Oldest gay bar in america
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Through decades of challenges and triumphs, this iconic establishment has provided a safe space for individuals to express themselves freely and authentically. Head to Greenwich Village to find this piece of history where owner Lisa Cannistraci became a bartender in 1985, when the bar was known as the Cubby Hole. Make sure you check out www.lafittes.com for the current line up of events and great drink specials.
One of the earliest known bars believed to be frequented by men seeking men was Pfaff’s, a beer and wine cellar restaurant in the Coleman House Hotel in New York City, which operated from 1859 to 1864.
Don’t miss the fun at this unassuming spot, which is housed in a remodeled home. In its early decades, when same-gender sex was still a felony, White Horse catered to its gay clientele in secret, enforcing a “no touching” policy for all its patrons. Each spot provides a unique experience, ensuring a memorable outing whether you're a local or a wanderlust-driven adventurer.
Lafittes features two floors of libations, music, and video. Established in the heart of West Hollywood, The Abbey has been a symbol of acceptance and celebration for decades. Whitman wrote about the bar in an unfinished poem called “The Two Vaults,” and he belonged to a group at Pfaff’s called the “Fred Gray Association,” which was a “loose confederation of young men who seemed anxious to explore new possibilities of male-male affection,” according to biographers Ed Folsom and Kenneth M.
Price. Though they now consider themselves a “Queer Human Bar,” they built their legacy as the longest running lesbian bar in the U.S. Stop by and stay until 4 A. M. while you sip on cocktails and mingle!
Club Feathers – River Edge, New Jersey
This LGBTQ+ nightclub has been a destination for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, out-of-towners, and locals since 1978.
Keep an eye out for the reopening so you can grab a drink when the new Roosters continues the original bars’ legacy in the coming years.
The White Horse Bar – Oakland, California
Like Cafe Lafitte, this bar has been serving queer patrons since the 1930s, making it another one of the country’s oldest continuously operating gay bars.
It may not seem it at first, but Club Feathers may ruffle your feathers and give you the best night you’ve had in a while.
Cafe Lafitte in Exile – New Orleans, Louisiana
A safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community in the deep south, Cafe Lafitte has been drawing in queer folk from surrounding cities and states since the 1930s.
“THEBALCONY” @ Cafe Lafitte’s upstairs is a Non-Smoking, Handcrafted Cocktail lounge with an upscale atmosphere.
Queer bar and nightclub spaces have come and gone in a near constant rotation since the mid-20th century, but a few strong pillars remain. Lafitte’s walls are solid polished Mahogany along with a Mahogany bar front. Yes, you heard that right. With its rich history and unwavering commitment to diversity, The Abbey stands as a beacon of pride and solidarity in the heart of West Hollywood.
The LGBTQ+ Scene in the Paradise of Honolulu
After appreciating the historical significance of the oldest gay bar in the U.S, it's only fitting that we start exploring other distinctive LGBTQ+ friendly locations around the country.
The main bar down stairs boast a triangular shaped bar that allows great views from any angle, along with bench seating along the walls with Brass railing.
One of the oldest still-operational LGBTQ+ bars in the United States is White Horse Bar in Oakland, California, which first opened in 1933. They’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A safe space for all women, Eve’s Hangout, as it was also known, hosted after-hours, locked-door meetings where lesbian women could mingle in private.