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Biv, which operates Union, Axis and Havana. "The current crowd is a great, eclectic mix of people," said Rajesh Lahoti, CEO of Roy G. The bartender will still call you "Honey." Centered in the city's main entertainment district, it's a place where businesspeople eat lunch and families come in for dinner. Today, Union Bar + Food embodies the contemporary gay bar in Columbus. Opened in 1996, Union Station even featured windows. Other places followed suit, attracting a more empowered gay community and straight people less afraid to be near it. "It became a cool, hip place to go to show you were progressive." "It was bright and kind of in the light, because we wanted to create a bridge to the straight community," said Tom Grote, former co-owner of Out on Main, which opened in 1995. These bars and restaurants never hid who they were - they simply invited everyone, straight or gay, to enjoy it. In the '80s, places like The Eagle, The Garage and Wall Street fueled the movement toward greater GLBT acceptance and visibility, then reaped the rewards in return.Įventually, in the mid '90s, openly gay places like Out on Main, The Grapevine, Havana and Union Station began competing with the best in the industry. They crept into neighborhoods outside Downtown. Gradually, one would put up a real sign or a neon banner bearing a rainbow. Most importantly, though, they never went away.
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Gay bars opened, folded and faded from memory. It's a whole different day here."Ĭultural change is often slow, painful and incomplete, and that day has come slowly to Columbus. "You wouldn't feel comfortable holding hands in an establishment that wasn't labeled gay. "You'd like to be able to hold hands with your partner if it was an anniversary or something," said Karla Rothan, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, which organizes the annual Pride festivities. Many who scuffled with police said that attacking the gay bar was the last straw - an assault on something their community simply couldn't lose. When New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, patrons fought back, refusing to forfeit their primary gathering place. Even the genesis of the gay-rights movement traces back to a bar.