Owner of gay bar in lafayette indiana

Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, being gay was never an option for me. I knew gay people existed, but we either prayed for them or they ended up in prison. When I moved to Lafayette in at 12 years old, I was excited to explore this part of my identity. As a preteen discovering herself, everywhere I looked seemed uninviting.

I couldn't drive, I went to a private Catholic school, and no one around me was very progressive. I felt hopeless. When junior year of high school came around, I discovered Downtown Lafayette. It soon became a safe haven for me to express myself openly. I was shocked that places where I could be openly gay existed, but most importantly, I was thrilled.

Soon, I realized that not only Downtown had queer-friendly spaces. They exist all around Lafayette. You just have to seek them out. Navigating a new city as a queer person can be scary and isolating at times, but I think I've got a knack for it. Being able to go on dates or hold a significant other's hand while dodging weird stares is something only queer people know how to navigate.

I've compiled a list of queer-friendly businesses for this reason. These are establishments that as a queer person, you don't have to worry for your safety because of who you are. Lafayette is becoming more accepting, and a lot has changed sincewhen I first moved here.

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Whether you need a new date night idea or a new hairstylist to try out, these businesses won't discriminate. Emoni Harbor attended a yoga class on a whim years ago and fell in love with the practice. She moved to New Orleans during the pandemic to find her ideal yoga community and couldn't help but notice the lack of diversity.

The move back to Lafayette changed Harbor's life for the better. Instead of searching for the community she craved, she created it herself in her own studio. She started Zen Den with a friend in earlybut they ultimately disbanded, leaving Harbor as the sole owner. I just kept pivoting until I could prove them wrong, and here I am three and half years later, better than ever.

Harbor has been out since high school and feels comfortable with her sexuality. At Zen Den, Harbor fosters an inviting environment by encouraging attendees and staff to be their truest selves. I've had a rainbow flag in the front of the studio forever and never heard anything about it.

Five Mile Eatery is a beloved Lafayette restaurant rooted in a farm-to-table philosophy. Founded in by longtime collaborators Kelsey Leger and Sarah Trotter, the business began as a food co-op in Arnaudville with an ambitious commitment: to source as much as possible from within a 5-mile radius.