On Christmas Eve The Economist published “Gay bars are under threat but not from the obvious attackers“. Although Boston is not mentioned, the transformation of our city’s traditional gay neighborhood, The South End, from a gritty cityscape into a trendy, upscale place young married couples and retirees are now choosing to live highlights one of the many challenges facing gay bars.
What constitutes a gay bar and what is the fate of these spaces remains to be seen. There have been times when I’ve been in “gay bars” that are so overrun by heterosexual couples and or packs of single women that I’m hard pressed to think of it as a ‘gay bar’. Club Cafe in Boston, The Boatslip Tea Dances in Provincetown and Mainestreet in Ogunquit are all good examples.
The Economist asserts that where there is growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community, bars are more likely to be mixed or the LGBTQ community may feel less of a need to be a patron at a designated “gay” bar. It also suggests that the advent of “dating” apps has added another challenge, but I think it is mostly what I think of as a gay diaspora that poses the most significant problem for gay bars. As cities lose traditional gay enclaves, all sorts of businesses that cater to the LGBTQ community suffer. An early casualty to this was the gay bookstore followed by sex shops and gay gyms.
In my opinion bars have held out longer because even after many gay men move away from a traditional ‘gay neighborhood’ they return at night for dinner or drinks. However, I think the impact of losing a gay neighborhood means the long term prospects for many gay bars is grim. I don’t necessarily think Boston will lose all its gay bars but the density and numbers of gay bars has been severely cut over the past two decades since the South End migration started.
BosGuy 
This is very similar to what happened to African Americans. When everything was segregated they had stores and restaurants that thrived. Once segregation ended they could go to any store, the mall. The little stores couldn’t compete.
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There is no doubt that there has been a shift in thinking with regards to gay bars. But there is no one single driver behind that. Rather, the reasons are many,
For what it’s worth, here’s my take:
1. Demographics. Gay Baby Boomers were, arguably, the biggest population of patrons to gay bars. It was, for all practical purpose, there only viable way of socializing and connecting within their own community. That population has aged, and there interest level in going out to bars, has dwindled. Let’s face it, many gay bars are the bastion of the young. Older guys (or at least many I have spoken with) feel their “glory days” out at bars, are far behind them.
2. Normalization: with so many amazing and incredible civil rights advancements in the LBGT community, being gay is not something that demands the need for cloistered socializing. Younger gay people do not feel as compelled to hide their sexuality and so, feel equally comfortable in most social establishments. This is, of course not universal – there are still parts of the country and world where homophobic condemnation thrives, but the need for a separate subculture today, is not as prevalent as it once was.
3. Migration: The demographic and normalization shifts have lead many gay people to abandon more urban settings, where most bars thrive, to suburban or rural communities where the pace is a bit slower, and more conducive to raising children and families. Additionally, the rising cost of housing in urban centers, has economically pushed many younger gay people from living in the city. As they represent the obvious patron of bars, this migration has had a definitive impact how a bar functions as a business. Additionally, gay bar and restaurant owners are struggling with staffing their establishments as they cannot recruit talent from far away suburbs to work downtown.
4. Technology: Thanks to Manhunt, Grinder etc. gays have discovered alternative, and perhaps more convenient ways to meet one another. Despite all the rampant ‘catfishing’ that occurs digitally, many in the gay community have opted to simply click or swipe for their preferred social interactions. Why would you head out to a bar and ‘hope’ you will meet someone, when you can order up a date like it’s GrubHub? Technology has divided us and connected us all at the same time.
5. The smoking lamp: Many cities have instituted a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. While no one argues with the positive health reasons behind this, it does represent an unusual challenge for gay smokers who want to keep their sexuality a bit more discreet. If their only choice to smoke, is standing outside a gay bar on the sidewalk, on display for the world to see… it’s a deal breaker. Given the option, they would rather simply avoid that situation all together.
Are gay bars dying? Unlikely that will happen any time soon. But its days, alas, are numbered… Sigh
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Very thoughtful and articulate; as usual Joey.
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Might also add to this: at least in my city and bearby cities in Indiana cops are thoroughly seeking to arrest gay males that hookup at gay bars and go home with on another. They are seriously homophobic police going around and setting up stings to arrest gays in bars parks and in any public venues. When i was 17 had cop at park sit next to me wating a sandwhich feom bk he then talked to me about 10 mintues when he realized i wasnt going to “attempt anything” he scooted closer grabbed my hand which was reaching for my drink and then place it on his leg. Then says your under arrest for being indecent in public park i was shocked and felt attacked and further humiliated when they placed me in a “sting bus ” that hsd 9 other guys that were like omfg another one this is so fkd up. Needless to say this has become an acceptable norm cops are pulling that is litteral entrapment and has to be illegal. Anyways so wanna move out this backwards ass state. Please word of caution about this state. Hope this helps.
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Try to make out w your beau at a sports bar
In Braintree at 1:00 a.m. And watch what happens. Gay bars forever. Flirting forever. Cruising forever. Conversation forever.
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I agree totally. Just 14 months ago I was asked to leave a pub because I kissed another man (I admit we were both a bit drunk, or wouldn’t have done it). We were told it was ‘disgusting’, and there were ‘families present’
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Interesting post here. Technology has definitely played a role in shifting how gay men meet up in the 21st century. It’s not through the ‘gay bars’, but rather swiping through pictures on Tinder or OKCupid.
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