For those last few left unaware, I’m Newfie.
I was hoping by now we would not need special bars for certain groups of people. Haven’t we reached the point where we can co-mingle? Is there still a lot of hate in Newfoundland or does the group itself not want to intertwine with other folk not in their group? It’s sad for all.
Think of the men who go on George Street. Do you really think that they would all react with polite understanding if they got hit on by another man?
A gay bar serves a different purpose then say, a gay grocery store.
Yes it is, but it’s worth acknowledging there is also a fantastic culture that grew out of these places even if they were initially created out of necessity. I remember visiting explicitly mixed bars that had that freer feeling to them, but straight bars never did, and there are probably still plenty of folks around who want to keep the more limited dynamics straight bars have. If there are only straight bars left, that’s a huge cultural loss in addition to the loss of a safe space.
At least there are apparently the “Lavi Seks” events and/or gatherings at rock, punk, and techno live shows, but this still really sucks. Cheerful drag shows, a relaxed atmosphere, the confidence to just go ahead and approach new people while being open about who you are? All of that vibrancy gets diminished.
I mean no offense by this, but that is an extremely cisgendered/heterosexual/white point of view. For y’all, Canada is your oyster. You get to go wherever and do whatever so you don’t really comprehend how important it is for places like this for us. Having certain bars for certain groups of people is NOT sad for all. It’s celebratory. It’s a place where people can go to be themselves. What you’re suggesting is a giant bar where both heterosexuals and homosexuals gather under the same roof. So like… how do we gays find out which one of us are gay? Do we stand in the corner? Do we develop a coded language? Do we develop coded dress? Or are we supposed to wear badges saying that we’re gay? Or is it expected that we just keep hitting on straight people when some of those people are going to get quite aggressive about being hit on by a dude after they’ve been drinking all night?
No. We cannot co-mingle because we don’t want to. Even if we ignore all negative associations, it’s still a place where we can fully be ourselves. Where we’re not catering to straight people and celebrating OUR culture with OUR tastes and OUR wants. Not a bar that is 100% going to cater to straight people with a tiny rainbow flag in the corner saying “Slay queen!” and that’s it.
