Once the war was in full swing, the persecution of homosexual behavior began to diminish (slightly). As a result, a small constituency of nightlife venues, bars, and theatres cropped up in prewar “bohemian districts” to give refuge to self-identifying gay locals (think: New Orleans’ French Quarter, New York’s Greenwich Village, San Francisco’s Barbary Coast). At the time, gay men and women were being openly persecuted –– and the medical community framed same-sex marriage as a diagnosable malady. Let’s rewind to the pre-war 20th century. And over the last century, it would be difficult to overstate the key role they’ve played in LGBTQ+ liberation. However accurate that superlative may be, though, gay bars have long served a much deeper, weightier purpose: They’re a safe space, a gathering grounds, a venue for community organizing. Quite the opposite: Most folks will tell you that dedicated queer nightlife venues have a notable reputation for particularly raucous and lively environs –– or rather, for being a damn good time. In 2021, a gay bar is hardly a niche venue. The landscape before, during, and after Stonewall.
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