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The heroics and professional response to the Orlando attacks thus may represent a turning point in relations between the police and the LGBTQ community.īut some danger is part of the attraction of gay bars. Just read the lawsuits and hospital records from the 2009 raids by Fort Worth police on the Rainbow Lounge and the Atlanta SWAT unit on the Eagle. Police, too, have historically been agents of violence. Gay bars have always been magnets to gay bashers. To be sure, violence, discrimination, and side-eye happen at straight bars, but straights can flirt with impunity at work, at church, on the bus, in all bars. There is a long history of violence at gay bars, and not just from terrorism. Gay bars are those things, and they deserve to be celebrated and defended, and they need our patronage and gratitude especially here in the Rust Belt, where their numbers have dwindled rapidly since the Great Recession.īut gay bars have also always been dangerous and continue to be. In the wake of the massacre at Orlando’s Pulse, many writers have waxed poetic about gay bars as liberating sanctuaries, transformative sites of community, as refuges. This is what it was like for me to visit a strange gay bar for the first time. Finishing my beer too quickly, I tried to look nonchalant as I returned to the bar-to a different bartender-to get a second, calming my beating heart and strategizing: Who would find me hot? Who was hot to me? Would I even approach them? How? Second beer finished, I planted myself as a wallflower at the edge of the vacant dance floor, waiting for more than three men to hit it so I could join them and maybe find abandon. As I stepped through the door into the steaming, thumping din, I shot straight to the bar for a beer while scanning the room for a place to perch that wasn’t too close to any of the other men leaning against the wall but had a good view of the men passing from the illuminated bar into the shadows of the dance floor. This mix of excitement and dread did not flag when I noticed the security guard in his orange vest at the doorway who scanned the street behind me as he checked my ID. As I walked toward the door my heart raced, my hands went clammy, and I felt self-conscious about my gait. As I stepped out of the car I glanced through the windshield, making sure no jacket or loose change were visible that might cause a thief to smash the glass. I scanned the empty street looking for shadows in the dark storefronts or between two vans parked next to each other. Anyone that finds themselves in this city at any time, will want to visit at least one of these gay bars to see if they truly continue to live up to their name.When I parked down the street from Detroit’s R&R Saloon for the first time, I sat in my car for a moment. Although, once people arrive at BJ Roosters, they normally do not want to leave, as the lap dances are a sight to see.Įveryone will be able to find the bar that meets their needs in the city of Atlanta, which is why it is such a popular destination for people to live and visit. Their new location is on Cheshire Bridge Road, which is in close proximity to a few other gay bars in the city, and that makes it perfect for a night of bar hopping.
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This go-go gay bar used to have a smaller location inside a shopping mall, but as its popularity grew, they needed more space. While everyone can have the drink of their choice, those who are visiting for the first time must try one of the infamous mixed martinis. This is not a gay person’s typical bar, as a fire burns in the fireplace, while soft music plays in the background.
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The seats are full of regulars who have been going there for years and it is those people who always notice the newbies and get them acclimated to the bar. The Hideout opened back in the 1970s, which could be why everyone feels welcome and relaxed as soon as they arrive. It also doesn’t hurt that the bartenders are nice, the drinks are cheap, and the atmosphere welcomes everyone who walks through the doors to dance to the beat on the dance floor. Mary’s can be found over in East Atlanta and its welcoming atmosphere and phenomenal DJs make this the top choice amongst gays. Of course, there are still quite a few pretty girls and boys, who are only there to show the world how special they are, but everyone can find the few rare gems amongst the crowd if they are patient. Here are the 4 best gay bars to visit in Atlanta:īlake’s has been around for quite some time, and while it used to have a stuck-up vibe, things have toned down on the inside in recent years. That means that no one needs to sit at home bored or feel out of place the next time that they want to venture out to meet new friends while having fun. The number of gay bars varies from city to city, but Atlanta has been extremely blessed with several of them that have turned into long-time favorites.