Owners and general managers from 12 of the 21 bars told us several reasons they thought lesbian bars have closed over the years: assimilation of queer folks, gentrification, the prevalence of dating apps. General manager Ally Spaulding (L) and bartender Astrid Arias (R) prepare for the first Friday night of Pride month at A League of Her Own in Washington, D.C. Later, “as transgender issues became more prominent, and we began to recognize genderqueer and gender nonbinary folks, bars that seemed to be open to all genders became the dominant kind of LGBTQ+ space,” Mattson said. The reasons behind that shift need more research, Mattson said. When the “dramatic decline” in lesbian bars began, the fastest-growing type of LGBTQ bar were those where men and women socialized together. According to the report, listings for bars that served people of color declined by 59.3 percent. Mattson’s report, too, noted how among the bars most at-risk of closing are spaces that cater to women and people of color. Overall, he found, gay bars declined by 36.6 percent between 20. Mattson, who has extensively researched recent changes in gay bars, developed his report from the gay bar listings in the Damron Guide, the longest-running and only guidebook that documents LGBTQ places in the nation. If you wish to have a grand old time with friends energetically dancing and drinking or meet a stranger to flirt a little, head on to any of the mentioned LGBTQ hotspots in Downtown Chicago.Map of lesbian bars from The Lesbian Bar Project But despite being a regular occurrence, all the shows are packed with attendees, so it’s better to make a reservation, especially on weekends, to avoid any last minute admission troubles. The place is known for its iconic drag shows that happen every week from Wednesday through Sunday. Baton Show Lounge, DowntownĪnother famous gay bar in downtown Baton Show Lounge, is also one of the most aged LGBTQ nightspots in all of the Midwest. Jeffrey Pub also hosts electrifying drag shows on weekends for its patrons to celebrate diversity and demonstrate inclusivity. The ambiance at this monumental nightspot is always super lively, thanks to the upbeat music played for the crowds to dance to on the cramped dance floor. Built 40 years ago, Jeffrey Pub was one of the first places where gays and lesbians could get together and not be shamed or harassed for their choices. It is often regarded as a historical spot for the city’s LGBTQ community.
Jeffrey’s is the other gay bar in the south of Chicago that caters to African Americans. But during the week, Escape’s affordable yet refreshing drinks keep the customers coming. The popular LGBTQ hangout is located on the south side and is particularly packed to the gills on the weekends because of its engaging drag shows. EscapeĮscape is one of the two gay bars in town that are predominantly frequented by Afro-Americans however, it’s equally friendly and welcoming to anyone who wants to have fun. Here’s a quick rundown of the best LGBTQ friendly places in downtown Chicago. Who would want to sit behind the wheel for 1/3rd of an hour after a tiring day at work just to grab a drink? You guessed it right, nobody! So what does one do if they want to enjoy a minute of leisure at an LGBTQ-centric nightspot without having to make a haul for it? Well, then they go to the buzzing bars in downtown! Although the city center doesn’t offer a lot of hangouts, the ones it does are unapologetically entertaining and inclusive. That said, the northern part of the city is the wealthiest in terms of having gay-friendly bars and clubs getting to those places necessitates unnecessarily long drives from the inner city, and that can be too much on a weekday. Hence, the LGBTQ community owes a lot of its success in gaining rights to the Windy City.īeing such a sanctuary for the queer community, naturally, Chicago houses many great LGBTQ hangouts all over town. Though the city itself barely survived a calamitous fire in 1871, it has always given refuge to people looking for acceptance. Witness to illustrious LGBTQ history, Chicago is undoubtedly among the most LGBTQ-friendly towns in America.