACK TO THE JOHNSON CY WHERE HE HAD PREVLY FISHED HIS RINCY. IT WAS THERE RAL EAST TENNSEE THAT THE YOUNG DOCTOR BEGAN SEEG GAY MEN WH HIV, BEG BOTH THEIR PHYSICIAN AND THEIR NFIDANTE. AS THE NEW YORK TIM NOTED S 1994 REVIEW OF VERGHE’S HEART-WRENCHG MEMOIR MY OWN COUNTRY, PATIENTS FLOCKED TO HIM—“MOSTLY GAY MEN WHO WERE MOVG BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWNS AFTER YEARS AWAY.”  LIKE MANY LGBT PEOPLE THAT ERA, THE TIM REPORTED, THE TENNSEE MEN HAD ABSND TO ASTAL CI BUT “NOW THEY WERE SICK, AND WERE G BACK TO THEIR FAI.” VERGHE HAD MA JOHNSON CY TO AN UNEXPECTED APPALACHIAN STATN WHERE GAY MEN WH HIV ULD AT LEAST FD SOME PASSN THE ABSENCE OF A CURE. MORE THAN TWO S LATER, THE RIPPL OF VERGHE’S EMPATHY STILL N THROUGH JOHNSON CY. IN 2018, WHEN A PRI FTIVAL ME TO THE LLEGE TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, A STAGGERG 10,000 PEOPLE ATTEND, AS WJHL REPORTED. (ONLY 66,000 PEOPLE LIVE JOHNSON CY.) EVER SCE I STARTED VISG 2013, G BACK ALMOST EVERY YEAR, I HAVE BEEN DISARMED BY THE WELE S RINTS GAVE TO AN OPENLY QUEER AND TRANSGENR WOMAN LIKE ME.MY JOHNSON CY IEND JEFF CLARK, THOUGH, ISN’T SURPRISED. WHEN HE ASKED ME RECENTLY IF I KNEW WHY THIS SMALL APPALACHIAN CY HAD SUCH AN VG LGBT MUNY, HE POTED PART TO VERGHE’S CISN TO E BACK THE MID-1980S. JOHNSON CY IS A SPECIAL PLACE, BUT NOT SOME SORT OF SMIC SENSE: IT HAS BEEN MA SPECIAL BY THOSE WHO RE FOR . COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN Y, JOHNSON CY IS AMERI’S BIBLE BELT. MORE SPECIFILLY ’S TENNSEE—A STATE WHERE AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS ARE CURRENTLY UNR NSIRATN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT ’S ALSO THE PLACE WHICH I HAVE FELT THE MOST AT HOME—AND HAD THE MOST FUN—AS AN OUT LGBT TRAVELER.WHEN I TRAVERSED THE UNTRY FOR TWO MONTHS THE SUMMER OF 2017 TO WRE MY NEW BOOK REAL QUEER AMERI ABOUT LGBT LIFE RED STAT, JOHNSON CY WAS THE ONE STATN WHERE I STOPPED WORKG AND JT RELAXED. ONE NIGHT, I FOUND MYSELF SWIMMG JEFF’S POOL, PHG MY BISEXUAL BT IEND AROUND ON A MAKHIFT RAFT BUILT OUT OF SWIM TOYS. ADVERTISEMENT AFTERWARD, WE ALL GATHERED BY THE FIRE P TO SIP BOURBON OUT OF A SHARED MASON JAR. THAT’S THE CLOST I’VE E TO HEAVEN. IF THIS IS THE FIRST YOU’RE HEARG ABOUT JOHNSON CY, WELL, THAT’S A DAMN SHAME. THE CLOST MAJOR LANDMARK IS ASHEVILLE, ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH, AND ALTHOUGH THAT NORTH CAROLA CY HAS A CERTA CHET DUE TO S POPULATN OF ARTISTS AND MICIANS AND LGBT PEOPLE, JOHNSON CY HAS BEEN STG ACROSS THE STATE LE THE WHOLE TIME, WAG FOR S OWN RICH TO BE NOTICED.AN OLD RAILROAD TOWN NTLED THE MOUNTAS, JOHNSON CY NOW HAS PARKS, RTRANTS, AND BREWERI WHERE S TRA STATNS ED TO BE. ORAL HISTORY HAS THAT AL CAPONE SMUGGLED LIQUOR THROUGH THE CY DURG PROHIBN—AND WALKG AMONG ALL THE 1920S ARCHECTURE DOWNTOWN, YOU’LL WANT TO BELIEVE THOSE STORI, EVEN IF THEY N’T BE VERIFIED. THE FT ROOM AND BOARD TOWN—THE CARNEGIE—IS A HOTEL OM THE GOLN AGE OF HOTELS, WH TAXIRMY, AN ORNATE LOBBY, AND AN ATTACHED STEAKHOE WHERE A BARTENR SERV UP DRKS LONG AFTER THE KCHEN CLOS.(BUT IF HUNGER DO STRIKE AT A LATE HOUR, YOU N ALWAYS GRAB A BE AT THE MID CY GRILL DOWNTOWN WHICH STAYS OPEN UNTIL THE RIPE HOUR OF 4 AM. BRG YOUR OWN BEER AND ORR THE BECKATOR BURGER. TST ME.) ADVERTISEMENT “THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR 'NEWBI' AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S 'ANANDA' AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK” THERE’S NO NYG THAT JOHNSON CY IS EP SI TMP UNTRY, JUDGG OM 2016 ELECTN RULTS, AS BROKEN DOWN BY UNTY. BUT IS PERHAPS BEE IS SUCH A EP-RED PART OF THE UNED STAT THAT S OWN POCKETS OF LGBT ACCEPTANCE FEEL SO WELG, THE SAME WAY THAT A MUG OF HOT A TAST BETTER WHEN YOU N SEE THE SNOW FALLG OUTSI YOUR WDOW.THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR “NEWBI” AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S “ANANDA” AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK. DURG THE DAY, THE WILLOW TREE FFEE SHOP DOWNTOWN OFFERS A STEADY SUPPLY OF FFEE AND BOOKS AND LIVE MIC, ALL SERVED UP AN LGBT-IENDLY SPACE. THE LOL LLEGE, EAST TENNSEE STATE, OFFERS EVENTS FOR LGBT STUNTS, LIKE A RUPL’S DRAG RACE VIEWG PARTY, A TRANSGENR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE VIGIL, OR A READG OM NON-BARY POET ANDREA GIBSON. A SCENIC JOHNSON CY OVERLOOKCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN EVERY YEAR I E BACK, SEEMS, THE LOL LGBT MUNY IS GATHERG STRENGTH. IN 2017, THE ANIZATN TRIPRI WAS FOUND TO SERVE JOHNSON CY AND TWO OF S NEIGHBORS, LLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE TRI-CI. 2018 WAS THE PRI PARA. WHO KNOWS WHAT 2019 WILL BRG? ONE LOL GROUP HOP TO OPENA MUNY CENTER DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR. ADVERTISEMENT LGBT PEOPLE STILL ENUNTER PLENTY OF PREJUDICE JOHNSON CY, AS MY IENDS WHO LIVE THERE N PERSONALLY ATTT. I N’T SELL AS A QUEER PARADISE. NOR N I PRETEND AS THOUGH JOHNSON CY PET WH MEGALOPOLIS LIKE THE BAY AREA OR NEW YORK WHEN TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF OPTNS FOR LGBT SOCIALIZG. BUT WHAT LACKS QUANTY, MAK UP FOR HEART. I FIRST DROVE TO JOHNSON CY 2013 WH WHAT I N NOW ADM WAS SOME TREPIDATN MY GAS-PEDAL FOOT. LIVG GEIA AT THE TIME, I WAS AWARE OF TENNSEE’S LS-THAN-STELLAR REPUTATN ON LGBT RIGHTS, WHICH ONLY HEIGHTENED MY HATN TO VIS DURG THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF MY GENR TRANSN—BUT SOME IENDS I HAD MA ONLE WERE EAGER FOR ME TO SEE THEIR HOME.SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVG, I HAD BEEN TRODUCED TO THE MOST AMAZG GROUP OF LGBT AND ALLI: STUNTS, ARTISTS, EVEN A MALE MOL, ALL OF WHOM HAD SOME SORT OF PERSONAL OR FAIAL TIE TO JOHNSON CY. SOME HAVE SCE MOVED AWAY—AS DR. VERGHE EVENTUALLY DID, CINTALLY—AND OTHERS HAVE STAYED, BUT ALL STILL SHARE A EP AND ABIDG FONDNS FOR THIS STRANGE, OFTEN-IGNORED PLACE. IT’S NOT PERFECT BUT NO HOME EVER IS. “SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE” I FELL LOVE WH THE WELG, TIGHT-KN NATURE OF JOHNSON CY’S LGBT MUNY—A QUALY I HAVE SCE ENUNTERED REPEATEDLY SIAR RED-STATE CI. IN A LARGE METROPOLIS LIKE, SAY, LOS ANGEL, BIRDS OF A FEATHER DON’T HAVE TO FLOCK TOGETHER THANKS TO ABUNDANT BARS AND SOCIAL EVENTS THAT TER TO CREDIBLY SPECIFIC SUBSETS OF THE LGBT CROWD. ADVERTISEMENT IN JOHNSON CY, BY PARISON I MET ONE BISEXUAL PERSON—FELLOW WRER JENNIFER CULP—AND THEN, SEEMGLY, MET ALL THE BISEXUAL PEOPLE AS SHE TRODUCED THE RT OF THEM TO ME RAPID SUCCSN. SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE.I ME BACK TO JOHNSON CY AFTER THAT FIRST VIS—AND THEN I ME BACK AGA AND AGA AND AGA. ON ONE VIS, I WATCHED JENNIFER PERFORM A LOL PRODUCTN OF THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. ON ANOTHER, I WAS THE NNER-UP A LOL BAR’S GOTH PROM STUME NTT. THERE HAVE BEEN HALLOWEEN PARTI AND BIRTHDAY DANC AND LONG, LAZY HOURS SPENT WATCHG BAD MOVI WHILE JENNIFER’S TORTOISE, ZELDA, CRAWLS AROUND ON THE FLOOR. COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN MY REASONS FOR RETURNG HAVE NEVER BEEN AS NOBLE AS DR. VERGHE‘S MISSN OF HELPG RAL GAY MEN DURG THE HIV EPIMIC—BUT I, TOO, FOUND JOHNSON CY LODGED MY HEART AFTER I LEFT THE FIRST TIME. I ULD LEAVE, SURE—BUT I ULDN’T STAY AWAY.WHEN I LIVED ATLANTA, I WOULD MAKE THE FIVE-HOUR DRIVE NORTH THROUGH THE MOUNTAS, OFTEN ALONE. WHEN I MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA, I HAD TO FLY TO CHARLOTTE AND THEN TAKE AN AGG PROPELLER PLANE TO THE TRI-CI AIRPORT, WHERE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WORKG THE SECURY LE THAN THERE ARE GOG THROUGH . IT ST ALMOST AS MUCH AS A DISUNTED FLIGHT TO EUROPE. BUT I MA THE PILGRIMAGE BEE I HAD BEE A BELIEVER. JOHNSON CY HAD PROVED TO ME THAT LGBT ACCEPTANCE N BE FOUND ALMOST ANYWHERE, PECIALLY WHERE I DIDN’T EXPECT . ADVERTISEMENT REAL QUEER AMERI: LGBT STORI OM RED STAT IS AVAILABLE NOW. SAMANTHA ALLEN
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 TENNSEE LBIAN AND GAY BARS, RTRANTS, LODGG, PRI EVENT, BS MAPS

This is our sixth time rankg the gayt plac left for slishow.

Article ntu the Supreme Court led favor of same-sex marriag, Ameri generally, and the gay muny specifilly, celebrated.

Same-sex marriag, and the gay and lbian movement is more mastream than the natnal discsn has been brought to the foreont, at the state level, nversatns you know that an timated 0.

GAYT PLAC IN KANSAS FOR 2020

21% of Kansas rints is gay? That ranks as the number 41 most gay state the natn.

WILTON MANORS: AN LGBTQ TRAVEL GUI TO FLORIDA’S GAYT CY

That means there are a total of 2, 845 gay hoeholds The Sunflower goal wh this post is to e data and science to terme the gayt ci analyzg 99 ci wh over 1, 000 hoeholds, we’ve termed the are The Gayt Ci Kansas for AireEdwardsvilleAtchison (Photos)GoddardOttawa (Photos)Augta (Photos)Pratt (Photos)Wfield (Photos)Roeland ParkCoffeyville (Photos)What’s the gayt place Kansas? Acrdg to the facts, Bel Aire is the gayt place Kansas for more on how we lculated the top ten, and for more rmatn about the plac, read you’re lookg for somethg more natnal, check out the gayt ci more Kansas readg, check out:Bt Plac To Live In KansasCheapt Plac To Live In KansasMost Dangero Plac In KansasThe 10 Gayt Ci In Kansas For 2020Hoeholds: 2, 873Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)Gay Hoeholds: 19 (29th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 1. Hoeholds: 1, 527Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 2)Gay Hoeholds: 9 (34th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 1.

18% (2nd hight)More on Edwardsville: DataHoeholds: 3, 688Rank Last Year: 74 (Up 71)Gay Hoeholds: 20 (28th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 1.

Hoeholds: 1, 331Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 2)Gay Hoeholds: 7 (38th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 1. 05% (4th hight)More on Goddard: DataHoeholds: 4, 953Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 3)Gay Hoeholds: 22 (26th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 0.

GAY NIGHTLIFE THE ROCKI: BT BARS, CLUBS, & MORE

Hoeholds: 3, 518Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)Gay Hoeholds: 24 (24th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 0. Hoeholds: 2, 653Rank Last Year: 52 (Up 45)Gay Hoeholds: 8 (37th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 0.

Hoeholds: 4, 361Rank Last Year: 7 (Down 1)Gay Hoeholds: 30 (21st hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 0. Hoeholds: 3, 080Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 6)Gay Hoeholds: 9 (34th hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 0.

Hoeholds: 3, 927Rank Last Year: 22 (Up 12)Gay Hoeholds: 11 (32nd hight)% Gay Hoeholds: 0.

BT GAY BARS IN MNOTA

The town of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma is loted approximately 1 e south of the cy, existg as a separate polil enty immediately south of the state do you terme the bt ci for same-sex hoeholds Kansas for 2020In orr to rank the gayt ci Kansas, we ed the 2014-2018 Amerin Communy Survey om the U.

We looked at:Percentage of all hoeholds that are unmarried, same sex partnersWe limed the analysis to non-CDPs that have over 1, 000 ranked each place om 1 to 99 wh the cy ntag the hight percentage of unmarried, same sex partners hoeholds beg the most the end, end up beg the the most gay place wh 1. 32% gay hoeholds.

THE BEST JERSEY SHORE GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS JERSEY SHORE

You n download the data on below to learn more about the gayt plac Kansas.

Or skip to the end to see the list of all the plac the state om gayt to You Have It – The Most LGBT Friendly Ci In Kansas For 2020If you’re lookg at the number of gay hoeholds Kansas, this is an accurate you’re cur enough, here are the least gay plac Kansas:AbileneChanuteHillsboroFor more Kansas readg, check out:Richt Ci In KansasSaft Plac In KansasWorst Plac To Live In KansasDetailed List Of The Gayt Plac To Live In KansasRankCyHoeholds% Gay Hoeholds1Bel Aire2, 8731. The Hudson Valley is a great place to be gay—the annual LGBTQ pri paras draws crowds the thoands every year. But the queer muny needs more than one day per year to celebrate their pri and sometim you want to go where everybody knows you’re gay.

WHY I LOVE JOHNSON CY, AN LGBT IDYLL RIGHT THE HEART OF BIBLE BELTHOME AND AWAYCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLENJOHNSON CY IS TENNSEE, A STATE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS NSIRG AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS. BUT, AS AN LGBT TRAVELER, 'S ALSO THE THOR'S FAVORE PLACE TO BE.SAMANTHA ALLENUPDATED MAR. 10, 2019 2:05PM EDT / PUBLISHED MAR. 09, 2019 9:40PM EST JOHNSON CY, TENNSEE IS THE SORT OF PLACE YOU N’T LEAVE BEHD. NOT FULLY.IN 1985, PHYSICIAN ABRAHAM VERGHE MOVED OM BOSTON BACK TO THE JOHNSON CY WHERE HE HAD PREVLY FISHED HIS RINCY. IT WAS THERE RAL EAST TENNSEE THAT THE YOUNG DOCTOR BEGAN SEEG GAY MEN WH HIV, BEG BOTH THEIR PHYSICIAN AND THEIR NFIDANTE. AS THE NEW YORK TIM NOTED S 1994 REVIEW OF VERGHE’S HEART-WRENCHG MEMOIR MY OWN COUNTRY, PATIENTS FLOCKED TO HIM—“MOSTLY GAY MEN WHO WERE MOVG BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWNS AFTER YEARS AWAY.”  LIKE MANY LGBT PEOPLE THAT ERA, THE TIM REPORTED, THE TENNSEE MEN HAD ABSND TO ASTAL CI BUT “NOW THEY WERE SICK, AND WERE G BACK TO THEIR FAI.” VERGHE HAD MA JOHNSON CY TO AN UNEXPECTED APPALACHIAN STATN WHERE GAY MEN WH HIV ULD AT LEAST FD SOME PASSN THE ABSENCE OF A CURE. MORE THAN TWO S LATER, THE RIPPL OF VERGHE’S EMPATHY STILL N THROUGH JOHNSON CY. IN 2018, WHEN A PRI FTIVAL ME TO THE LLEGE TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, A STAGGERG 10,000 PEOPLE ATTEND, AS WJHL REPORTED. (ONLY 66,000 PEOPLE LIVE JOHNSON CY.) EVER SCE I STARTED VISG 2013, G BACK ALMOST EVERY YEAR, I HAVE BEEN DISARMED BY THE WELE S RINTS GAVE TO AN OPENLY QUEER AND TRANSGENR WOMAN LIKE ME.MY JOHNSON CY IEND JEFF CLARK, THOUGH, ISN’T SURPRISED. WHEN HE ASKED ME RECENTLY IF I KNEW WHY THIS SMALL APPALACHIAN CY HAD SUCH AN VG LGBT MUNY, HE POTED PART TO VERGHE’S CISN TO E BACK THE MID-1980S. JOHNSON CY IS A SPECIAL PLACE, BUT NOT SOME SORT OF SMIC SENSE: IT HAS BEEN MA SPECIAL BY THOSE WHO RE FOR . COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN Y, JOHNSON CY IS AMERI’S BIBLE BELT. MORE SPECIFILLY ’S TENNSEE—A STATE WHERE AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS ARE CURRENTLY UNR NSIRATN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT ’S ALSO THE PLACE WHICH I HAVE FELT THE MOST AT HOME—AND HAD THE MOST FUN—AS AN OUT LGBT TRAVELER.WHEN I TRAVERSED THE UNTRY FOR TWO MONTHS THE SUMMER OF 2017 TO WRE MY NEW BOOK REAL QUEER AMERI ABOUT LGBT LIFE RED STAT, JOHNSON CY WAS THE ONE STATN WHERE I STOPPED WORKG AND JT RELAXED. ONE NIGHT, I FOUND MYSELF SWIMMG JEFF’S POOL, PHG MY BISEXUAL BT IEND AROUND ON A MAKHIFT RAFT BUILT OUT OF SWIM TOYS. ADVERTISEMENT AFTERWARD, WE ALL GATHERED BY THE FIRE P TO SIP BOURBON OUT OF A SHARED MASON JAR. THAT’S THE CLOST I’VE E TO HEAVEN. IF THIS IS THE FIRST YOU’RE HEARG ABOUT JOHNSON CY, WELL, THAT’S A DAMN SHAME. THE CLOST MAJOR LANDMARK IS ASHEVILLE, ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH, AND ALTHOUGH THAT NORTH CAROLA CY HAS A CERTA CHET DUE TO S POPULATN OF ARTISTS AND MICIANS AND LGBT PEOPLE, JOHNSON CY HAS BEEN STG ACROSS THE STATE LE THE WHOLE TIME, WAG FOR S OWN RICH TO BE NOTICED.AN OLD RAILROAD TOWN NTLED THE MOUNTAS, JOHNSON CY NOW HAS PARKS, RTRANTS, AND BREWERI WHERE S TRA STATNS ED TO BE. ORAL HISTORY HAS THAT AL CAPONE SMUGGLED LIQUOR THROUGH THE CY DURG PROHIBN—AND WALKG AMONG ALL THE 1920S ARCHECTURE DOWNTOWN, YOU’LL WANT TO BELIEVE THOSE STORI, EVEN IF THEY N’T BE VERIFIED. THE FT ROOM AND BOARD TOWN—THE CARNEGIE—IS A HOTEL OM THE GOLN AGE OF HOTELS, WH TAXIRMY, AN ORNATE LOBBY, AND AN ATTACHED STEAKHOE WHERE A BARTENR SERV UP DRKS LONG AFTER THE KCHEN CLOS.(BUT IF HUNGER DO STRIKE AT A LATE HOUR, YOU N ALWAYS GRAB A BE AT THE MID CY GRILL DOWNTOWN WHICH STAYS OPEN UNTIL THE RIPE HOUR OF 4 AM. BRG YOUR OWN BEER AND ORR THE BECKATOR BURGER. TST ME.) ADVERTISEMENT “THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR 'NEWBI' AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S 'ANANDA' AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK” THERE’S NO NYG THAT JOHNSON CY IS EP SI TMP UNTRY, JUDGG OM 2016 ELECTN RULTS, AS BROKEN DOWN BY UNTY. BUT IS PERHAPS BEE IS SUCH A EP-RED PART OF THE UNED STAT THAT S OWN POCKETS OF LGBT ACCEPTANCE FEEL SO WELG, THE SAME WAY THAT A MUG OF HOT A TAST BETTER WHEN YOU N SEE THE SNOW FALLG OUTSI YOUR WDOW.THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR “NEWBI” AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S “ANANDA” AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK. DURG THE DAY, THE WILLOW TREE FFEE SHOP DOWNTOWN OFFERS A STEADY SUPPLY OF FFEE AND BOOKS AND LIVE MIC, ALL SERVED UP AN LGBT-IENDLY SPACE. THE LOL LLEGE, EAST TENNSEE STATE, OFFERS EVENTS FOR LGBT STUNTS, LIKE A RUPL’S DRAG RACE VIEWG PARTY, A TRANSGENR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE VIGIL, OR A READG OM NON-BARY POET ANDREA GIBSON. A SCENIC JOHNSON CY OVERLOOKCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN EVERY YEAR I E BACK, SEEMS, THE LOL LGBT MUNY IS GATHERG STRENGTH. IN 2017, THE ANIZATN TRIPRI WAS FOUND TO SERVE JOHNSON CY AND TWO OF S NEIGHBORS, LLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE TRI-CI. 2018 WAS THE PRI PARA. WHO KNOWS WHAT 2019 WILL BRG? ONE LOL GROUP HOP TO OPENA MUNY CENTER DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR. ADVERTISEMENT LGBT PEOPLE STILL ENUNTER PLENTY OF PREJUDICE JOHNSON CY, AS MY IENDS WHO LIVE THERE N PERSONALLY ATTT. I N’T SELL AS A QUEER PARADISE. NOR N I PRETEND AS THOUGH JOHNSON CY PET WH MEGALOPOLIS LIKE THE BAY AREA OR NEW YORK WHEN TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF OPTNS FOR LGBT SOCIALIZG. BUT WHAT LACKS QUANTY, MAK UP FOR HEART. I FIRST DROVE TO JOHNSON CY 2013 WH WHAT I N NOW ADM WAS SOME TREPIDATN MY GAS-PEDAL FOOT. LIVG GEIA AT THE TIME, I WAS AWARE OF TENNSEE’S LS-THAN-STELLAR REPUTATN ON LGBT RIGHTS, WHICH ONLY HEIGHTENED MY HATN TO VIS DURG THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF MY GENR TRANSN—BUT SOME IENDS I HAD MA ONLE WERE EAGER FOR ME TO SEE THEIR HOME.SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVG, I HAD BEEN TRODUCED TO THE MOST AMAZG GROUP OF LGBT AND ALLI: STUNTS, ARTISTS, EVEN A MALE MOL, ALL OF WHOM HAD SOME SORT OF PERSONAL OR FAIAL TIE TO JOHNSON CY. SOME HAVE SCE MOVED AWAY—AS DR. VERGHE EVENTUALLY DID, CINTALLY—AND OTHERS HAVE STAYED, BUT ALL STILL SHARE A EP AND ABIDG FONDNS FOR THIS STRANGE, OFTEN-IGNORED PLACE. IT’S NOT PERFECT BUT NO HOME EVER IS. “SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE” I FELL LOVE WH THE WELG, TIGHT-KN NATURE OF JOHNSON CY’S LGBT MUNY—A QUALY I HAVE SCE ENUNTERED REPEATEDLY SIAR RED-STATE CI. IN A LARGE METROPOLIS LIKE, SAY, LOS ANGEL, BIRDS OF A FEATHER DON’T HAVE TO FLOCK TOGETHER THANKS TO ABUNDANT BARS AND SOCIAL EVENTS THAT TER TO CREDIBLY SPECIFIC SUBSETS OF THE LGBT CROWD. ADVERTISEMENT IN JOHNSON CY, BY PARISON I MET ONE BISEXUAL PERSON—FELLOW WRER JENNIFER CULP—AND THEN, SEEMGLY, MET ALL THE BISEXUAL PEOPLE AS SHE TRODUCED THE RT OF THEM TO ME RAPID SUCCSN. SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE.I ME BACK TO JOHNSON CY AFTER THAT FIRST VIS—AND THEN I ME BACK AGA AND AGA AND AGA. ON ONE VIS, I WATCHED JENNIFER PERFORM A LOL PRODUCTN OF THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. ON ANOTHER, I WAS THE NNER-UP A LOL BAR’S GOTH PROM STUME NTT. THERE HAVE BEEN HALLOWEEN PARTI AND BIRTHDAY DANC AND LONG, LAZY HOURS SPENT WATCHG BAD MOVI WHILE JENNIFER’S TORTOISE, ZELDA, CRAWLS AROUND ON THE FLOOR. COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN MY REASONS FOR RETURNG HAVE NEVER BEEN AS NOBLE AS DR. VERGHE‘S MISSN OF HELPG RAL GAY MEN DURG THE HIV EPIMIC—BUT I, TOO, FOUND JOHNSON CY LODGED MY HEART AFTER I LEFT THE FIRST TIME. I ULD LEAVE, SURE—BUT I ULDN’T STAY AWAY.WHEN I LIVED ATLANTA, I WOULD MAKE THE FIVE-HOUR DRIVE NORTH THROUGH THE MOUNTAS, OFTEN ALONE. WHEN I MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA, I HAD TO FLY TO CHARLOTTE AND THEN TAKE AN AGG PROPELLER PLANE TO THE TRI-CI AIRPORT, WHERE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WORKG THE SECURY LE THAN THERE ARE GOG THROUGH . IT ST ALMOST AS MUCH AS A DISUNTED FLIGHT TO EUROPE. BUT I MA THE PILGRIMAGE BEE I HAD BEE A BELIEVER. JOHNSON CY HAD PROVED TO ME THAT LGBT ACCEPTANCE N BE FOUND ALMOST ANYWHERE, PECIALLY WHERE I DIDN’T EXPECT . ADVERTISEMENT REAL QUEER AMERI: LGBT STORI OM RED STAT IS AVAILABLE NOW. SAMANTHA ALLEN

So if you’re on the hunt for ol, clive, and safe spac to live your bt gay life, try this curated list of queer spac and events to enjoy some good gay pany all year long. For somethg a ltle different, Pansy Club offers the perfect (gay) marriage of nsistency and variety. hudson valley gay events,.

gay nightlife,. Johnson Cy Gay bars and clubs by distance.

BT GAY CLUBS FORT MYERS

Johnson Cy Gay Bars and Clubs om ClubFly. ClubFly provis a gay bar, club, nightlife, and GLBT center mapper for Johnson Cy, Tennsee and the rt of the US. Johnson Cy gay bars and clubs are mapped the gayborhood wh an overview, tags, ntact tails, webse, social media lks, trans/walkg directns, and drivg directns.

GAY USA

Gay, straight, or bi-cur- EVERYONE has a good time! If you drk, ask Lisa for a Gay Bar Johnson Cy!

Love all my iends at Newbi:-)The staff all sux and they don't give a sh about the gay muny. Gay Nightlife The Rocki: Bt Bars, Clubs, & More.

The largt gay club Colorado Sprgs, and one of the largt the state, The Unrground occupi a historic buildg the center of downtown and really pris three distct spac one.

WHY I LOVE JOHNSON CY, AN LGBT IDYLL RIGHT THE HEART OF BIBLE BELTHOME AND AWAYCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLENJOHNSON CY IS TENNSEE, A STATE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS NSIRG AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS. BUT, AS AN LGBT TRAVELER, 'S ALSO THE THOR'S FAVORE PLACE TO BE.SAMANTHA ALLENUPDATED MAR. 10, 2019 2:05PM EDT / PUBLISHED MAR. 09, 2019 9:40PM EST JOHNSON CY, TENNSEE IS THE SORT OF PLACE YOU N’T LEAVE BEHD. NOT FULLY.IN 1985, PHYSICIAN ABRAHAM VERGHE MOVED OM BOSTON BACK TO THE JOHNSON CY WHERE HE HAD PREVLY FISHED HIS RINCY. IT WAS THERE RAL EAST TENNSEE THAT THE YOUNG DOCTOR BEGAN SEEG GAY MEN WH HIV, BEG BOTH THEIR PHYSICIAN AND THEIR NFIDANTE. AS THE NEW YORK TIM NOTED S 1994 REVIEW OF VERGHE’S HEART-WRENCHG MEMOIR MY OWN COUNTRY, PATIENTS FLOCKED TO HIM—“MOSTLY GAY MEN WHO WERE MOVG BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWNS AFTER YEARS AWAY.”  LIKE MANY LGBT PEOPLE THAT ERA, THE TIM REPORTED, THE TENNSEE MEN HAD ABSND TO ASTAL CI BUT “NOW THEY WERE SICK, AND WERE G BACK TO THEIR FAI.” VERGHE HAD MA JOHNSON CY TO AN UNEXPECTED APPALACHIAN STATN WHERE GAY MEN WH HIV ULD AT LEAST FD SOME PASSN THE ABSENCE OF A CURE. MORE THAN TWO S LATER, THE RIPPL OF VERGHE’S EMPATHY STILL N THROUGH JOHNSON CY. IN 2018, WHEN A PRI FTIVAL ME TO THE LLEGE TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, A STAGGERG 10,000 PEOPLE ATTEND, AS WJHL REPORTED. (ONLY 66,000 PEOPLE LIVE JOHNSON CY.) EVER SCE I STARTED VISG 2013, G BACK ALMOST EVERY YEAR, I HAVE BEEN DISARMED BY THE WELE S RINTS GAVE TO AN OPENLY QUEER AND TRANSGENR WOMAN LIKE ME.MY JOHNSON CY IEND JEFF CLARK, THOUGH, ISN’T SURPRISED. WHEN HE ASKED ME RECENTLY IF I KNEW WHY THIS SMALL APPALACHIAN CY HAD SUCH AN VG LGBT MUNY, HE POTED PART TO VERGHE’S CISN TO E BACK THE MID-1980S. JOHNSON CY IS A SPECIAL PLACE, BUT NOT SOME SORT OF SMIC SENSE: IT HAS BEEN MA SPECIAL BY THOSE WHO RE FOR . COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN Y, JOHNSON CY IS AMERI’S BIBLE BELT. MORE SPECIFILLY ’S TENNSEE—A STATE WHERE AT LEAST THREE ANTI-LGBT BILLS ARE CURRENTLY UNR NSIRATN THE LEGISLATURE. BUT ’S ALSO THE PLACE WHICH I HAVE FELT THE MOST AT HOME—AND HAD THE MOST FUN—AS AN OUT LGBT TRAVELER.WHEN I TRAVERSED THE UNTRY FOR TWO MONTHS THE SUMMER OF 2017 TO WRE MY NEW BOOK REAL QUEER AMERI ABOUT LGBT LIFE RED STAT, JOHNSON CY WAS THE ONE STATN WHERE I STOPPED WORKG AND JT RELAXED. ONE NIGHT, I FOUND MYSELF SWIMMG JEFF’S POOL, PHG MY BISEXUAL BT IEND AROUND ON A MAKHIFT RAFT BUILT OUT OF SWIM TOYS. ADVERTISEMENT AFTERWARD, WE ALL GATHERED BY THE FIRE P TO SIP BOURBON OUT OF A SHARED MASON JAR. THAT’S THE CLOST I’VE E TO HEAVEN. IF THIS IS THE FIRST YOU’RE HEARG ABOUT JOHNSON CY, WELL, THAT’S A DAMN SHAME. THE CLOST MAJOR LANDMARK IS ASHEVILLE, ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH, AND ALTHOUGH THAT NORTH CAROLA CY HAS A CERTA CHET DUE TO S POPULATN OF ARTISTS AND MICIANS AND LGBT PEOPLE, JOHNSON CY HAS BEEN STG ACROSS THE STATE LE THE WHOLE TIME, WAG FOR S OWN RICH TO BE NOTICED.AN OLD RAILROAD TOWN NTLED THE MOUNTAS, JOHNSON CY NOW HAS PARKS, RTRANTS, AND BREWERI WHERE S TRA STATNS ED TO BE. ORAL HISTORY HAS THAT AL CAPONE SMUGGLED LIQUOR THROUGH THE CY DURG PROHIBN—AND WALKG AMONG ALL THE 1920S ARCHECTURE DOWNTOWN, YOU’LL WANT TO BELIEVE THOSE STORI, EVEN IF THEY N’T BE VERIFIED. THE FT ROOM AND BOARD TOWN—THE CARNEGIE—IS A HOTEL OM THE GOLN AGE OF HOTELS, WH TAXIRMY, AN ORNATE LOBBY, AND AN ATTACHED STEAKHOE WHERE A BARTENR SERV UP DRKS LONG AFTER THE KCHEN CLOS.(BUT IF HUNGER DO STRIKE AT A LATE HOUR, YOU N ALWAYS GRAB A BE AT THE MID CY GRILL DOWNTOWN WHICH STAYS OPEN UNTIL THE RIPE HOUR OF 4 AM. BRG YOUR OWN BEER AND ORR THE BECKATOR BURGER. TST ME.) ADVERTISEMENT “THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR 'NEWBI' AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S 'ANANDA' AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK” THERE’S NO NYG THAT JOHNSON CY IS EP SI TMP UNTRY, JUDGG OM 2016 ELECTN RULTS, AS BROKEN DOWN BY UNTY. BUT IS PERHAPS BEE IS SUCH A EP-RED PART OF THE UNED STAT THAT S OWN POCKETS OF LGBT ACCEPTANCE FEEL SO WELG, THE SAME WAY THAT A MUG OF HOT A TAST BETTER WHEN YOU N SEE THE SNOW FALLG OUTSI YOUR WDOW.THE NEW BEGNGS NIGHTCLUB—OR “NEWBI” AS MY IENDS LL —PROVIS A PLACE FOR LGBT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO DANCE EMBARRASSGLY TO NICKI MAJ’S “ANANDA” AFTER HAVG A B TOO MUCH TO DRK. DURG THE DAY, THE WILLOW TREE FFEE SHOP DOWNTOWN OFFERS A STEADY SUPPLY OF FFEE AND BOOKS AND LIVE MIC, ALL SERVED UP AN LGBT-IENDLY SPACE. THE LOL LLEGE, EAST TENNSEE STATE, OFFERS EVENTS FOR LGBT STUNTS, LIKE A RUPL’S DRAG RACE VIEWG PARTY, A TRANSGENR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE VIGIL, OR A READG OM NON-BARY POET ANDREA GIBSON. A SCENIC JOHNSON CY OVERLOOKCOURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN EVERY YEAR I E BACK, SEEMS, THE LOL LGBT MUNY IS GATHERG STRENGTH. IN 2017, THE ANIZATN TRIPRI WAS FOUND TO SERVE JOHNSON CY AND TWO OF S NEIGHBORS, LLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE TRI-CI. 2018 WAS THE PRI PARA. WHO KNOWS WHAT 2019 WILL BRG? ONE LOL GROUP HOP TO OPENA MUNY CENTER DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR. ADVERTISEMENT LGBT PEOPLE STILL ENUNTER PLENTY OF PREJUDICE JOHNSON CY, AS MY IENDS WHO LIVE THERE N PERSONALLY ATTT. I N’T SELL AS A QUEER PARADISE. NOR N I PRETEND AS THOUGH JOHNSON CY PET WH MEGALOPOLIS LIKE THE BAY AREA OR NEW YORK WHEN TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF OPTNS FOR LGBT SOCIALIZG. BUT WHAT LACKS QUANTY, MAK UP FOR HEART. I FIRST DROVE TO JOHNSON CY 2013 WH WHAT I N NOW ADM WAS SOME TREPIDATN MY GAS-PEDAL FOOT. LIVG GEIA AT THE TIME, I WAS AWARE OF TENNSEE’S LS-THAN-STELLAR REPUTATN ON LGBT RIGHTS, WHICH ONLY HEIGHTENED MY HATN TO VIS DURG THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF MY GENR TRANSN—BUT SOME IENDS I HAD MA ONLE WERE EAGER FOR ME TO SEE THEIR HOME.SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVG, I HAD BEEN TRODUCED TO THE MOST AMAZG GROUP OF LGBT AND ALLI: STUNTS, ARTISTS, EVEN A MALE MOL, ALL OF WHOM HAD SOME SORT OF PERSONAL OR FAIAL TIE TO JOHNSON CY. SOME HAVE SCE MOVED AWAY—AS DR. VERGHE EVENTUALLY DID, CINTALLY—AND OTHERS HAVE STAYED, BUT ALL STILL SHARE A EP AND ABIDG FONDNS FOR THIS STRANGE, OFTEN-IGNORED PLACE. IT’S NOT PERFECT BUT NO HOME EVER IS. “SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE” I FELL LOVE WH THE WELG, TIGHT-KN NATURE OF JOHNSON CY’S LGBT MUNY—A QUALY I HAVE SCE ENUNTERED REPEATEDLY SIAR RED-STATE CI. IN A LARGE METROPOLIS LIKE, SAY, LOS ANGEL, BIRDS OF A FEATHER DON’T HAVE TO FLOCK TOGETHER THANKS TO ABUNDANT BARS AND SOCIAL EVENTS THAT TER TO CREDIBLY SPECIFIC SUBSETS OF THE LGBT CROWD. ADVERTISEMENT IN JOHNSON CY, BY PARISON I MET ONE BISEXUAL PERSON—FELLOW WRER JENNIFER CULP—AND THEN, SEEMGLY, MET ALL THE BISEXUAL PEOPLE AS SHE TRODUCED THE RT OF THEM TO ME RAPID SUCCSN. SOON, I WAS ONLY A UPLE GRE OF SEPARATN AWAY OM EVERY OPENLY LGBT PERSON WH THE CY L. THE MUNY FELT KNOWABLE AND TANGIBLE.I ME BACK TO JOHNSON CY AFTER THAT FIRST VIS—AND THEN I ME BACK AGA AND AGA AND AGA. ON ONE VIS, I WATCHED JENNIFER PERFORM A LOL PRODUCTN OF THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. ON ANOTHER, I WAS THE NNER-UP A LOL BAR’S GOTH PROM STUME NTT. THERE HAVE BEEN HALLOWEEN PARTI AND BIRTHDAY DANC AND LONG, LAZY HOURS SPENT WATCHG BAD MOVI WHILE JENNIFER’S TORTOISE, ZELDA, CRAWLS AROUND ON THE FLOOR. COURTY SAMANTHA ALLEN MY REASONS FOR RETURNG HAVE NEVER BEEN AS NOBLE AS DR. VERGHE‘S MISSN OF HELPG RAL GAY MEN DURG THE HIV EPIMIC—BUT I, TOO, FOUND JOHNSON CY LODGED MY HEART AFTER I LEFT THE FIRST TIME. I ULD LEAVE, SURE—BUT I ULDN’T STAY AWAY.WHEN I LIVED ATLANTA, I WOULD MAKE THE FIVE-HOUR DRIVE NORTH THROUGH THE MOUNTAS, OFTEN ALONE. WHEN I MOVED TO SOUTH FLORIDA, I HAD TO FLY TO CHARLOTTE AND THEN TAKE AN AGG PROPELLER PLANE TO THE TRI-CI AIRPORT, WHERE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WORKG THE SECURY LE THAN THERE ARE GOG THROUGH . IT ST ALMOST AS MUCH AS A DISUNTED FLIGHT TO EUROPE. BUT I MA THE PILGRIMAGE BEE I HAD BEE A BELIEVER. JOHNSON CY HAD PROVED TO ME THAT LGBT ACCEPTANCE N BE FOUND ALMOST ANYWHERE, PECIALLY WHERE I DIDN’T EXPECT . ADVERTISEMENT REAL QUEER AMERI: LGBT STORI OM RED STAT IS AVAILABLE NOW. SAMANTHA ALLEN

For whatever Colorado Sprgs lacks s number of gay bars, this imprsive and handsomely signed gay entertament plex fely mak up for . Other gay bars Colorado Sprgs clu Club Q, on the cy's east si, and the Bijou Bar and Grill.

It's dive-y, cise-y, slightly rnchy, and plenty of fun: BoyzTown is a highly popular part of the gff but lovable South Broadway gay scene, a neighbor of such standbys and BJ's Caroel. As gay strip bars go, the crowd is remarkably age-diverse and iendly.

GAY SAN DIEGO

Next door you'll fd the gay ffeehoe and Inter fe, Off Trax, which is open for breakfast and lunch as well as om 1 am until 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights, a full hour after Try-Angl clos. The five Denver gay dance club, Tracks is a huge, eclectic, and enormoly fun spot an dtrial area northeast of downtown ('s safe, but a b of a hl - bt to take a b or drive there).

GAY NEW YORK CY

Although ters to a mixed crowd, the GLBT-iendly Qucy Bar is the clost thg you'll fd to gay nightlife wtern Colorado. There's a good selectn of beer on tap, and most nights you'll fd more than a few gays and lbians here, along wh a mix of other lols.

THE BT GAY BARS AND CLUBS LOS ANGEL

Part of a popular brand of gay untry-wtern bars wh addnal branch Chigo, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, Charlie's Denver opened 1981 on the se of what is now Ms. Home bar of the Colorado Gay Roo Associatn and a great place for untry-le dancg and two-steppg, Charlie's also has a standard dis (Club Charlie's) playg current techno, hip-hop, and dance tun.

Although the tony ski rort muny of Aspen is whout any full-time gay bars, the town's que visible GLBT muny matas a signifint prence at several loung and rtrants around town, wh Elevatn one of the most likely plac where you'll enunter "fay. " This trendy eatery and bar has a very mixed gay-straight crowd. Durg Aspen Gay Ski Week, this is one place to see and be seen.

The central Rocki cy of Colorado Sprgs has earned a reputatn for far-right nservative polics over the years, and to be sure, 's not the gay-iendlit cy the state (try Denver, an hour north).

LAST CALL: BEHD THE TERRIFYG UNTOLD STORY OF NEW YORK'S GAY BAR KILLER

But the gay scene here is improvg steadily.

THE 30 BT GAY BARS NYC

You'll fd a uple of gay bars town, one of the better known beg Club Q, a "e one, e all", zero-attu place that's equally popular among lbians and gay men. Not to be nfed wh the funct Trapp Door, which is jt around the rner, The Trapp is what remas of the formerly signifint gay scene that ed to thrive Salt Lake Cy's Warehoe District, wt of downtown (although jt around the rner, you'll fd the relatively new Stud 27 gay nightclub as well as the cy's biggt gay Saturday night party, at The Temple).