Harlem’s Black, Gay Bars Are Thrivg the Middle of a Panmic

HARLEM’S BLACK, GAY BARS ARE THRIVG THE MIDDLE OF A PANMIC
LAST BLACK-OWNED GAY BAR IN NEW YORK CY IS RALLYG TO SURVIVE COVID-19
EXCLIVE: GAY BAR OWNER DISCS RECENT ARSON ATTACKS, THE RILIENCE OF HARLEM"COMMTG A CRIME MOTIVATED BY HATE IS NOT A REFLECTN OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL," SAYS ALEXI MKO, OWNER OF THE ALIBI {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;}NEWSBY MICHAEL MTOJULY 10, 2019/1:07 {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:1163PX;WIDTH:1776PX;}SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/GETTY IMAGFAR-RIGHT ACTIVISTS BURN THE RABOW LGBT FLAG OUTSI THE SMALL OPERA HOE KIEV ON JUNE 13, 2017 DURG THE OFFICIAL OPENG OF KIEV PRI 2017. THE LGBT EQUALY MARCH WILL BE HELD KIEV ON JUNE 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKY (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/GETTY IMAG)BY MICHAEL MTOJULY 10, 2019 / 1:07 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"EXCLIVE: GAY BAR OWNER DISCS RECENT ARSON ATTACKS, THE RILIENCE OF HARLEM","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-07-10T17:07:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-07-10T17:07:47.000+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":"MICHAEL MTO","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}YOU N BURN DOWN A RABOW FLAG OR THREE, BUT YOU N’T SNUFF OUT QUEER PRI, PECIALLY HARLEM. THAT’S THE LSON LEARNED AT ALIBI LOUNGE, NYC'S ONLY BLACK-OWNED GAY BAR, ON ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. BOULEVARD NEAR 139TH STREET, WHICH WAS TWICE VICTIMIZED BY THE FLAG-BURNG TYRSE SGLETON, WHO WAS ARRTED YTERDAY, JULY 9, AFTER HAVG BEEN PTURED DOG HIS MISEDS ON VIO. A FEW HOURS AFTER HIS ARRT, I DROPPED BY THE BAR—A SUAL, TIMATE LOUNGE—AND TALKED TO OWNER ALEXI MKO ABOUT THE KICKASS RPONSE TO THE UGLY {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;}HELLO, ALEXI. FIRST OF ALL, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THIS BAR?{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;}HARLEM IS CHANGG. IT’S A REFLECTN OF WHAT HARLEM IS BEG. IT’S A BLACK CROWD, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME {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;}AND I SEE WOMEN, {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;}SATURDAY IS LBIAN NIGHT. MONDAY IS MAN CSH, WH GOGO {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;}WHY DID YOU OPEN THIS PLACE THREE YEARS AGO?{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 ED TO PRACTICE TERNATNAL LAW. WHEN MY LAST NTRACT END, I THOUGHT, DO I WANT TO GO BACK TO LAW OR PURSUE A LONGTIME DREAM OF OWNG MY OWN BS? MY PRIMARY SKILLS ARE GETTG PEOPLE DNK AND MAKG PEOPLE FEEL GOOD FOR ABOUT A MUTE. I MOVED TO HARLEM ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. THERE WAS ZERO OPENLY LGBTQ, 24-7 TABLISHMENTS HARLEM. SOME PLAC DID WEEKLY NIGHTS. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TELL MYSELF, IF I WANT A DRK ON A TUDAY, I HAVE TO GO DOWN TO [HELL’S KCHEN]. BUT NOW, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A DRK OR MEET A IEND, YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR. IT’S A NEIGHBORHOOD {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;}WALK ME THROUGH RECENT {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 GUY [TYRSE SGLETON, AGE 20] WAS ARRTED TODAY. BEFORE PRI, ON MAY 31, HE BURNED BOTH FLAGS BY THE ENTRANCE—I REPLACED THEM–AND LAST SUNDAY, JULY 7, HE BURNED ONE. HE ME BACK! BOTH TIM HE WAS UGHT ON VIO. HE DID LMLY. SPG THE PLACE, MAKG SURE THE AST WAS CLEAR, THEN HE SAT ON THE STAIR NEXT TO THE DOOR. HE WAS LIGHTG A CIGARETTE AND DRKG SOMETHG. HE L THE FLAGS WH A PIECE OF PAPER DIPPED SOMETHG. THEN HE CROSSED THE STREET AS IF NOTHG HAD HAPPENED. HE EVEN LOOKED AT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{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;}AN EXTRAORDARILY STUPID CRIMAL. BUT YOU’VE GOTTEN WONRFUL SUPPORT THE AFTERMATH OF {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;}IT’S AMAZG. WE WERE THREE YEARS HERE WH NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WAS SURREAL. I CID TO POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I REGRET SOME OF THE LANGUAGE I ED. I DIDN’T KNOW THE NEXT MORNG THE STORY WOULD BE PICKED UP ALL AROUND THE WORLD. [HE OPENS A PACKAGE THAT WAS LEFT FOR HIM] ALL KDS OF PEOPLE ARE SENDG ME RABOW FLAGS. I BET THIS IS ONE. Y! [OPENS UP] IT’S BETIFUL!{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;}IT REALLY IS. ANY OTHER STORI OF SUPPORT?{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 DAY AFTER HAPPENED, AN ELRLY STRAIGHT UPLE WERE HOLDG EACH OTHER AND ME . THE MAN ULD BARELY WALK AND THE WOMAN WAS BLD. THEY WERE THEIR 80S. SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HAD NEVER KNOWN THERE WAS A GAY BAR HERE. SHE SAID, “WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS PLACE.” IN HARLEM, PECIALLY IF ’S A BLACK-OWNED BS, EVEN IF THEY DON’T SHARE YOUR VIEWS, THERE’S SOMETHG ABOUT PROTECTG EACH OTHER AROUND HERE. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TWICE, PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THE IMAGE TO BE, “WELL, ’S HARLEM. IT’S A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.” THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT ’S HARLEM AND PEOPLE WON’T STAND FOR . COMMTG A CRIME MOTIVATED BY HATE IS NOT A REFLECTN OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD 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;}NO ONE’S E AT YOU WH A BIBLE?{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;}NO!{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 LAST QUTN: WHO ARE YOUR GAY IDOLS OM THE PAST?{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 WANTED TO BE A WRER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I’M AWE THAT THE ERA HE LIVED, TENNSEE WILLIAMS WAS ABLE TO WRE SUCH BETIFUL STORI. AND I ADMIRE ANY BLACK ARTIST THAT LIVED THROUGH THAT ERA AND WAS STILL ABLE TO CREATE SUCH BETIFUL ART, LIKE LANGSTON {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;}GOOD {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;}BY THE WAY, I’M STG WH YOU RIGHT NOW AND SORT OF HIDG OUT OM ALL THE REPORTERS THAT ARE TRYG TO SCEND ON {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;}WELL, THANKS FOR THE EXCLIVE!{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
KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY

Club Bohemian Alibi Club Bohemian Alibi, a famo gay bar * alibi gay club *

“What I love about Black people, there’s a rilience , and if you’re Black and gay, ’s even stronger, ” he explaed.

At plac like Alibi, they n feel at down the street om Alibi — a quick, five-mute walk so close that hoppg a r would feel like a waste of gas — is Lambda Lounge, the neighborhood’s only other Black-owned gay bar.

“I really wanted the Black muny to have good optns, to not only have to go to Chelsea for a gay bar. We have a lol gay bar! ”Though the gradual shift om summer’s warmth to wter’s chill has put an end to that specific sense of outdoor mararie, Alibi and Lambda still offer a wele change of pace om the gay bars of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

LAST BLACK-OWNED GAY BAR IN NEW YORK CY IS RALLYG TO SURVIVE COVID-19

* alibi gay club *

Not only are Mko, Hugh, and Solomon an spiratn for lnchg succsful bs as out and proud Black gay men, but what they’ve created — a safe space for queer people a neighborhood not typilly known for embracg s LGBTQ+ populatn — has life-changg agre.

I jt knew that if Alibi had closed down, was gog to be the same script, the same story: Oh, another gay, Black bs nnot survive. "While we’ll never know whether Lambda would have opened if Alibi had shut down, we do know that havg two gay, Black-owned bs is always better than one. “I feel honored to be a part of our queer history, ” Hugh said when asked about this new gayborhood.

The Harlem-based tablishment is reportedly the last Black-owned gay bar New York Cy. The owners of the Stonewall Inn, a historic gay bar the Wt Village, told the New York Tim that last year, “hundreds of thoands of people” me to their bar throughout Pri month.

EXCLIVE: GAY BAR OWNER DISCS RECENT ARSON ATTACKS, THE RILIENCE OF HARLEM"COMMTG A CRIME MOTIVATED BY HATE IS NOT A REFLECTN OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL," SAYS ALEXI MKO, OWNER OF THE ALIBI {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;}NEWSBY MICHAEL MTOJULY 10, 2019/1:07 {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:1163PX;WIDTH:1776PX;}SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/GETTY IMAGFAR-RIGHT ACTIVISTS BURN THE RABOW LGBT FLAG OUTSI THE SMALL OPERA HOE KIEV ON JUNE 13, 2017 DURG THE OFFICIAL OPENG OF KIEV PRI 2017. THE LGBT EQUALY MARCH WILL BE HELD KIEV ON JUNE 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKY (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/GETTY IMAG)BY MICHAEL MTOJULY 10, 2019 / 1:07 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"EXCLIVE: GAY BAR OWNER DISCS RECENT ARSON ATTACKS, THE RILIENCE OF HARLEM","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-07-10T17:07:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-07-10T17:07:47.000+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":"MICHAEL MTO","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}YOU N BURN DOWN A RABOW FLAG OR THREE, BUT YOU N’T SNUFF OUT QUEER PRI, PECIALLY HARLEM. THAT’S THE LSON LEARNED AT ALIBI LOUNGE, NYC'S ONLY BLACK-OWNED GAY BAR, ON ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. BOULEVARD NEAR 139TH STREET, WHICH WAS TWICE VICTIMIZED BY THE FLAG-BURNG TYRSE SGLETON, WHO WAS ARRTED YTERDAY, JULY 9, AFTER HAVG BEEN PTURED DOG HIS MISEDS ON VIO. A FEW HOURS AFTER HIS ARRT, I DROPPED BY THE BAR—A SUAL, TIMATE LOUNGE—AND TALKED TO OWNER ALEXI MKO ABOUT THE KICKASS RPONSE TO THE UGLY {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;}HELLO, ALEXI. FIRST OF ALL, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THIS BAR?{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;}HARLEM IS CHANGG. IT’S A REFLECTN OF WHAT HARLEM IS BEG. IT’S A BLACK CROWD, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME {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;}AND I SEE WOMEN, {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;}SATURDAY IS LBIAN NIGHT. MONDAY IS MAN CSH, WH GOGO {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;}WHY DID YOU OPEN THIS PLACE THREE YEARS AGO?{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 ED TO PRACTICE TERNATNAL LAW. WHEN MY LAST NTRACT END, I THOUGHT, DO I WANT TO GO BACK TO LAW OR PURSUE A LONGTIME DREAM OF OWNG MY OWN BS? MY PRIMARY SKILLS ARE GETTG PEOPLE DNK AND MAKG PEOPLE FEEL GOOD FOR ABOUT A MUTE. I MOVED TO HARLEM ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. THERE WAS ZERO OPENLY LGBTQ, 24-7 TABLISHMENTS HARLEM. SOME PLAC DID WEEKLY NIGHTS. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TELL MYSELF, IF I WANT A DRK ON A TUDAY, I HAVE TO GO DOWN TO [HELL’S KCHEN]. BUT NOW, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A DRK OR MEET A IEND, YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO FAR. IT’S A NEIGHBORHOOD {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;}WALK ME THROUGH RECENT {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 GUY [TYRSE SGLETON, AGE 20] WAS ARRTED TODAY. BEFORE PRI, ON MAY 31, HE BURNED BOTH FLAGS BY THE ENTRANCE—I REPLACED THEM–AND LAST SUNDAY, JULY 7, HE BURNED ONE. HE ME BACK! BOTH TIM HE WAS UGHT ON VIO. HE DID LMLY. SPG THE PLACE, MAKG SURE THE AST WAS CLEAR, THEN HE SAT ON THE STAIR NEXT TO THE DOOR. HE WAS LIGHTG A CIGARETTE AND DRKG SOMETHG. HE L THE FLAGS WH A PIECE OF PAPER DIPPED SOMETHG. THEN HE CROSSED THE STREET AS IF NOTHG HAD HAPPENED. HE EVEN LOOKED AT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{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;}AN EXTRAORDARILY STUPID CRIMAL. BUT YOU’VE GOTTEN WONRFUL SUPPORT THE AFTERMATH OF {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;}IT’S AMAZG. WE WERE THREE YEARS HERE WH NO ISSUE WHATSOEVER. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WAS SURREAL. I CID TO POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I REGRET SOME OF THE LANGUAGE I ED. I DIDN’T KNOW THE NEXT MORNG THE STORY WOULD BE PICKED UP ALL AROUND THE WORLD. [HE OPENS A PACKAGE THAT WAS LEFT FOR HIM] ALL KDS OF PEOPLE ARE SENDG ME RABOW FLAGS. I BET THIS IS ONE. Y! [OPENS UP] IT’S BETIFUL!{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;}IT REALLY IS. ANY OTHER STORI OF SUPPORT?{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 DAY AFTER HAPPENED, AN ELRLY STRAIGHT UPLE WERE HOLDG EACH OTHER AND ME . THE MAN ULD BARELY WALK AND THE WOMAN WAS BLD. THEY WERE THEIR 80S. SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HAD NEVER KNOWN THERE WAS A GAY BAR HERE. SHE SAID, “WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS PLACE.” IN HARLEM, PECIALLY IF ’S A BLACK-OWNED BS, EVEN IF THEY DON’T SHARE YOUR VIEWS, THERE’S SOMETHG ABOUT PROTECTG EACH OTHER AROUND HERE. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TWICE, PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THE IMAGE TO BE, “WELL, ’S HARLEM. IT’S A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.” THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT ’S HARLEM AND PEOPLE WON’T STAND FOR . COMMTG A CRIME MOTIVATED BY HATE IS NOT A REFLECTN OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD 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;}NO ONE’S E AT YOU WH A BIBLE?{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;}NO!{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 LAST QUTN: WHO ARE YOUR GAY IDOLS OM THE PAST?{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 WANTED TO BE A WRER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I’M AWE THAT THE ERA HE LIVED, TENNSEE WILLIAMS WAS ABLE TO WRE SUCH BETIFUL STORI. AND I ADMIRE ANY BLACK ARTIST THAT LIVED THROUGH THAT ERA AND WAS STILL ABLE TO CREATE SUCH BETIFUL ART, LIKE LANGSTON {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;}GOOD {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;}BY THE WAY, I’M STG WH YOU RIGHT NOW AND SORT OF HIDG OUT OM ALL THE REPORTERS THAT ARE TRYG TO SCEND ON {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;}WELL, THANKS FOR THE EXCLIVE!{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

And let's make a gay one. That’s the lson learned at Alibi Lounge, NYC's only black-owned gay bar, on Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

She had heard about what had happened and had never known there was a gay bar here.

KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY

One last qutn: Who are your gay idols om the past? Cozy apartments, private rooms and amazg hom: be weled by the gay muny over 200 untri. Apartments, rooms, hom: be weled by the gay muny.

gay bar. Club Bohemian Alibi, a famo gay bar.

Harlem’s Black, Gay Bars Are Thrivg the Middle of a Panmic | Them

Recent Posts

Tags

Contents: