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Guerrilla Gay Bar - My new topic

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Katie77:
Sounds like trouble waiting to happen to me and thats more because of the alcolhol and how it stirs people into doing things that they would not normally do while sober. If the straights think it is an exhibitionist thing, then they probably wont accept it without some form of confrontation. A lot depends on how the gay group behave.

Now, how would gays accept it if straights took over one of their bars, especially if they could see it had been organised to do so?

The concept is great, to have both groups mix and integrate, but whether it will work or not is another thing.

milomorris:

--- Quote from: Katie77 on August 14, 2008, 01:37:49 am ---Now, how would gays accept it if straights took over one of their bars, especially if they could see it had been organised to do so?

--- End quote ---

There would be hell to pay, and you know it!!

milomorris:

--- Quote from: shakestheground on August 13, 2008, 07:11:48 pm ---http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=2084

--- End quote ---

Thank you, Truman. This article you posted makes me think that I may have judged this activity a bit harshly. But I still have some problems with it.

First, I do this type of thing on my own all the time. I am famous (OK...notorious  O0) for walking into a town where I've never been; sitting down; and having a few drinks. Inevitably, I will connect with someone(s) on a social level. By the time my sexual orientation comes up in the conversation, they are usually already at ease with me, and therefore it is not problematic. I really think the group thing makes it artificial. 3-4-5 people maybe, but a couple hundred?? Overkill and fabrication.

Second, I hate the title. Gorilla Gay Bar. Who the hell came up with that??? This effort needs better PR.

So...what do I like about the idea:


--- Quote ---Among the 30 or so participants, there were no drag queens, divas or crazy costumes, as is the norm in cities with established guerrilla events. Part of the reason behind this conservatism is that it was a first event and participants, having just met each other for the first time, were quite cautious. “We were just sticking our toes in the water rather than jumping in full-hog,” says Samuel.

And since Gorilla Gay Bars are supposed to accurately reflect the local queer community, it didn’t seem fitting to be outrageous, Samuel says, because Edmonton just doesn’t have a large queer community fond of lavish spectacle; the extravagant members that Edmonton does have were, coincidentally, busy at their own event, an annual drag-queen ball being held that same evening. “It wasn’t the party crowd that came out,” Samuel says. “It was the activist crowd, and I think very typical of what you’d expect from an Edmonton group and a first event.”
--- End quote ---

- These people are practicing something that I have been espousing for quite some time. Specifically, the idea that the best way to combat homophobia is via normalized relationships with heterosexuals. Their mission is consistent with that philosophy.

- They stayed away from the outrageous, and (hopefully) the stereotypical.

- I wonder how many of them were asked serious questions, and were able to answer intelligently and with understanding.

- They were interested in representing the broadest segment of the not-exclusively-hetero population. And they did this within the context of the center of that population. They found that the center looked more like an dentist than a diva.

As I have said many times: Things go best when we don't lead with sexuality. There are more interesting things about us.

Milo

pnwDUDE:

--- Quote ---“Gorilla Gay Bars bring together a whole bunch of political and cultural goals in one package,” says Chris Samuel, organizer of the event and co-host of CJSR’s Gaywire. “We wanted to increase the visibility of the gay community and to go into places where gay people aren’t traditionally seen and build a safe presence there. It’s a way for us to expand our horizons and not limit ourselves to one bar identity.”
--- End quote ---

Above quoted from the Vue article.

Not exactly a take-over or a "We're Queer, we're here, and we're in your face" initiative. After much thought and while I wouldn't participate in such an event, I think it's a great idea. Unlike Edmonton, more and more gays--groups or otherwise--are frequenting straight clubs and bars. I see it all the time. While gay bars appear to flourish in Oklahoma City and the like, they are closing up in Seattle and Portland. Like all good ideas, though, it would take a few to ruin the concept. Lesbian women have better grasp of boundaries. Many gay men, especially cutsie, bitchy young queens or the well-healed and middle aged, "oh smell her" crowd, simply don't respect straight men. Especially if they are good looking. In a crowd they can be overt, overbearing, and down right embarassing. Like, 'leave the poor hunky straight guy alone, already'. He ain't interested in you. I can see, especially in numbers and the inclusion of many $8 Martini's, this becoming a problem. And the first time one of these gay guys goes stepping over boundaries and gets his ass kicked, none of it will be his fault and it will be chocked up to homophobia and intolerance, and the whole thing will be like taking one step forward and two back. Traditional gay bars and the Castro's of the past have been confines. Islands if you will, and not without reason. I don't think they are needed anymore. Leave the assless chaps, the high-heels, and the boa's home, respect straight people and at the end of the day, I don't think a majority of people gives a rats ass. Wanna parade around in sequined jock straps or dress like Tallulah Bankhead, save it for Halloween, Mardi Gras, or that dying gay bar down the street.

Rather this particular idea goes south or not, I believe this is actually a big step, among many, over the past few years in an effort to assimilate. This is a great chance for guys that don't fit in to the streotypical gay strata to meet like men who may be homo but hang in hetro venues cause', well, it's more comfortable then those pretentious gay bars or "Queer as Folk" type body-marts.

Brad

Katie77:
I never thought to mention this before but I was sitting talking to my son and daughter in law yesterday and they were telling me about their night out last week.

We live in a large "country" town with a population of 24,000 in Australia. Most of the population here are just your normal working class people, farmers and tradesmen, locals who have lived here for generations, and people who have moved here from the city for a quieter life.

The most popular pub in town attracts most of the younger crowd (18-40) every friday and saturday night. They have music and dancing and its generally known as the place to go for a good night out.

Every second Saturday night, they have what they call "diverse" night. Gays and straights mingle and dance and generally mix between one another.  From what I hear it is very successful, there have been no violent incidents and everyone gets along fine.

I think when it was first started, a lot of the youngens went along for the curiosity value, but from what my son tells me now, the gay/straight thing is not even a big deal anymore, and everyone just goes on having a good time with their friends.

Of course the pub is open to both gay and straight patrons on any night, but the "diverse" night has turned into something special and has turned into social event that they all look forward to.

As far as I know, there is no particular "gay bar" in town, but undoubtedly there would be some place either here, or in another close town where the gay community socialize independently. I am not into the gay scene so have never inquired or asked about it.

This town, would have been similar to your mid western towns back in the sixties. It was settled by men returning from World War 2, who were brought up through the depression, who, after the war, worked for the railway, or cut sugar cane, or ran dairy farms. Some never ventured to the big cities.

To see their grandchildren and great grandchildren living in such a non homophobic society, and socializing and mixing is an enormous achievement.

So done properly, these kind of events can be successful, with no intimidation or intrusion. I still dont like the idea of planning an "invasion" of a gay bar, but the sentiment behind it, is worth continuing with as long as it is done with respect and dignity.

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