Gay bars create presence in Pittsburgh with varying themes

Between the outside aesthetics of neon lights and boisterous pop music, it’s sometimes hard to differentiate between bars based on their appearance. But jumping to conclusions about what’s inside may seriously discredit the significance that some bars play in the social lives of some Pittsburghers.

On one evening, Harris Grill, a popular Shadyside bar, was playing loud music as people drank, laughed and ate on the venue’s porch. Less than a block away, others were doing the same at 5801 Video Lounge and Cafe, a well-known gay bar.

5801 advertises itself as a gay establishment that welcomes pretty much anyone and everyone. Although 5801 is a very popular gay bar and many Pitt students are familiar with it, it is only one of the city’s many gay bars.

Though Pittsburgh doesn’t have quite as many or quite as varied gay bars as larger cities such as Philadelphia, they are still seen by gay Pittsburghers as an important part of the city’s culture.

“I think that gay bars in Pittsburgh serve their purpose well as … well, gay bars in Pittsburgh,” said Carter Talerico, a 31-year-old Pittsburgh native, patron of 5801 and member of the gay community. “They facilitate a sense of community.”

Unfortunately, not all public places outside of this community are as accepting, as some restaurants and bars have patrons that take contention with LGBTQ individuals.

“As progressive as Pittsburgh is, it’s still backwards in a lot of ways,” Talerico said.

Despite many public venues being open to individuals of any sexual orientation, that does not negate the fact that discrimination does still exist and can manifest itself in ways that make members of the LGBTQ community uncomfortable. To this end, the role that gay bars play are doubly important, serving as both hotspots for socialization and places that foster an environment in which people feel that they can be open and act as themselves.

“A lot of gay people feel like they can’t be themselves or show any sort of PDA in a lot of bars and other public places,” said Tricia Dougherty, a Pitt senior and president of Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance.

PDA, or public displays of affection, can range from holding hands to kissing.

“You have to be smart and practical about those sorts of things,” said Dustin Ferrero, a 32-year-old Pittsburgh native and member of the gay community, referring to LGBTQ PDA.

“It’s not okay everywhere. It would be nice if it was, but you have to use your brain,” he said.

Andrew Henderson, who has been the manager of Lawrenceville’s Blue Moon bar since 2002, describes his bar as a “Gay Cheers,” saying that it’s a place that many people just see as their friendly neighborhood bar.

“People first come because it’s a gay bar,” said Henderson, “but the friendly and safe atmosphere keeps them coming back and bringing friends with them.”

Chris Caton, a 31-year-old frequent patron of many different gay bars throughout Pittsburgh, described gay bars as “places that [he] can go to see familiar faces and just feel comfortable, in general.”

“Do we not have as many options as other places? Yeah,” said Alex Slaughter, a 24-year-old regular customer of many of Pittsburgh’s gay bars. “But you can definitely find what you’re looking for.”

Pittsburgh’s total number of gay bars may not be particularly high, but each one caters to a very distinct environment. Just as certain sports bars are specialized for fans of specific teams, many gay bars are geared toward providing unique atmospheres.

While bars like Blue Moon and 5801 are more laid-back, the Strip District’s Cruze Bar is reputable for its particularly loud music that makes for thunderous nights of dancing. SPIN Bartini and Ultra Lounge, also in Shadyside, is known to be a bar more for singles looking to meet new people.

Just as there are a wide variety of bars in Pittsburgh — sports bars, hip bars, dance clubs, strip clubs, piano bars, etc. — there are gay bars in Pittsburgh with drag shows, live dancers and theme nights.

“Let’s not mask it: People go to all sorts of bars for a lot of different things,” said Slaughter. “It’s really up to what your intentions are.”

But like most other members of the LGBTQ community, Slaughter doesn’t see himself as limited to just gay bars when going out.

“If I’m going to a bar to watch a game, then I’m going anywhere that it’s on,” he said.

“It’s not like, ‘I’m gay, therefore I have to go to a gay bar,’” Dougherty said. “It’s more like when I want a certain community or atmosphere.”

Some of the bars most frequented by Pitt students, such as Mad Mex, Mi Ranchito and Hemingway’s Cafe, are known to be open environments for both straight and LGBTQ visitors.

As students will recognize, these establishments don’t publicly discriminate or deny service to LGBTQ individuals.

“Because universities like Carnegie Mellon, Point Park and Pitt are so liberal, you have a sink-or-swim mentality,” Slaughter said. “If you’re not open or accepting, there’s a chance that you’ll go out of business because of your proximity to these places.”

Even with “straight” bars in the area having a positive reputation among the LGBTQ community, gay bars still have specific benefits.

According to Slaughter, LGBTQ individuals looking for a specific niche in their bar of choice should know the terms of their sexuality. Then, he says, they can set a pattern in choosing what they want out of their experience.

“After you establish what you’re comfortable with, you can set the tone for the sort of night that you want to have,” he said.

Talerico said that, when attending gay bars, he goes in with a particular set of expectations that he doesn’t have when going into any other kind of bars. He said gay bar customers have a specific kind of fun because they’re in a specific kind of environment.

“If anything, gay bars have a community feel that straight bars don’t. They cater to the masses, get them drunk and then make a profit,” said Caton. “Even though gay bars do that, too, what it comes down to is a minority and relating to everyone there.”

Echoing Henderson’s thoughts on what brings returning customers to Blue Moon’s amiable ambience, Caton believes that the crucial significance of feeling comfortable, accepted and natural is what makes gay bars special.

“You’ll know that you’re accepted, and that’s what keeps you coming back.”