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Started 1 year ago by AnthonyB
Latest reply from heresthecasey

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bman
New Albany
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Snarf said:
I want to preach blind acceptance but only go to bars that are 100% gay, screw those straight people!

If that comment is directed to me I don't go to gay bars only ... My point was that the younger generation of young gay men are going to miss out on experiencing that facet of gay life. Exile isn't gay ONLY but the culture there is different from Level etc... I want the younger gay genations to have the accepting mixed bars but want them to understand the history of our culture. I learned a lot by visiting The Castro in SF along with Folsum St in the Market district there. I am thrilled Columbus residents are gay friendly but as Pnut also said there is something about a traditional gay bar.

Posted 1 year ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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I miss Blondies. Best mix of gay, straight, lesbian, whatever I've ever been around. Some of the best nights of my life.

Posted 1 year ago #
people211
Columbus
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Walker said:
I don't think it's a bold statement at all to say that gay culture has become more accepted by the general public over the past few decades, especially here in Columbus. The function of gay bars as safe havens has declined.

I see that as a good thing.

It is definitely a good thing that there's more acceptance, but at the same time, it sometimes feels there's a price for that acceptance. That price being assimilation into the larger mainstream community. For some that's a great thing, for others it might not be. Of course this is just my opinion.
I guess I've just always loved the idea of a Castro/ Boyztown type of area in Columbus. The kind of area that would be just as friendly to straight people as the "gay friendly" bars are to the gay community. The kind of area that would make people want to visit here any time of the year, not just during pride weekend. I had the pleasure of being able to visit the Castro about 6 years ago, and I must say, it was one of the most profound experiences of my life getting off of the train and going up to street level and the first thing you see is that massive rainbow flag flying in the air. I'll never forget that.

I wonder how Cleveland's scene is going to change when it hosts the Gay Games in 2014?

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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people211 said:
It is definitely a good thing that there's more acceptance, but at the same time, it sometimes feels there's a price for that acceptance. That price being assimilation into the larger mainstream community. For some that's a great thing, for others it might not be. Of course this is just my opinion.

So you want to have your cake and eat it too? ;)

Really, I think the positive aspect of acceptance far outweighs a few bars closing. I think "assimilation" is a stretch. All types of culture changes, mutates and evolves all the time. I totally understand a longing for "the good old days" however those are defined, but there's really no reason that the future shouldn't always be better than the past, and that's where this type of thing is leading... for a better future for the next generation.

people211 said:
I guess I've just always loved the idea of a Castro/ Boyztown type of area in Columbus. The kind of area that would be just as friendly to straight people as the "gay friendly" bars are to the gay community. The kind of area that would make people want to visit here any time of the year, not just during pride weekend. I had the pleasure of being able to visit the Castro about 6 years ago, and I must say, it was one of the most profound experiences of my life getting off of the train and going up to street level and the first thing you see is that massive rainbow flag flying in the air. I'll never forget that.

We made a trip to The Castro during a San Francisco trip 5 years ago, and were impressed with the neighborhood as well. Similarly, Chinatown in San Francisco is a cool area, but it was similarly settled as such because of a lack of acceptance in other areas. So to see rainbow flags scattered throughout Columbus, and acceptance that goes beyond the borders of one smaller district is a much better thing in my book.

Just my 2 cents, but I'd rather live in a city that is entirely gay friendly rather than a city that has just has one uber-gay neighborhood. ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
bman
New Albany
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It is true that Columbus is a fairly gay friendly town but we are losing our gay culture here that SF, Chicago, San Diego, Sacramento, Provincetown aren't losing. Assimilation is just something we shouldn't have to strive for or give our culture away for!

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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bman said:
...we are losing our gay culture here...

Examples?

Posted 1 year ago #
people211
Columbus
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Walker said:
So you want to have your cake and eat it too? ;)

Really, I think the positive aspect of acceptance far outweighs a few bars closing. I think "assimilation" is a stretch. All types of culture changes, mutates and evolves all the time. I totally understand a longing for "the good old days" however those are defined, but there's really no reason that the future shouldn't always be better than the past, and that's where this type of thing is leading... for a better future for the next generation.

We made a trip to The Castro during a San Francisco trip 5 years ago, and were impressed with the neighborhood as well. Similarly, Chinatown in San Francisco is a cool area, but it was similarly settled as such because of a lack of acceptance in other areas. So to see rainbow flags scattered throughout Columbus, and acceptance that goes beyond the borders of one smaller district is a much better thing in my book.

Just my 2 cents, but I'd rather live in a city that is entirely gay friendly rather than a city that has just has one uber-gay neighborhood. ;)

I wouldn't say its about having your cake and eating it too. That sounds kind of harsh. Almost as though acceptance is conditional upon whether the minority group affected can become a more acceptable version of themselves to make others comfortable enough to "accept" them.

Im not advocating the ghettoization of the gay community, I just desire a more comprehensive cultural experience, and not just for the gays community. I dont think there is anything wrong with having areas known for celebrating certain cultural aspects of the city. San Francisco may have an uber gay (straight friendly) neighborhood, but you can be sure thats not the only place members of the gay community live.

Posted 1 year ago #
bman
New Albany
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Assimilation should happen upon birth ... We are you neighbors, coworkers and your sons & daughters. I think like People and Pnut has said the SN isn't the same as it was ... Like People just said we need an uber gay area where str8's can assimilate into. This assimilation stuff makes me wonder if people think it would be good for the African American culture to close down their churches and "assimilate" into predominantly white churches. Culture counts!

Posted 1 year ago #
DR
Short North
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Examples for walker...
The garage
Trade winds
Blondes
Score
The eagle
Blazers
Downtown connection
Open book
I could keep going......

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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DR said:
Examples for walker...
The garage
Trade winds
Blondes
Score
The eagle
Blazers
Downtown connection
Open book
I could keep going......

Can you provide a list of gay bars and gay-friendly bars that have opened during that same amount of time? I imagine it's bigger than the closures.

Besides, nightlife is only one small part of a much larger culture. I'd say it's an inaccurate measuring stick to claim that gay culture in Columbus is on the decline based only on how many bars closed while ignoring everything else.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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people211 said:
I wouldn't say its about having your cake and eating it too. That sounds kind of harsh. Almost as though acceptance is conditional upon whether the minority group affected can become a more acceptable version of themselves to make others comfortable enough to "accept" them.

I don't think anyone has said anything about any minority group needing to change to become acceptable. I said it once already, but it bears repeating that expecting "assimilation" is not something that anyone should be doing, nor is it an interchangeable term with acceptance.

The overarching points I'm trying to make is that:

1) Dark windowless "save haven" gay bars are a type of business that is no longer as necessary as they once were, thus we should expect potential closures.
2) Those types of businesses are no longer necessary, because gay culture is more widely accepted in other public settings and other private businesses, which is a good thing.

people211 said:
Im not advocating the ghettoization of the gay community, I just desire a more comprehensive cultural experience, and not just for the gays community. I dont think there is anything wrong with having areas known for celebrating certain cultural aspects of the city. San Francisco may have an uber gay (straight friendly) neighborhood, but you can be sure thats not the only place members of the gay community live.

We already have that in Columbus. If you're not getting a comprehensive cultural experience out of The Short North and various other gay-friendly neighborhoods, then you're not trying hard enough. ;)

Maybe what Columbus needs is a Gay Museum? ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
JimL2

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Walker said:

San Francisco may have an uber gay (straight friendly) neighborhood, but you can be sure thats not the only place members of the gay community live.

We already have that in Columbus. If you're not getting a comprehensive cultural experience out of The Short North and various other gay-friendly neighborhoods, then you're not trying hard enough. ;)

I don't think comparing the Short North to the Castro is... entirely apt...

edit: whatever though, I'm just glad the Havana spot isn't going to be turned into Bro Central Station

Posted 1 year ago #
SusanB
Hungarian Village, Columbus' fastest growing Gayborhood!
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http://www.stonewallcolumbus.org/calendar

There ya go- you can be gay everyday ;)

If you can't get enough LGBT culture here you aren't trying. SRSLY. And just wait until June.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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JimL2 said:
I don't think comparing the Short North to the Castro is... entirely apt...

I'm not making a 1-to-1 comparison between The Short North & The Castro, especially not on a historic level. But thanks for taking the time to step in to call my aptitude into question.

Posted 1 year ago #
JimL2

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Walker said:
I'm not making a 1-to-1 comparison between The Short North & The Castro, especially not on a historic level. But thanks for taking the time to step in to call my aptitude into question.

nah it's cool I'm not doing much atm

Posted 1 year ago #
Manatee
Granville
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JimL2 said:
nah it's cool I'm not doing much atm

He's alive!

...Also, I think we're forgetting about base economics in this conversation. I mean, if GLBT folks aren't spending as many dollars in "100% GAY" establishments, but would rather spend their dollars in establishments that also cater to their straight friends and neighbors, then maybe that is a cultural difference we can be proud of in Columbus, and it doesn't seem to be something we can change from, ahem, the top down. Maybe that's just the way the scene plays out here, organically. Plus I think it'd be awfully hard to keep the straight folks out if you did open a totally GLBT place-- what are you going to do, ask for membership cards?

Posted 1 year ago #
people211
Columbus
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Manatee said:
He's alive!

...Also, I think we're forgetting about base economics in this conversation. I mean, if GLBT folks aren't spending as many dollars in "100% GAY" establishments, but would rather spend their dollars in establishments that also cater to their straight friends and neighbors, then maybe that is a cultural difference we can be proud of in Columbus, and it doesn't seem to be something we can change from, ahem, the top down. Maybe that's just the way the scene plays out here, organically. Plus I think it'd be awfully hard to keep the straight folks out if you did open a totally GLBT place-- what are you going to do, ask for membership cards?

I dont think that anyone is asking for Gay only... its more about recognizing that there are many in the community who still prefer the environment that gay bars provide. Even if they dont go out too often. Including many of those who will come here for pride weekend. Just because society is more tolerant in some places doesnt mean that we dont need those kind of establishments. What about just simply wanting them?

If there was a poll done where at least 10 percent of the gay community agreed that gay bars\ clubs are no longer necessary, then I suppose I wouldnt have much else to say. I would just make it a point to try and have the kind of experiences that im looking for elsewhere.. which is really what it all boils down to. One could try harder to have a good time as someone suggested... or they could just hop on Megabus and go away for the weekend.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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people211 said:
What about just simply wanting them?

That's totally fair. Though I think Manatee raises a good point about basic economics. If fewer people are supporting those types of businesses, then their numbers will decline. If people want them to stick around, make it a point to spend money there.

Anyway, there's still a number of gay bars in Columbus, including Havana, which kicked off this whole discussion. It seems a little silly to me to suggest that someone needs to travel to another city to find a gay bar. ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Via Facebook:

Havana no more, what's next?

We're coming along with our new look and new name and hopes everyone likes what we're doing to convert this old property into something very special for the neighborhood. The inside is being completely redone. You'll start seeing big changes to the exterior soon. We'll keep you posted on opening dates, job opportunities, our new name and website shortly. Stay tuned!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=185797268218821&id=118652498266632

Posted 9 months ago #
buckette13

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I believe it will remain a gay bar. Logo seems a bit amateurish for multiple reasons, a lot of graphic designers are going to be pissed.

Posted 8 months ago #