Boston gay bars poc
And there’s something to be said for the fact that straight bar and restaurant goers are so attracted by aspects of the gay lifestyle that these drag clubs have become destinations.īut as Stafford points out - and Eater’s Meghan McCarron confirms in a later interview in the episode - something gets lost when these spaces disappear and evolve. Part of the change is positive, in that gay lifestyle and culture is so readily accepted now, so part of the mainstream, that the gay community doesn’t need carved out spaces in order to feel safe, meet one another, or be themselves. They like to think of the drag queens, and RuPaul’s Drag Race.” These days, people don’t like to think about that as much. “Because we didn’t have a lot of public spaces, people would use bars to do everything from meet a boyfriend or girlfriend to kind of think about the revolution. and just kind of a party all the time, and historically that’s been true, but they’ve also been sites of incredible resistance,” Stafford told us. “People like to think of gay bars to be just drag clubs. Others are simply pushed out by the rising prices that a now-affluent and now-established gay community has wrought. Many bars amp up the camp factor to bring in tourists and transition into entertainment spaces. Upsell co-host Dan Geneen and I spoke with Stafford to discuss the launch of an Eater documentary he starred in called Boystown, in which he explores the changing hospitality industry in America’s oldest gayborhood. Many blame dating apps as the digital access to potential partners obviates the need for in-real-life flirting and, as Stafford notes on this week’s episode of the Eater Upsell podcast, “People can make any space through the apps a gay bar, a gay club, and you kind of now understand that gay people are everywhere.”Īlso changing gay bars as we know them across the country: gentrification and a pressure to cater to straight audiences and sell them caricatures of what pop culture says a gay bar should be. Members of Congress have been told by authorities that Mateen appears to have made some sort of pledge of allegiance to ISIS, reports CBS News Correspondent Jeff Pegues.A confluence of factors contribute to the rapid disappearance of gay bars and queer spaces across America, according to Zach Stafford, editor-in-chief of Grindr’s magazine INTO.
He also mentioned the Tsarnaev brothers, the men who ignited explosives at the 2013 Boston Marathon.Īlthough some Twitter accounts linked to the terror group ISIS have described Mateen as a hero, the group has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
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He identified himself to the 911 operator giving his full name, according to the source. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends, families and people affected by this unspeakable tragedy.Ī law enforcement official confirmed to Milton that Mateen called 911 and declared his allegiance to ISIS. We are cooperating fully with all law enforcement authorities, including the FBI, as they conduct their investigation. We can confirm that Omar Mateen had been employed with G4S since September 10, 2007.
The company, G4S, released a statement Sunday afternoon: We are shocked and saddened by the tragic event that occurred at the Orlando nightclub. The Muslim community of Fort Pierce joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence.Ī security company has confirmed that Orlando shooting suspect Mateen was employed as a guard before he allegedly killed 50 and wounded 53 early Sunday. We condemn this monstrous attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured. The mosque condemned the attack in a statement released Sunday afternoon: Pierce, Florida, confirmed to CBS News that Mateen, 29, has worshiped at the facility regularly for several years. Staff at the Islamic Center, a mosque in Ft. He said the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism and that no effort will be spared to determine whether the shooter was affiliated with terrorist groups. President Barack Obama said at a press conference Sunday that the shooting was an "act of terror" and an "act of hate." A law enforcement official has confirmed to CBS news senior investigative producer Pat Milton that shooting suspect Mateen made the Hajj, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in March 2012.