The venue is already hosting a popular drag show. In Oakland, Calif., Qué Rico, a nightclub and restaurant, was launched earlier this month it is the first of its kind to open in the Bay Area in years, reports S.F. The loss was felt acutely by LGBTQ+ folks, who often relied on these venues for safe spaces and connection, sometimes over the span of decades.Įven before the pandemic, the decline of gay bars was a sad trend 37 percent of these establishments shuttered between 20 in the United States, according to one study.Īs COVID-19 restrictions ease, however, some new LGBTQ+ establishments have opened, offering signs of hope to a struggling industry and community. Like many small businesses, gay bars were hard-hit by the pandemic, which forced the closure of most indoor watering holes across the country. Spring has sprung - and so have a few new gay bars.
