It was also great because it was really, really a gay night. I love a gay dance party when it's just the gays and the cool kids because it reminds of what a trip to the gay bar used to be like. There have always been straight women, and sometimes straight men, but they were always there as part of the party, not to co-opt the party. One of the trade-offs with gay mainstreaming is now the gay world is more accessible to more straight people, so you sometimes get a phenomenon like Boystown in Chicago, the bachelorette party capital of the Midwest. Where it isn't about having fun in the context of a gay scene, it's about the novelty of the gay scene. No, really, I'm not super-fun and I DON'T want to do body shots off the bride-to-be, I just want to check out the gay eye candy. Plus seriously, until gay people can get married don't you find it a little cavalier bringing drunk wedding hijinx into a gay bar?
Or to frame it locally - one of the first times I went to Macho City I heard a couple straight folks talk a bit incredulously that there was a guy giving another guy oral pleasure against the pool table. It's a gay leather bar, you were expecting hopscotch? One of the last times I went there were two hipster-glam straight girls making out on that same pool table, which just struck me as a terribly desperate cry for attention. You're at a gay bar, ladies, so for once, it isn't about you. Hang out, be cool and just have fun, mkay?
Of course Temple Bar isn't technically a gay bar, so I probably feel less defensive about any and all sorts showing up. As long as Mike Trombley is spinning awesome music and Robert is running around the dancefloor offering poppers to everyone, I'm good. And I can't wait for next time!
In other news, the Doggy Style countdown has begun! We're about six weeks out from Opening Day, so crawl out of your hole one of these Tuesdays and enjoy Detroit's best gay-er night before it's gone for the season. Tonight will be extra fun because a whole slew of unsuspecting Guns 'n' Roses fans will stumble in after the show and enjoy some Abba or Limahl or Angela Lansbury with their nightcap.
So, perhaps we will see you tonight at the Park Bar for some Mardis Gras fun? And don't worry, we are respectful and all about having fun in the context of the straight scene, because really, what novelty is left? Kidding!
