Jamie Sycamore, a gay candidate for the Ward 1 Council seat, says the recent spike in suspected hate crimes in his ward and ongoing violence against transgender people requires the community to consider visiting non-gay spots around the city. Other gay District residents argue that the gay community should actively explore straight venues in a bid to spread acceptance. “There’s a huge need, every day the LGBTQ community is growing and we need that safe space to party and let go.” Jerry VanHook, who frequently performed in drag as Shi-Queeta-Lee at Town’s Friday and Saturday night drag shows, laments the club’s closing. “We still need places where we can be in communion with others that share our experience and dance to Carly Rae.” “The gay club where you can dance the night away is still an important part of the community, despite the onslaught of dating apps that continue to pop into existence,” says Town patron J. Guggenmos is one of a chorus of gay people in the city-from a drag queen and a gay city Council candidate to owners of smaller gay bars to patrons-that say there’s a need for “safe spaces” for the LGBTQ community even in a supposedly progressive city like D.C.
And later in May, a man shouted an anti-gay slur at two gay men walking on 14th Street NW then punched one of the men in the face. A group of men pushed down and kicked a gay man on Sherman Avenue NW in May. Three men attacked two gay men near the Howard Theatre in April. There have been at least three suspected incidents since April. They are also safe spaces where gay people can fully be themselves in a city that’s seen several anti-gay assaults in recent months. They help foster a greater sense of togetherness among its diverse gay residents. The city’s gay residents say that bars and clubs provide several vital functions for the LGBTQ community. And in a city where property costs are on the rise, smaller venues with lower rent could be the trend for gay nightlife. At least three new gay bars have opened in recent months. The story of D.C.’s gay scene isn’t one of decline. They leave club goers with fond times and memories that they might talk about for decades.” Dellerba adds that Echostage has acquired a strong following in the gay community. When they close, they are never forgotten. An unfortunate reality of the scene is that great dance clubs-like Town, Nation, Tracks, Fur, Love, Five, and plenty others-do come and go. He continues, “Town has had a great run and it’s sad to see the community lose another fun and popular club. “This is how it goes, and has been this way for decades.” Generally, they are displaced by city development or other issues,” he says. “It’s not like these clubs that close suddenly have no turnout and go out of business. Ziegfeld’s/Secrets was supplanted once before when Nationals Park went in.Ĭo-owner Steve Dellerba declined to comment about his nightclub’s future, but talked about the loss of large gay nightclubs broadly. The Washington Business Journal reported in 2016 that MRP Realty reached an agreement to acquire several properties at Buzzard Point, including the nightclub. Ziegfeld’s/Secrets in Southwest combines a downstairs drag show venue with an upstairs club with nude male dancers, but its future is not certain. Without Town, only one mega gay destination remains when it comes to square footage. Guggenmos is focusing on Logan Circle, NoMa, and Georgia Avenue NW. But he’s not in a rush to open his next club just for the sake of it, and is taking his time to find the right spot. He says nine months of talks about an undisclosed venue a few blocks from Town fell through. It’ll be some time before Guggenmos opens a new club. “Certain things that you need a stage and a big venue for can’t be done anymore-things like Team DC’s fashion show-so people are going to have to scale down until something else opens up.” “I don’t even like going to big clubs and I think is devastating,” says David Perruzza, the owner of recently opened gay bar Pitchers in Adams Morgan.