‘It was not just a gay bar, it was our refuge’: Why queer spaces are vital – Big Issue
Many reasons are cited for their closure, including gentrification, the internet, and the integration of gays into hetero society. An argument I hear often is that gay culture has become so widely accepted that there’s no need for dedicated gay bars anymore.
I wholeheartedly disagree.
There’s an important distinction between being accepted by the mainstream and blending into the mainstream. The goal is to have a strong sense of identity that is universally respected and celebrated, not for it to melt into the mainstream.
Having dedicated gay spaces is fundamental to sustaining our unique identity and matters not just for the gays, but for the greater LGBTQ+ community, and for any groups who are marginalised – be it by ethnicity, religion, or sexuality.
Memories from the Dance Floor
I look back on my first time at Pepes as a turning point in coming to terms with my sexuality. Over the years, I enjoyed many sweaty nights (and sometimes early mornings) at gay bars across the country. They were mesmerising nights of hot bodies thumping to the seductive beats of our favourite songs under the disco ball. It’s where I felt safe enough to experiment with sexual practices and substances and learned a lot about myself in the process.
More importantly, it is a place where I met fabulous friends and luscious lovers. It’s where I created lasting connections that could only be formed through these shared experiences in a dedicated gay space.
I wanted to celebrate that. And that’s the premise of my new podcast Memories from the Dance Floor. I want to know the music that got us on our feet, how we rallied round during challenging times. Kiss and tell, please! Stories of LGBTQ+ people falling in love, or being best friends, or dealing with simple everyday life.
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It’s important to take stock of their importance and record the history of the LGBTQ+ individuals who explored their identities, expressed themselves freely and built new creative connections. We, us, them are part of the fabric of society.
Interviewees include Heaven founder Jeremy Norman, hi-NRG creator and DJ Ian Levine, London Night Czar and BBC Radio 6 Music broadcaster Amy Lamé, author of Gay Bar: Why We Went Out Jeremy Atherton and many more.
The bars and spaces hold happy memories for everyone who propped them up or filled a seat in their performance area and all queer generations believe they served as the best. But that’s the great thing about the LGBTQ+ community. It rejuvenates over time. It’s how we stay so relevant.
Expansive, vivacious, curious and celebratory, join me on the dance floor to uncover the stories of epic nights, from the real lives of the community behind closed doors and memories that will last a lifetime.
Damian Kerlin’s podcast Memories from the Dance Floor is released on February 1 2023 and is available from wherever you listen to your podcasts.