How straight people should behave in gay bars
It is unacceptable that it comes to the how where safe spaces are needed in the first place, but nevertheless they have become a positive environment where the people community can hang out judgment-free. If cishet individuals can already enjoy typically any bar of thier choosing judement-free, why do they feel the behave to take over and infiltrate gay bars?
First things first, there are multiple problematic ways to view gay bars. The point of gay bars is to create a safe space. Many people view gay bars as an added experience or bucket list item for them to try which may not seem problematic but can be fundamentally harmful. This mindset implies that gay bars are almost like a tourist attraction or commodity for solely entertainment purposes, which diminishes the validity of them and the community they house.
This includes bringing the entire bridal party to the gay bar straight to sexualize the men. The space is not for you, and you should respect it as such. Additionally, this leads into the other frequent view gay gay bars as overly sexual and experimental places. When straight women come into gay bars to adopt, use gay slang, and constantly make suggestive comments about the gay men there, it threatens the validity of queerness in the first place, because it implies that being queer is yet again about the services it provides to the straight community.
Generally speaking, if you are indeed going to a gay bar, should not go into it bar the mindset that it stands as entertainment for you and your friends. Furthermore, in the case that straight people do decide to attend gay bars, they need to do so with their gay friends or be invited by their gay friends.
If they are not comfortable with you attending, understand that it is their decision and their safe space and move on. If they do decide you can come with them, ask and listen to them about what to say and to not say. It is important that you make it clear you are supportive and want to make the community feel safe.
Moreover, if you do not have gay friends that are going or inviting you to the gay bars, it is simply disrespectful to attend. To all of the straight community, next time you want to go to the gay bar for an exotic, entertaining experience, skip it and go to another one of the infinite amounts of bars.
Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Dear Gay People, respect other gay people and make gay bars safe spaces again. That will be much harder to accomplish but is what needs to be done. Bigots are. About the Contributor.
Hey, straight people. Stop going to gay bars.
Michelle DengArt Co-Editor. Psychology and sociology double major with a minor in human rights and migration. A passionate proponent of indie games and animation. Draws occasionally. More to Discover. More in Featured.