Black Gay History in Philadelphia? (York, Washington: houses, neighborhood, theater)

[leonnorman1814]

I am trying to amass a list of Black Gay Establishments of the past, PRIOR TO 1990. The white gay experience is often written about but not much Black Gay History in this country is known. If you know or have the names, addresses, pictures or ANY OTHER information about Black Gay Clubs, Bars, Lounges, Bath-Houses, Theaters or ANYTHING ELSE...PLEASE LIST THEM IF YOU DON'T MIND.

Where are/were the Black Gay communities in your town?

Anything prior to 1990, although current establishments would be welcome also.

I would definitely appreciate it.

[loose cannon]

Philadelphia has for a long time been a very Gay city. I never viewed a separation in the scene between Black nd WHite. Spruce, Locust, and Walnut sts are the prime Gay areas. A PGN is available on all the downtown street corners. Plus a Gay club like Woodys on 13th and Spruce has the paper available at no cost. I've always wondered about this, but that's another story.

[leonnorman1814]

Originally Posted by loose cannon

Philadelphia has for a long time been a very Gay city. I never viewed a separation in the scene between Black nd WHite. Spruce, Locust, and Walnut sts are the prime Gay areas. A PGN is available on all the downtown street corners. Plus a Gay club like Woodys on 13th and Spruce has the paper available at no cost. I've always wondered about this, but that's another story.

Excuse my ignorance but I don't know what a "PGN" is? (LOL)

I don't live in Philly so does this paper have a website?

Could you name some of the clubs that Black folk frequent? Is Woody's one of them?

You said you have never viewed a separation, you mean there are NO predominantly black gay clubs in Philly? If true that would make Philly probably the ONLY major city where gay whites and blacks mix liberally in ALL of their clubs...would love to hear more.

[maf763]

PGN = Philadelphia Gay News. The paper has been around a long time, and may be a good source for your research.

[leonnorman1814]

Originally Posted by maf763

PGN = Philadelphia Gay News. The paper has been around a long time, and may be a good source for your research.

Great resource, thank you very much. I really do appreciate it!

[MB1562]

Woody's, which is the main gay bar/club in the city, always has a strong black presence. Every time I've been it's always been a mix of black, brown, and white. Same goes for iCandy and Tabu as well. There isn't really a racial separation in the gay scene in Philly, at least from what I've noticed.

[phillies2011]

Originally Posted by MB1562

Woody's, which is the main gay bar/club in the city, always has a strong black presence. Every time I've been it's always been a mix of black, brown, and white. Same goes for iCandy and Tabu as well. There isn't really a racial separation in the gay scene in Philly, at least from what I've noticed.

I'd agree for the most part. However Philly is plurality black city. There are more blacks here than any other race, so it stands to reason that there are more gay blacks here than gays of any other race. So while I'd agree that those places have a lot of black people in them, I'd still say that the crowds there are mostly white. This leads me to believe there must be some gay bars, somewhere in the city that are mostly black. Unfortunately I don't know where they are or what they're called, sorry I can't be of more help, but I have to imagine they exist somewhere.

[MB1562]

Originally Posted by phillies2011

I'd agree for the most part. However Philly is plurality black city. There are more blacks here than any other race, so it stands to reason that there are more gay blacks here than gays of any other race. So while I'd agree that those places have a lot of black people in them, I'd still say that the crowds there are mostly white. This leads me to believe there must be some gay bars, somewhere in the city that are mostly black. Unfortunately I don't know where they are or what they're called, sorry I can't be of more help, but I have to imagine they exist somewhere.

Philly's gay scene is surprisingly small for a city it's size. Its basically concentrated in the Gayborhood (Washington Square West, if you will) and thats it. I have never heard of any gay black bars or clubs, but they could exist. I think the smaller scale nature of the Philly gay scene makes racial mixing much more of a normal thing then other major cities. I went to a bar in Dupont Circle in DC once, and the whole bar was completely white. Not a single Black, Asian, or Latino guy in sight. While I don't think it's to that extreme normally, I don't think that most cities have as mixed a gay social scenes as Philadelphia does, which makes it far more interest in my opinion.

[leonnorman1814]

Originally Posted by MB1562

Woody's, which is the main gay bar/club in the city, always has a strong black presence. Every time I've been it's always been a mix of black, brown, and white. Same goes for iCandy and Tabu as well. There isn't really a racial separation in the gay scene in Philly, at least from what I've noticed.

MB1562
Thanks for the reply! I found all three of the clubs you mentioned and will add them to a list of current clubs/bars that Black Gay Friendly

but I think phillies2011

is correct that those are probably NOT predominantly black gay clubs. I will keep up my search and I thank both of you for taking the time to reply and help me out.

I agree with phillies2011, there has to be some black gay club hidden somewhere that has been around for ages as Philly is an old town with a lot of black folk in it. My grand uncles and aunts relocated to Philly in the 1920's and 30's and there was a large black community there then so??? I don't know but I will find them.

Still, I really do appreciate everybody's help and comments. They really are appreciated.

If you think of anything else, Black gay neighborhood, hang out areas...anything; Please don't hesitate to post it.

Loose Cannon I just reread your post and forgot to thank you. I will definitely check out those streets you mentioned. Back in the 80's New York's Village Voice cost a dollar everywhere except in Greenwich Village (NY's Gay Mecca at that time), down there the paper was free so...? I wonder about that also, maybe they just wanted to support the gayborhood.

[FindingZen]

Unless predominantly black gay bars advertise in the PGN or similar publications, I sense that their status is either on a "need-to-know" basis or they are non-existent. Good to know that the social scene in Washington Square West and thereabouts is diverse.