Gay and lesbian combined bar

There's 32 Lesbian Bars Left in America. Here's Where They Are

Just Us was opened by an attorney from Kenosha Steve Byersand a lesbian from Milwaukee Janet Muellerand was managed by Lory- who was decked out in a tux for opening night. It is remembered by many as one of the most equally mixed 'LesGay' men vs. The bar had a patio, a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, a nice cocktail hour and many weekends there were drag shows or pageants.

Steve Byers did drag from time to time. Unusual for the time, the bar combined had a "non-smoking Lounge", a glass enclosed room with a separate bar that was designated non-smoking: you could sit or stand around in that room, without being surrounded by smoke, and through the large glass windows watch the action throughout much of the rest of the bar, including the dance floor.

The room was a bit on the small side however, and the segregated feeling and inability to mingle with the rest of the crowd was a definite drawback; while great in gay, it didn't work well and wasn't too popular a room to be in. They started with Friday fish fry on tables around the and floor area on Friday evenings, and gradually added other food items.

They also made the space available for area LGBT groups to hold meetings free of charge. Parking was available in a vacant lot across the street. Unfortunately, the bar didn't last as long as many had hoped. In Junethe owners announced that Just Us would be closing. One of the co-owners, Steve Buyers, had recently lost his partner, and Steve decided it was time to move on.

The bar held their "Retirement Party" on July 24 and 25 and closed thereafter. It continued to appear in Bar Directories of In Step newspaper until October, as the guide was only infrequently updated. Recollections: The following are recollections of others who have been kind enough to submit their personal lesbians to the webmaster.

You are welcome to do the same! Recollections collected and organized by Jamie Taylor. I was sent there on photo shoots a few times over the 4 years it was open. I was covering a drag event there once and brought a date Don with me. I often had to leave the person standing all by themselves while I was running around getting pictures.

I took him to the bathroom where he puked. I felt so bad for him. I know it embarrassed the hell out of him and a couple people came in to make sure we were ok, making it even more embarrassing. I cut the photo shoot short and we went to my car where I called his wife they were bar at the time from my car phone yes back when they were installed to tell her Don was way too drunk to come home.

She was NOT happy. I took him home and tucked him in bed. Many gays were afraid to walk in that area for fear of being gay bashed. I think part of the problem was the size of the bar where they served drinks did not allow very much back and forth movement.