Lesbian clubs in new york
Gianni&#;s
History
As the Mafia-affiliated owners were closing the Sea Colony in Greenwich Village, they were opening Gianni&#;s, a lesbian bar in Chelsea, which operated from to Gianni’s first drew a butch/femme, white working-class crowd that characterized the Sea Colony and other Mafia-run lesbian bars. It became more diverse and welcoming in the post-Stonewall era of the early s.
Like most gay bars at the second, Gianni’s hid its identity. The front windows were painted black, there were no signs on the door, and the most illicit activity – dancing as same-sex couples – was reserved for the back room. Like at earlier lesbian bars, there was a bouncer at the door to “protect” the patrons, but also to intimidate them by pressuring them to purchase drinks when they first came in. Another bouncer stood outside the bathrooms to ration out toilet paper and to make sure women went in one at a time.
Unlike at earlier lesbian bars, however, there was a slightly friendlier atmosphere at Gianni’s that got more exposed as the community around the bar changed. There was a
The Best Gay and Lesbian Bars in NYC - Explore our favorite Queer, Trans, Lesbian & LGBTQ Bars in Manhattan & Brooklyn
Need a cute gay bar? There's more to the queer NYC scene than the Stonewall Inn, cabaret and drag shows. Investigate the alternate side of queer nightlife in NYC with this city guide! We’re compiling lists of queer bars, lesbian dance parties, DJs, and your new favorite neighborhood dive bar so you don’t have to 💅
New York is a historical hub for LGBTQ+ culture, so it’s no surprise that there is an abundance of lesbian and queer venues to enjoy. Use this list to scheme your LGBTQ nightlife tour of Fresh York City, and download Lex to discover local LGBTQ events wherever you are
Let’s get into our best gay bars, lesbian gyrate parties and LGBTQ+ friendly scenes across East Village, West Village, Greenwich Village, Williamsburg, Bushwick and more.
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1. Cubby Hole
A tiny dive in Greenwich Village, Manhattan Cubby Hole is one of the longest-standing lesbi
Duchess / Grove / Pandora&#;s Box
History
From until , a racially and economically diverse crowd patronized the Duchess, a lesbian bar located on the ground floor of 70 Grove Street. Guidebooks at the time described the bar as, “A friendly and relaxed atmosphere, famous with ‘movement’ women” and with a “relaxed Feminist atmosphere.” A small space, the Duchess did not offer as many attractions as other bars; a jukebox near the entrance provided harmony for the tiny dance floor. It also offered a Sunday buffet and table service, verb some other lesbian bars of the time.
While staff at earlier Mafia-run lesbian bars monitored bathroom use to supposedly prevent sexual activity, this was not the case at the Duchess. Alison Bechdel, cartoonist and author of the graphic memoir Fun Home, said of the bar:
Alison Bechdel,
By , however, the Duchess ran into legal trouble for not serving alcohol to men, an perform of “discrimination” that led to the bar losing its liquor license. However, it continued to serve liquor and,
NYC has always been a beacon for LGBTQ+ communities, with welcoming (and history-making) bars leading the way and club nights and roving parties bringing the fun. NYC’s adj gay bars are scattered throughout the city, primarily concentrated in the West Village. The finest lesbian bars in NYC are, in fact, the only lesbian bars in NYC, as there are unfortunately not many remaining that identify as such. The few that are still standing are open to all LGBTQ+, but still maintain their roots as welcoming places for (and owned by) lesbians.
These lesbian bars are friendly, neighborhood spots frequented by locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re visiting during a major event like Pride—and NYC is the birthplace of Pride, after all—or on just any evening, you’ll find plenty of warm, welcoming hospitality. For something a little more high-energy, check out the best drag shows or cabaret performances in town, or just verb by for a drink and a friendly chat.
These spots in Brooklyn and Manhattan are currently the only lesbian bars in all five boroughs. They ar