U.S. Gay Bars Are Closing Their Doors at a Heartbreaking Pace

Them ^ | Feb 18, 2026 | Mathew Rodriguez

[fwdude]

When it comes to the queer bar in the wild, so many threats exist, and it's only gotten worse in the past few years. Higher upfront costs combined with lower foot traffic have caused a nationwide problem for the service and food industries, which is exacerbated in queer spaces, which deal with smaller demographics than the average bar or restaurant. And of course, there’s the fact that many people, especially younger people, just don’t go out or have a third space anymore.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: aids; analcancer; disease; freaks; freaksversusnormals; heartbreakhotellol; hiv; homosexualagenda; monkeypox; ohnoanyway; ohthehumanity; perverts; pjcomix; thatsashame; tragicjusttragic

[fwdude]

I almost wish this wasn't the case, just to keep them out of our faces and compartmentalized in their own little enclaves. That's the way society used to be set up.

Segregation isn't always a bad thing.

[ansel12]

“at a Heartbreaking Pace”

Really? Heartbreaking?

[fwdude]

Maybe “heartbreaking” means “butt pounding” in layman’s terms.

[pburgh01]

Like keeping the Jews in the ghetto. Sorry, your masculinity is threatened, which makes me wonder when I hear men get all full of saltiness over stuff like this. You have bi tendencies,... I think. Not gay, but something is going on with you. You are obsessed about homosexuals.

[dfwgator]

Bars in general are struggling.

[Telepathic Intruder]

They’re becoming teachers and setting up shop in public schools instead.

[ansel12]

Don’t feel bad, they’ll still have the bathhouses, the public parks, and the Boy Scouts.

[dfwgator]

With apps like Grindr, there’s no longer a need for gay bars. Or so, I’ve been told.

[TimSkalaBim]

How is this not because of climate change??

[gibsonguy]

“U.S. Gay Bars Are Closing Their Doors at a Heartbreaking Pace“

I don’t think that is the how l would phrase it.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Odd. They have spare money-no kids.

[CodeToad]

“Gay bar”, homosexual sex club.

[SaxxonWoods]

I’ve reported myself “Safe from Heartbreak”.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Scott Thompson (a gay comedian) does a funny routine about an aging gay man who gets all upset about the closing of gay bathhouses from his youth and how he now romanticizes what was, in reality, sleazy and tawdry. The routine is not for everyone, but I found it funny.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[fwdude]

Back to the DUmp with you, faggot.

[al baby]

Sounds like you got it too

[KarlInOhio]

See also: Effect of Jackie Robinson’s admission to Major League Baseball on the Negro Leagues. Businesses relying on segregation don’t survive integration.

[MotorCityBuck]

“Or so, I’ve been told.:

LOL!
+1

[PUGACHEV]

I just saw a fascinating documentary on YouTube about the evolution of NYC’s Meatpacking District. What is now home to the Whitney and countless very high-end shops that no ordinary person has any business in, was in the ‘70s and ‘80s a haven for gay bars like The Anvil, The Mineshaft, and the wonderfully eponymous The Manhole. ... glad I missed all that.