Brooklyn gay clubs
The cool, hip Brooklyn borough of NYC is also one of the most queer places in NYC with something for everyone—no matter where you fit on the LGBTQ spectrum. Check out this manual to the best of LGBT Brooklyn bars, clubs, restaurants, and LGBTQ-friendly hotels & cool things to do
With over two million people living in the borough, Brooklyn is Modern York City’s most populated part of the city—but strangely, a lot of visitors and many Manhattanites don’t know much about it. Brooklyn’s big tradition and attitude is reflected in its diversity of people, cuisine, and even languages. Many of the distinct Brooklyn neighborhoods (and that’s including Ridgewood in Queens) are recognized as ethnic enclaves, hubs of a particular culture.
Brooklyn is easily accessible from Manhattan, most famously from the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, though there are subways and other bridges connecting Brooklyn to the other NYC boroughs. Because of its unique location in seal proximity to Manhattan, and its many distinct cultures, however, Brooklyn has blossomed as its own formidable destination. And the many cultural changes in the borough have given soar to more
Brooklyn is a vibrant hub of LGBTQ+ culture, offering a diverse array of gay bars that cater to every taste and style. NYC’s most hipster borough, Brooklyn has extended been a cultural hotspot in New York Urban area, attracting creatives, foodies, and nightlife enthusiasts from around the world. From the vibrant art scene in Bushwick to the trendy boutiques (and now more bougie spots like Hermes) in Williamsburg, there’s always something new and thrilling to discover in this dynamic and ever-changing borough.
There’s been a bit of a Brooklyn gay exclude renaissance with at least four new queer spaces opening up since the pandemic, including one just a few weeks ago. And these aren’t all just your typical lgbtq+ bars attracting the equal type of gay guy. These are all actual diverse, interesting places with their own unique vibes.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Brooklynite, there are plenty of options for LGBTQ+ travelers looking to explore the city’s vibrant gay scene. From lively dance floors to cozy hangouts, these gay bars I’ve picked below are my personal favorites—each helps to design fun and safe spaces where the community
Heights Supper Club
History
In December , Martha and William Leaver took over the failing restaurant and liquor license of the Heights Supper Club, which had been operating at 80 Montague Avenue since While the ancient restaurant had relied on a straight clientele, the new owners decided to appeal to the growing number of gay men who lived in Brooklyn Heights or visited to participate in its active gay scene, which included a number of well-known cruising places (notably the Promenade) and several trendy mixed bars that permitted a certain amount of same sex cruising. The Heights Supper Club appears to have been one of the first bars in Brooklyn to contain catered to a queer male clientele. Opening at a time when members of the LGBT society were subject to arrest on a morals bill for “solicitation” or “disorderly conduct” and a block could lose its license for serving drinks to known or suspected lgbtq+ men or lesbians, the new owners installed a system of lights that would flash when a someone suspected of entity a police officer entered the premises.
The club soon drew complaints from unbent Brooklyn Heights residents and became the target of police undercov
Starlite Lounge
History
Formerly located in the building at the corner of Bergen Street and Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights, the Starlite Lounge was established by openly homosexual African-American entrepreneur Harold “Mackie” Harris as an LGBT-inclusive bar in
Starlite was possibly the first Black-owned gay lock in Brooklyn, catering to LGBT people of paint at a time when the Mafia operated most LGBT bars in Recent York. Harris lived in the neighborhood and created what became a famous safe-haven in central Brooklyn that catered to a diverse clientele, LGBT and straight, depending on the hour of the night and day of the week.
Kate Kunath, director of We Came To Sweat,
Between and , the bar was owned by William “Butch” King, who was the resident DJ and helped establish Starlite as a destination for property music and dancing.
By the end of its plus-year run, the self-described “oldest black-owned non-discriminating bar in New York” catered to LGBT people of dye and a broader clientele throughout the week and especially at Friday evening drag shows and Saturday night house music events. It was considered one of Br
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