We Got Cheap Beer and Hipsters; They Got Beefcakes and Martinis: How Gay Men Choose Bars

• In Event: 1169 - Sexual Racism

Abstract

How do gay men choose a bar? This paper explores how gay men choose which bar to patronize, and how bars create environments that attract some while dissuading others. Through participant observation and interviews, I explore why gay men believe specific groups consistently frequent specific bars. I made four visits during October and November of 2017 to two gay bars in Pittsburgh, PA. Three main themes appear when trying to answer why they choose specific bars: cost, welcoming atmosphere, and short-term goals. In terms of cost, participants explained how bar owners attempt curate patrons and exclude undesirables (e.g., lower-income and nonwhite patrons) using the following strategies the cost of bars, highlighting the status of the neighborhood in which they were located, the prices of drinks, drink minimums, and types of drinks offered. Furthermore, the degree to which participants considered a bar to have a community, and a requirement to “perform” class. Finally, in terms of goals, informants stated that they choose bars with three major aims in mind: socializing, entertainment (e.g., drag shows, and dancing), and sex. This study contributes to the literature on begins on gay intragroup dynamics in urban spaces.

Author

• R. Kyle Saunders, West Virginia University