I've dated men and gone downtown to the bars and have been able to kiss my boyfriend or hold his hand in public, and nobody even blinks anymore.'Ĭostelli said he has seen a steady decline in business in the last decade, fueled by dating sites and growing inclusion. 'Back in the day, gay people pretty much had to go to their own place to feel safe,' said bar manager Frank Costelli, 36.
The same issue has felled gay bars from San Francisco to London, prompting headlines like 'The Vanishing Terrain of Gay America' and 'The Lost Gay Bars of San Francisco.' 'We've joked numerous times with friends that we see more gay people at the bars downtown than at traditional gay bars.' 'You can go any place that I've been here and feel welcome,' said Eric Skains, executive director of St. They have moved from the margins to Central Avenue. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, people are no longer a niche customer base without options. And if that's the cost of people having their equal rights, it's a small price to pay.'
'But while it's sad that the Alibi is closing, we certainly embrace that progress. 'We've been huge supporters of equality in many ways, and that same equality and acceptance has played a role in our demise,' said owner Ron Gofrank. After 15 years, Georgie's Alibi will close for good Sept.
