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District Eagle a bold new haven for LGBTQ kink communities

U Street speakeasy to open Jan. 22

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District Eagle, located at 1357-B U St., N.W., will host its grand opening on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Photo courtesy of the District Eagle)

Last weekend, leather clad members of the LGBTQ community from across the nation braved the snow and cold to venture down Washingtonā€™s New Jersey Avenue to visit a select few hotels participating in the capital cityā€™s largest kink event ā€” the Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend. As the snow slowly melted away and the weekend ended, the desire for District residents to get hot in their leather (and other kink attire) remained. 

Zach RenovĆ”tes, co-founder of nightlife production company Kinetic Presents and co-owner of gay club Bunker, sat down with the Washington Blade to discuss how his most recent project, District Eagle (1357-B U St., N.W.), is harnessing this pro-kink energy Washington has while also celebrating the vibrant diversity of the cityā€™s kink and queer nightlife communities.

ā€œDistrict Eagle is first and foremost, a space designed specifically for our LGBTQ community to include our trans and lesbian brothers and sisters,ā€ Zach RenovĆ”tes told the Blade. ā€œWe are excited to bring a new space into D.C. that focuses specifically on our kink communities.ā€ 

The District Eagle embraces its mission to celebrate LGBTQ kink communities. From nods to the history of cruising woven into the barā€™s design ā€” like the cheeky ā€œFruity Candyā€ machine at the entrance ā€” to the striking details of ā€œ100-year-old hand-carved wooden foundry patternsā€ and ā€œincredible custom upholstery and weldingā€ that bring the theme to life, every element of the space is carefully curated. Kink isnā€™t just a theme here; itā€™s the heartbeat of the bar.

ā€œTo us, design is foundational and unbelievably important and is what caused this to actually take so long,ā€ RenovĆ”tes said. ā€œWeā€™re the only LGBTQ establishment within D.C. that operates as a speakeasy. There’s no external signage. You’re going to have to know where our establishment is to come enjoy it.ā€

ā€œIts nature plays to an homage to the history of our marginalized community and the ways in which we had to, by necessity, hide our establishments in the past,ā€ he added. ā€œWhen customers enter our space, I encourage them to look around and see all of the little, tiny details that have gone into creating a space that is entirely unique from any space they’ve ever seen.ā€

Although the bar may be hidden from the outside, the inside was created with admiration, curiosity, and a deep respect for the kink community.

ā€œWe have done outreach to a number of different groups, including the Centaur MC, who we have a close collaboration with for the Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend,ā€ RenovĆ”tes said. ā€œAs well as members of the pup community, which will see the first [pup] event kicking off on Saturday, Feb. 1, led by Pup Ruby. We are excited to continue collaboration with additional communities and encourage them to reach out to us, either by email or through our social media account.ā€

RenovĆ”tes made it clear that although the District Eagleā€™s name does remind some of the former DC Eagle, his bar has ā€œno affiliation or history with the ā€˜DC Eagleā€™ā€ and ā€œsimply pays homage to the international understanding of and what an Eagle concept is.ā€

That ā€œEagle concept,ā€ RenovĆ”tes explained, was created by using feedback from those knowledgeable, and doesnā€™t stop at being Washingtonā€™s only LGBTQ kink bar. It has a store selling gear for patrons to buy and immediately wear on the dance floor. 

ā€œThe District Eagle is the starting point of an idea that we’ve had for a number of years and are excited to bring to fruition,ā€ he said. ā€œWe have an adult store now, one of the few adult stores within the District of Columbia, and the only one specifically designed exclusively for our LGBTQ community. It is just the starting point for our grand opening weekend, but we will be continuing to listen to customer feedback and stock new and exciting kink and adult items.ā€

This mix of gay kink bar and adult store is not just a unique addition to D.C.ā€™s nightlife but also a vital one. 

ā€œIt is essential that we as an LGBTQ community continue to support local LGBTQ businesses,ā€ RenovĆ”tes said. ā€œIt is always unfortunate to see the closure of LGBTQ spaces, because there are so few of them within our city, and so I am filled with hope that this space will provide an additional safe space for an increasingly marginalized community.ā€

Images of District Eagleā€™s store posted to its Instagram account showcased harnesses, jockstraps, short shorts, and more. ā€œGrand Opening Weekend is your chance to try on leather, underwear, cock rings, and more,ā€ the caption teased as a substantial number of anticipatory Washington LGBTQ bar fans liked the post.

In addition to the store, the space has another surprise ā€” one that doubles the barā€™s capacity from around 116 patrons to 300.

ā€œOur establishment is a single-level establishment. However, we have an agreement with our neighbors upstairs to transform the second floor into ā€˜Eagle XLā€™ on select nights, including our grand opening weekend. This allows us to dramatically expand the size of our space, which is extremely useful for recurring events that we plan to introduce, as well as for major weekends, such as the upcoming World Pride weekend.ā€

RenovĆ”tes went on to say how the vision of District Eagle couldnā€™t have been executed without the help from a few others who helped make Bunker a success. 

ā€œMy fiancĆ© Justin was really fundamental to me being able to open this space,ā€ RenovĆ”tes said. ā€œHe is the technical director at both the District Eagle and Bunkerā€¦ he’s instrumental in helping to create this. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to do this.ā€ 

ā€œWe are also so fortunate to have had the close collaboration with our designer, Jasin Cadic, who additionally designed Bunker,ā€ he added. ā€œIt is within that collaboration that we were able to create such a wholly unique space, not only for D.C., but worldwide.ā€

ā€œDistrict Eagle will primarily be a no cover establishment,ā€ he said. ā€œWe are going to be encouraging customers to start off their night at District Eagle and grab a couple of drinks. We will be introducing a new policy that will allow customers who have met a certain minimum to essentially print out their receipts and use that as a cover into Bunker on non-holiday weekends.ā€

RenovĆ”tes hopes that this may ease some potential struggles when going out to multiple places in one night. 

ā€œIn this way, we want to encourage individuals who might be desiring to go to Bunker, but it is not within their budget, as it relates to a cover, to be able to enjoy both establishments and avoid paying a cover at Bunker.ā€

In addition to the difference in cover charge, RenovƔtes wants to make it clear that the themed nights at District Eagle are intentionally curated.

ā€œWe are designing different nights that have a dress code strongly recommended and we’ll be further encouraging the wearing of dress code for those specific nights through drink specials,ā€ he said. 

With all the varying themes, RenovƔtes wanted to make it clear that anyone who wishes to celebrate their LGBTQ kink pride should feel comfortable doing so at the District Eagle.

ā€œPeople of different kink communities that have varying kink levels should all feel comfortable to come see and experience our space, knowing that certain nights will be designed for certain communities. For communities that want to see something specific, we encourage them to reach out to us.ā€

And although the sexy and alluring vibe of the bar does lay the groundwork for a titillating night, safety and consent are at the top of every staff memberā€™s mind while working at District Eagle. 

ā€œBoth safety and consent are of the utmost importance to our establishment,ā€ RenovĆ”tes said. ā€œWe are training our security personnel to both be extremely responsive and direct with all customer issues. We are providing safe-sex materials, as well as signage on site to inform patrons of our policies and to ensure that our establishment strongly enforces the need for consent.ā€ 

District Eagle, located at 1357-B U St., N.W., will host its grand opening on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The bar will maintain the same hours on Thursday, extend its Friday hours from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., and open from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, District Eagle will welcome guests from 2 p.m. to midnight.

(Photo courtesy of the District Eagle)
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Nightlife

D.C.ā€™s queer bars gear up for Valentineā€™s Day

Options for bears, singles, women, and more

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Join District Eagle this Valentineā€™s Day for Leather Lovers Gear Night. (Photo courtesy of the District Eagle)

Seeing red: itā€™s not just for ire toward the presidentā€™s Executive Orders. Next week is also Valentineā€™s Day. Your faithful gay bars and establishments are gearing up (in some cases, literally) for the holiday. Here is a list of just a few options for the LGBTQ+ set.

Crush

On Feb. 14, Crush debuts a new event, just in time for the holiday. Meet Grizzly, a monthly Bear Happy Hour. Running 5-10 p.m., Grizzly features not only discounted drinks ($4 draft, $8 pitcher, and a $9 Bear Crush), but food: there will be free hot dogs during the evening. Without skipping a beat, later that night is a Valentineā€™s Day Stop Light Party 10 p.m. with DJs. They’ll have green, yellow, or red stickers so your crush can see if you’re available. Thereā€™s no cover for either.

Bunker

This Valentineā€™s Day, Bunker is turning tradition on its head with F*CK CUPID, a high-energy celebration for those over the holiday hype. Whether you’re flying solo or just want to skip the clichĆ©s, enjoy an unforgettable night with a special performance by a to-be-announced local drag queen and a dynamic set by Miscalculated. With free entry for singles and just a $5 cover for couples, it’s the perfect chance to dance the night away without the romance-themed distractions.

District Eagle

Join District Eagle this Valentineā€™s Day for Leather Lovers Gear Night, an inclusive event for all members of the leather community. DJ Jason James will provide the beats throughout the night, and guests wearing gear can enjoy 10% off drinks until midnight. Whether you’re single, taken, or in a situationship, everyone is welcome to celebrate in a welcoming, gear-friendly environment.

Number Nine

Nine is also launching a new event, titled Single Mingle, a singles mixer, the event will rotate theme for differing tastes. This first event takes place on Feb. 13, 7-9 p.m., upstairs, for those interested in dating queer men. Tickets are $15 and include a complimentary first drink plus ice breakers. On Thursday, Feb. 27, along with DC Gay Girls+, Nine will host a Single Mingle event for those interested in dating in the Sapphic community.

Additionally, Uproar will host a ā€œCupid Undiesā€ event on Feb. 13 with cocktail specials; Licht is offering a ā€œDate Nightā€ special that includes two cocktails, two glasses of Champagne, and a cheese board for $35; and gay-owned Wunder Gartenā€™s event on Feb. 14 is apres-ski themed with drinks like Love Potion and Cupidā€™s Arrow.

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Nightlife

Bye-bye Brat summer, hello fall nightlife

D.C.ā€™s queer bars keeping us busy this season

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Crush hosts a Halloween party on Oct. 31 where one lucky costumed customer will win $1,000. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Pumpkin spice is back on the menu, the mercury in the thermometer is dropping, and Washington’s trees are starting to (slowly) fade into lighter hues of yellow and orange. This, along with a slew of new LGBTQ events across the District indicates that fall has un-officially begun. 

JR.ā€™s is transforming into East High from Disney Channelā€™s ā€œHigh School Musicalā€ for a special live drag show: HIGHBALL MUSICAL! Local drag queens, including Citrine, Baphomette, NuNu Paris, and more will take over the legendary bar from Sept. 8-14. Showtimes are at 9 p.m. on Sept. 13, with two performances on Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $10. The show is for adults 21 and up. For more information visit JR.ā€™s instagram at jrs_bar_dc. 

Local Drag star Cake Pop! is opening a pop-up bar of her own. The queen will take over the top floor of LGBTQ sports bar Pitchers, creating her own POP! BAR. The opening party on Sept. 12 will include drink specials, music, and live performances from ā€œRuPaulā€™s Drag Raceā€ queen Denali, local drag queens Venetian, Aquarius Moon, Youā€™neek Nuā€™york, and many more. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances start at 10 p.m. For tickets and more details on the pop-up experience visit popbardc.com. 

Do you think you have the hairiest chest in D.C.? Or are you a fan of a man with some fur? Then head to Uproar Lounge on Sept. 13 to compete in their Hairiest Chest Competition. The competition starts at 8 p.m. and goes until 1 a.m. with drinks and music pumping. For more information, visit uproarloungedc on Instagram.  

On Sept. 15, Kiki is holding a Glitter and Grades: Drag, Dance, and Donate fundraiser. The LGBTQ bar will collect funds to purchase supplies for local LGBTQ teachers as drag queens, strong drinks, and dancing will be had. The fundraiser is from 4-8 p.m. with a suggested entry donation of $5.  

Brat summer may be ending, but that doesnā€™t mean the brat attitude (and parties) must end. Bunker is hosting a cya brat party on Sept. 20 from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. The night will have Charli XCX-themed performances by drag artists trevHER and Venetian with DJ Miscalculated playing all your favorite Charli tracks. There is a $10 cover after 11 p.m. with $5 drink specials all night.  

Do polka music and beer steins fill you with glee? Then put on your lederhosen and get ready for some traditional Oktoberfest festivities. Red Bear Brewery is hosting OktoBEARfest on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m.-12 a.m. The festivities include a stein holding competition, live polka music, and a Lederhosen & Dirndl contest. For more information, visit Red Bear Breweryā€™s website at redbear.beer

On Saturday, Sept. 21 Shakers is hosting Drag Queen Tara Hootā€™s Family Fun Story Time for kids of all ages. Tara Hoot will bring ā€œtales, twirls, and fun.ā€ Doors open at 12 p.m. and will last until 2 p.m. Free snacks and drinks for children will be given out. For more information visit Shakersā€™s Instagram page at shakersdc. 

DC Rawhides, a local organization dedicated to creating inclusive dance spaces for same-sex couples and the LGBTQ community, is hosting its bi-monthly country-western dance event. All are welcome to attend, learn to do-si-do and line danceā€”no experience necessary. A valid ID and a $10 donation will get you in the door. The last dance of September is on Saturday, the 21st, and the first October event is on the 5th, from 7-11 p.m. at the North Hall in Eastern Market. For more details, visit dcrawhides.com. 

On Sept. 24, Crush dance bar will hold a local politics Meet and Greet night, offering a chance to talk to candidates and nominees for the DC Council, DC State Board of Education, and other positions on the ballot. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by the Blade and Team Rayceen.

Do you want to learn how to dance? Do you like ballet but have never felt like you belong in a dance class? Robert ā€œBambiā€ Woofter is calling all to come to their monthly Party & Prance dance class at Trade bar on Sept. 24. Come learn how to dance from an inaugural member of The Kennedy Centerā€™s Dance Council, and teacher of dance at American University, George Washington University, and Dance Place for free. The class starts at 6:30 and goes until 7:30 p.m. For more information visit hausofbambi.com

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 25, Shakers will host its second annual MX Shakers Competition Drag Show. Eleven new drag queens will compete for the crown of MX Shakers with host Tatianna (from season 2 of ā€œRuPaul’s Drag Raceā€ and season 2 of ā€œDrag Race All Stars.ā€) Every Wednesday for eight weeks, queens will perform to stay on the stage with the ultimate prize of hosting a gig of their own.  

The D.C. Drag Awards 2024 winner for best party DEEP CVNT is hosting its first collaboration with Xunt to put on DEEP XUNT! Xunt, a trans DJ collective in the District is working with party host GirliePop to host a trans celebratory mini-ball. The party starts at 9 p.m. at Trade on Sept. 26 with trans DJs, trans-inspired categories, and trans-centered vibe. All are encouraged to dress up and walk in the ball. For more information visit deepcvntparty on Instagram.  

Clocked, a new trans-centered comedy show, is coming to As You Are bar on Friday, Sept. 27. Headliners include New York City comic Charlie Girard, founder of Queers Can’t Take a Joke (an LGBTQ stand-up comedy class); local comic Bixby, a graduate of the first Queers Can’t Take a Joke cohort; and Grace Wynter, a writer’s assistant for FXā€™s English Teacher. Other queer comics will also take the stage at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.   

Thomas Circleā€™s Green Lantern will host its monthly District Underwear Party on Oct. 4 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dance in a jock, thong, or whatever you feel hot and comfortable in as DJ Zyon plays music to get you moving. There is a $10 cover that includes a clothes check.   

Join Flashy for a celebration of Indigenous People’s Day and the 11th anniversary of Flashy, Flash’s iconic holiday party on Oct. 13. Dance the night away with music from TWiN and Sean Morris on the first floor, while a soon to be announced Grammy-nominated DJ/Producer spins on the rooftop. The party kicks off at 10 p.m. and goes until 4 a.m. Tickets are $40 online ahead of time and $50 at the door. This is a 21 and up event. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

The Washington Bladeā€™s annual Best Of LGBTQ DC party returns on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at Crush. Come out to celebrate our Local Hero and winners in 70 categories. Some winners will perform at the party. 

Have you picked your Halloween costume yet? If not, start thinking now. Crush is hosting a special exorcism-themed Altar Call partyon Oct. 31. The dance bar will host a night of spooky queer fun, culminating with a costume contest where one lucky (and best dressed) patron will win $1,000. 

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D.C.ā€™s queer nightlife scene thriving, bucking national trends

Deep Cvnt, Crush, other bars and events keep city venues bustling

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Deep Cvnt is a ā€˜mini ball deluxe-inspired party.ā€™ (Washington Blade photo by Joe Reberkenny)

John Etienne is familiar with the drifting sounds from vodka-fueled conversations and the tapping of feet against the floorboards of Trade, a gay bar in D.C.ā€™s Logan Circle. On any other Thursday night, Etienne ā€” a party host, judge, and queer nightlife socialite ā€” would be up on the dance floor, sipping a gin and ginger ale, dancing to the new Beyonce song with friends.

But this is not just any Thursday.

Tonight he is sitting directly beneath the dance floor in a salon chair, adjusting his sparkly green dress and white go-go boots, flipping between checking his phone and looking at the clock, waiting for the other judges to arrive. It is just after 9 p.m. and Deep Cvnt is about to begin. 

Deep Cvnt is a ā€œmini ball deluxe-inspired party.ā€ Etienne hosts the event once a month at Trade where queer people from across the city come to walk down a runway in categories, show off their best outfits to an established theme, and ā€˜vogue the house downā€™ making the ā€œdive bar with a dance floorā€ feel like the set of a 2024 Paris is Burning. The partyā€™s name is based on a slur, reclaimed into a symbol of feminine and queer empowerment.  

During the day, the 25-year-old works as a Digital Fundraising Director for the House Majority PAC. To him, gay bars that host events are instrumental in fostering a feeling of welcome and belonging for those who identify as LGBTQ.

ā€œ[For me] It’s the sense of community,ā€ Etienne said. ā€œ I think that being able to go to a spot where there are people who are like me, in some shape or form being that they’re queer or from a marginalized community, and can find refuge in these spots is something that’s incredibly important. And then, too, I think that these [queer] spaces are just a lot more fun.ā€ 

Historically gay bars have acted as places for the LGBTQ community to gather, celebrate, and mobilize for political causes when the general attitude was more hostile to the community. D.C.ā€™s unique queer nightlife scene sets it apart from other major gay hubs, like New York or San Francisco, due to the cityā€™s number of welcoming spaces, its business appeal, and the strong presence of the federal government in its culture, allowing for the countryā€™s capital city to be a statistical anomaly. 

Nationwide, gay bars have been on the decline since the 1980s. Damronā€™s Travel Guide, a database that has been recording the locations and ratings of queer/gay bars since the 1960s, found that in the year 1980 there were approximately 1,432 gay bars across the United States. A recent study published in the National Library of Medicine found that the number of gay bars in the U.S. has nearly been cut in half, with only 803 queer-identified bars in existence despite increasing numbers of public support for the LGBTQ community.

This trend is occurring at the same time as a record number of anti-LGBTQ legislation is popping up in state legislatures across the U.S. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced so far in 2024. These laws restrict the ability of transgender Americans to get gender-affirming care, force teachers to out their students to parents, and ban First Amendment-protected actions like performing in drag, among other issues. 

Meanwhile the number of bars that cater to the LGBTQ community in the nation’s capital has increased from six in 1980 to at least 22 in 2024. 

The LGBTQ population is still large in D.C., with some estimates putting the number at just over 66,000. Historically the ā€œgayborhood,ā€ or primary LGBTQ neighborhood was on 17th Street and in the Dupont Circle area. That has changed as numbers have increased over the years, making the whole city feel like the gayborhood.

ā€œBeing one of the gayest cities in the world ā€” with one of the gayest per capita populations ā€” that is kind of baked into the fabric of the nightlife economy,ā€ said Salah Czapary, director of the D.C. Mayorā€™s Office of Nightlife and Culture, when asked about how the LGBTQ community has changed the landscape of the city. ā€œIf you look at these certain neighborhoods [17th Street and Dupont], their character has really been defined by the ā€˜gayborhoodā€™ in the area. That has kind of changed and now you can’t really point to one area as being the sole gayborhood.ā€

Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, causing the government to pause all non-essential businesses, including bars. After the pandemic, the growth in the number of gay bars accelerated.  ā€œI think that’s kind of just generally after COVID, people are willing to take a risk on something new,ā€ Czapary explained when discussing the impact of the pandemic on the gay bar community. 

Ed Bailey, a well-known DJ and co-owner of gay bars Trade and Number Nine, located around the corner from each other in Logan Circle, agrees about the economic opportunities COVID was able to provide but says that gay bar success boils down to the economics of real estate. 

ā€œI have a very boring and not very sexy answer to why I think these things happen,ā€ Bailey said when explaining the history of the prominent locations of gay bars in D.C. ā€œAt the end of the day, it’s all about real estate. Over time the gay community’s bars, restaurants, and nightclubs that catered specifically to, or were owned by, gay people were in underdeveloped neighborhoodsā€¦ It wasn’t available to us to be in the high-priced areas. All the clubs and the bars were kind of on the ā€˜other side of town,ā€™ whatever that meant.ā€

Bailey said the COVID-19 pandemic helped create a path for the current sprouting of gay bars all over D.C., especially in what are the mainstream, popular areas. ā€œI think luckily the pandemic, at least in D.C., did open up an opportunity for a number of entrepreneurs to say ā€˜Hey! I have an option here.ā€™ Some of these businesses are looking for people to buy them out or to move in, and so a bunch of people took advantage of that.ā€

The LGBTQ community has always had a presence in the city. It has been recorded that as early as the 1950s, Washington had become a space recognized for its ability to bring LGBTQ people together. 

ā€œI feel like every time I take two steps, I run into another gay person,ā€ Etienne said about living in Logan Circle and the queerness of the city. ā€œI love it. I also think about the nature of what goes on in D.C. Historically, the government has always had a significant number of gay people working for it. Looking back to the Lavender Scare and even before then it’s always been a spot where gay men have either come professionally or personally.ā€

Mark Meinke, a 76-year-old self-described gay historian founded The Rainbow History Project, an organization that works to ā€œcollect, preserve and promote the history and culture of the diverse LGBTQ communities in metropolitan Washington, D.C.ā€ His research supports exactly what Etienne described. 

ā€œBetween the [19]20s through the [19]60s, most of the gay spaces were owned by straight people,ā€ Meinke said. A consequence of this, he explains, is that there was less of an outward recognition of these spaces as being LGBTQ friendly, keeping the community a secret. ā€œTolerance comes and tolerance goes,ā€ he said as he explained why the number of accepting spaces increased and decreased during that time. 

This fluctuation of accepting bar owners began to change in the 1960s, as places that offered a safe space for LGBTQ people to meet, dance, drink, celebrate, and politically organize became more frequent and owned by more LGBTQ people. Meinke was able to track the increase of acceptance for the LGBTQ community by collecting advertisements from past issues of the Washington Blade (originally called the Gay Blade) from the ā€˜60s on as more gay-owned or more publicly gay-friendly establishments began to distribute the newspaper. Meinke also tracked additional gay literature in these gay bars, like that of Franklin Kamenyā€™s Mattachine Society literature and their ā€œGay Is Goodā€ buttons. The literature Kameny distributed was some of the first documented forms of LGBTQ activism in the U.S. and encouraged LGBTQ people to mobilize. 

Meinke noticed that during this time, one gay bar called JoAnnaā€™s on Eighth Street in Southeast D.C. became a popular designation for gay people after the owner installed a dance floor. 

ā€œIn 1968, in Capitol Hill with JoAnnaā€™s, a new social option had emerged for women, one with a dance floor,ā€ Meinke said. In his presentation for the 2002 Washington Historical Conference titled ā€œThe Social Geography of Washington, D.C.ā€™s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Community,ā€ Meinke said that the gay community wanted more gay dance floors.

This inspired others in the gayborhood to create more dance spaces. ā€œJohnnie’s (across the street [from JoAnnaā€™s]) saw the future and installed a postage stamp-sized dance floor, and began getting lots of customersā€¦Same-sex dancing in the clubs was perhaps one of the greatest innovations on the social scene in the 1960s,ā€ Meinke wrote.

Not only did the expanding gay bar scene impact who was visiting the city, but the presence of the federal government and the number of universities located in the area also helped attract the gay community, Meinke explained. 

As more LGBTQ people moved to D.C. to pursue careers related to the federal government, a backlash was brewing and created a time we now call the McCarthy era. This era, which extended from the early 1950s into the 60s, brought in political repression of left-leaning individuals in D.C.

This repression and eventual prosecution of people based on the fear of communism was led by Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy and became a major part of the Republican Partyā€™s platform. This fear also heightened political tensions, eventually leading to Republicans accusing homosexuals of espionage. This period was known as the ā€œLavender Scare.ā€  

Robert Connelly, an adjunct senior professorial lecturer for American Universityā€™s Critical Race Gender and Culture Studies Department, explained that this scare was real for many LGBTQ people working in the government. ā€œIn [McCarthyā€™s] mind, homosexualsā€™ perceived duplicity and emotional instability made them susceptible to foreign espionage and blackmail, you know, which meant that the gays were giving away our secrets,ā€ Connelly said. 

This fear prompted the 34th president to take more legal action against the LGBTQ people working in government. ā€œWhen Eisenhower took office in 1953, one of his first executive orders that he signed was Executive Order 10450,ā€ Connelly explained. ā€œThis codified the exclusion of perverts from government employment and thousands of lives were ruined because of this in the early 1950s.ā€ This homophobia eventually led to the firing of thousands of LGBTQ people within the federal government during the ā€˜50s and ā€˜60s. 

This systematic injustice triggered many LGBTQ people to adapt techniques other marginalized communities were using, mostly inspired by the increasingly successful Civil Rights movement, to politically mobilize and reclaim their power. The homophile movement, one of the earliest precursors to the modern gay rights movement, had major players located in Washington to help push for gay rights. The activism ignited by LGBTQ people during this time endured for decades, addressing a multitude of issues, including anti-war protests and the fight for expanded civil rights.

Some, like Chadd Dowding, 35, a regular patron of gay bars across Washington said that Washingtonā€™s gay bar scene has been successful due to the high number of LGBTQ residents and their desire to feel connected to their community. 

ā€œI think D.C. has the largest gay population per capita of any city in the country, so that draws a larger audience of queer folks here,ā€ he said. According to the Williams Institute, D.C. still holds the highest percentage in the U.S.  ā€œI think there’s also a need for spaces for community, mostly because a lot of people in D.C. are transplants from other parts of the country.ā€ 

Others, Like Bombshell Monroe, a drag queen from the House of Mulan (a chosen family, that works to support and mentor queens in Balls and beyond) said that contrarian attitudes are baked into the nature of the city. 

As Bombshell slipped on her flower-adorned flared jeans and orange tank top, getting ready to make her first appearance on the dance floor of Trade for Deep Cvnt, matching the spring bling theme of the night, she explained why she felt D.C.ā€™s gay nightlife has been able to grow.

ā€œI feel like D.C. has always been a place of independence and where people, even if we’re not accepted, will fight to be accepted,ā€ Bombshell said while pulling on a fuzzy white and orange bucket hat. ā€œI’m D.C. born and raised and can attest personally. I think that it’s so crazy because it’s political, but it’s not political. I feel like once we get the pushback from other states, we’re the ones that take it and say, ā€˜Well, bitch! We got something for y’all. You don’t want the gay bars here, we’re gonna put another one here!ā€™ā€ 

And put another one they did. Within the past three years, at least six new gay bars have opened up with very different styles and goals. Some bars cater to particular groups within the LGBTQ community, like that of Thurst Lounge on 14th Street N.W., which is a predominantly Black gay space. As You Are Bar, at 500 8th St., S.E., seeks to make an accessible and comfortable space for all in the LGBTQ community, focusing on often overlooked female and non-binary members of the community. Others focus on creating unique nightlife experiences, like that of the craft cocktails in Logan Circleā€™s Little Gay Pub with its Instagram (and Grindr) famous selfie mirror, or like that of the freshly opened Crush bar, focusing on creating a dance bar for LGBTQ people. 

Regardless of the specific reason people visit gay bars, It is clear that they offer platforms to authentically express queer identity in a world that does not always deem this acceptable. 

ā€œIf we get to a point where we have to start sacrificing more physical spaces for online ones, these spaces could be easily invaded by people who may not have the best intentions,ā€ Etienne said, preparing to head up the scuffed stairs to Beyonceā€™s Jolene.  ā€œThere is something very valuable about having a physical space with a physical location because, at the end of the day, thatā€™s what we have fought for.ā€

As the lights dimmed the Trade dance floor began to hush. A path opened up in front of the stage as the crowd of floral wearing ballroom fans stepped back, accommodating Etienneā€™s entrance. With the glittery green dress, knee-high go-go boots, and oversized sunglasses it is clear he is in charge of the night. 

ā€œSince this is Deep Cvnt I need everyone to raise their hand up,ā€ Etienne said with a smile. ā€œAnd now put it below your waist. Check how deep your motherfucking cunt is.ā€ The crowd roared with laughter and cheers. ā€œAlright let’s get into it!ā€ Deep Cvnt has begun.

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