“Because our city is such a magnet for people from all over the world, that keeps our community incredibly diverse. We have all sorts of people and all sorts of personalities,” says DJ and nightlife entrepreneur, Ed Bailey. "DC’s LGBTQ+ community is truly remarkable.
The question of whether every place can now be considered safe in DC for queer people remains, but an ongoing shift is unmistakable as the LGBTQ+ community has begun to stake out their own space within more traditional watering holes, with outdoor beer garden Dacha, the trendy Takoda, and the bumping nightclub Flash as prime examples. Is it such a bad thing though? With each closure comes the inevitable, “where to now?” And the new answer seems to be: everywhere. Dupont Circle, once defined as the city’s gayborhood, is seemingly hanging on by a thread. Over the past few decades, countless openings, promising re-openings, and disappointing closings have taught us to expect the unexpected. The clientele was “very” integrated.The DC LGBTQ+ community is no stranger to change.
Women gathered there on weekend evenings. Steve's was one of the few women's bars in the 60s. “Steve’s”) 3700 14 th St NW The Amber Room was located below the Spring Road Café (a building once known for its purple exterior). (See listing for MCC.) Allies Inn 1703 New York Ave NW Hangout/gathering place noted in Jeb & Dash. Paul Breton, which later became the Metropolitan Community Church of DC. In 1970, the Homophile Social League met here as well as the Community Church organized by Rev. In 1970, All Souls was the site of the Black Panthers’ Peoples Revolutionary Constitutional Convention, an event staged with the strong support of DC’s Gay Liberation Front. Its meeting spaces have frequently been used by gay community organizations. SW) See Southwest Cinema Club All Souls Unitarian Church 2835 16 th St NW All Souls has been in the forefront of support for civil rights, including GLBT civil rights. After Hours Cinema Club Waterside Mall SW (4th and I St. 1/5/96 MW After Dark 2001 Wisconsin Ave NW 1/1/74 5-74 MW After Dark 5878 Washington Blvd Arlington Club at the Italia Bella restaurant, lasted 3 weeks, run by Annette Post & JoAnne Bawiec Taken over by Giuseppe Motta, owner of the restaurant and run as the 5878 Club. Frequent host of Blowoff event for the bear community. Beginning in September 1997 (until ?) hosted Millennium, a Saturday night dance party. 11-91 7-93 W 801 Club 801 Pennsylvania Ave SE Replaced the Blue Penguin 6-95 ? MW 808 King St/French Quarter Café 808 King St, Alexandria Alexandria's first gay club since the Topkopi bathhouse, complaint about nude mural led to painted on pants with Glasgow (complainant) on label, Glasgow sued but the suit was dismissed 5/16/91 1993 M 915 Health Club 915 12th St NW 4/1/76 ? M 930 Club 930 F St NW Straight music venue with gay evenings 1980 12/31/95 MW 9:30 Club 815 V St. 1966 1973 M 5878 Club 5878 Washington Blvd Arlington First gay bar in Arlington, women's bar continued after a false start (see AfterDark) added Latina/o night on Saturdays in July 1992. SE A leather/levi disco 4/1/82 1984 M 1409 Playbill Café 1409 14th St NW Popular restaurant, featuring drag bingo and performance art 1998 MW 17th St Bar & Grill 1615 Rhode Island Ave NW Popular Sunday brunch, in Governor's House Hotel 1990 MW 1832 House 1832 Columbia Rd NW Popular Adams Morgan club in the early 70s chicken wire on the balcony 'screened' standing drinkers. of Washington, DC's LGBT community (1920 to the present) Club Address Notes Opened Closed Gender Ethnicity Important community sites that were not commercial clubs or bars are in italics. The Rainbow History Project: PLACES & SPACES - clubs, bars, community centers, etc.