Out After Dark: LGBTQ+ Nightlife In America’s Current Political Climate
This Aug. 16, 2023, webinar was recorded. It can be viewed at the bottom of this page and on our YouTube channel.
‘Out After Dark’ was recorded Aug. 16, 2023. Our panelists discussed the importance of LGBTQ+ nightlife and how it is responding to America’s current political climate.
Eight years ago, the consensus was that gay social establishments were no longer a needed refuge.
The then-U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution guaranteed a right to same-sex marriage. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people of all colors became more visible.
Everywhere.
Immediately.
And then … well, we all know what happened in America. It would be impossible to ignore the resurgence in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, legislation, court decisions, and violence since 2015.
This web panel discusses how LGBTQ+ nightlife is responding to political dynamics in United States.
We deep insights and practical solutions, our impressive panelists tell us:
- what queer nightlife was like,
- what occurred to help “mainstream” that community’s commercially vibrant social life,
- what’s happening now to push the LGBTQ+ community back out of public view, and
- steps to take to sustain queer nightlife, set boundaries, and keep the LGBTQ+ community a safe as possible.
Let’s keep the LGBTQ+ social scene safe, inclusive, resilient, and an incubator for nightlife social and cultural innovation.
#DontBeEvil
PANELISTS
Honey Mahogany
San Francisco, CA
Honey Mahogany is an activist, politician, drag performer, and singer. She first came to national attention on the fifth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” followed by releasing her debut EP “Honey Love.” Honey was instrumental in setting up The Transgender District in San Francisco, where she served as the first director. She is also a co-owner of The Stud bar in the Mission District. In addition, Honey serves as Chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.
Eric Gonzaba, Ph.D.
Anaheim, CA
Dr. Eric Gonzaba is a historian of race and sexuality in America. Eric is Assistant Professor of American Studies at Cal State University, Fullerton, where his current research focuses on the politics of pleasure and leisure in the modern United States. Eric is also working on a book manuscript on the history and culture of gay male nightlife since 1970 and is Co-Project Director of Mapping the Gay Guides.
Emma Kaywin
Brooklyn, NY
Emma Kaywin is a sexual health educator, consultant, writer, and activist. In addition to being the Consent Co-Director at House of Yes, they develop trauma-informed policies, procedures, and training programs for nightlife communities and radical arts organizations across the U.S. East Coast. Additional details about Emma’s workshops and training programs are on 24hournation.com’s list of Consultants & Associations.
Johnny Martinez
Atlanta, GA
Johnny Martinez is the Co-Owner of Joystick Gamebar, By Weight & Measure, and Mambo Zombi in Atlanta. He likes to create spaces that encourage conversation and community. Politically active, Johnny serves on the Atlanta BeltLine Special Service District (SSD) Advisory Board as well as Georgia’s Victory Fund. He is also past vice president of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Business Association.
HOST
Randall White
Dallas, TX
A global nighttime economy advocate, Randall White is founder and host of 24HourNation, a news and information source for nighttime advocates and adventurers. He is also co-publisher of the “Murder Becomes” mystery thriller book series by Jeffrey Eaton. Over the course of his career, White has also been a political consultant, non-profit executive, and actor.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- “An alternate history of sexuality in club culture” by Luis-Manuel Garcia — Resident Advisor, January, 2014
- “Fact Sheet: Anti-LGBT+ Mobilization in the United States” — The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), November, 2022
- “Under Attack 2022: LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces National Needs Assessment” — New York City Anti-Violence Project, July, 2023
OPPORTUNITY
LGBTQ+ nightlife organizations in the following U.S. cities could connect with the nighttime economy manager to help make queer nightlife businesses and districts safer and more vibrant.
There are nighttime economy managers in:
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Boston, MA
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Iowa City, IA
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York City, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
VIDEO RECORDING