A disappearing sight, the rainbow flag identifying a gay bar. Photo: UK Student Life
There is some disquiet over the closure of gay pubs and bars. Some members of the gay community are trying to save gay bars from closure. They want to preserve a gay-only space where they don’t have to worry about their behaviour offending anyone.
Gay bars have played a central part in the revolution in gay politics and campaigning which led to changes in the law giving gay men and lesbians their civil rights, to different extents, in different countries.
Gay bars have been closing down, along with other businesses which catered only to the gay community, in increasing numbers, over the last ten years, for a number of reasons, some of them are:
Urban regeneration;
Rising property costs;
Rising business costs;
Dispersal of the gay population from concentrated neighbourhoods into the general population;
Integration of gays into the mainstream and being accepted by regular venues;
A dislike of “the scene” and being ghettoised – cultural changes in the gay community;
Widespread use of the internet to find and meet people;
Competition;
Legal changes.
This article looks at the change in the law which has had a direct impact on gay venues in the UK.
The First Out Café Bar, London – Closed due to urban redevelopment. Photo: Frank Baron/Guardian
Since April 2007 it has been illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation when providing goods and services. This means whether you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or straight you have new rights in matters such as health, education, housing, adoption, goods, facilities and services.
Courts have recently ruled on cases where gay couples had been turned away from, or denied a double bed by, bed and breakfast hotels. In one case substantial damages were awarded by the court, and in February 2012 the appeal was lost in the High Court. (The case is still pending in the European Court of Human Rights.)
In 2007 at the time the regulations were enacted, Pink Paper reported:The Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly earlier today published the government’s planned regulations to protect from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. While it protects the LGBT community from discrimination, it means the legal end of gay or lesbian only bars.
In February 2011 the Equality Commission announced that it was considering whether the law does mean that gay hotels cannot deny accommodation to straight people. To date no guidance on the matter has been issued.
All gay businesses, organisations and services need to be wary of discriminating against any members of the wider community and to amend their policies and practices accordingly.
The 2007 regulations were intended to assist the integration of gay people into the wider society. Gay-only businesses and services which do not admit or serve heterosexuals or other sections of society may be discriminatory. Gay-themed businesses and services which do not discriminate against any section of society should be compliant.
Gay activists and leaders of gay groups need to help the gay community understand and come to terms with a changed situation.
This page will be updated when more information becomes available.
Other resources
Boston Globe – Last call for gay bars?
Guardian – don’t let the gay club scene fall silent
Page updated and links checked 27 May 2012
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