Gay bar hayward ca
HAYWARD — It certainly was not Joeanne Pepperell’s intention to banish local lgbtq+ barflies when she took over Club Rumor late last year.
But as she changed the Main Lane venue’s vibe and renamed it the Funky Monkey, many gay male regulars fled and a new crowd settled in.
“I still have some of Rumor’s clientele, but not as much as I would have liked to have kept,” Pepperell said. “A lot of people don’t like change.”
What’s gone: go-go boys and drag queen bingo. What’s in: darts, pool leagues and rock’n’ roll karaoke.
Gradually over the past 15 years or so, the formerly gay-oriented downtown Hayward block scene has been getting straighter. Or, as some lock owners say, it has become harder to distinguish a gay-specific bar from one that welcomes everyone.
“I have everything from police officers to straight people, gaypeople, construction workers,” Pepperell said of her revamped bar. “It’s mixed, it’s pleasant, it’s different. I think it’s the way it should be.”
Pepperell, a 38-year-old Hayward native, is a veteran of the local bar scene and
(credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the top spots in the world for lgbtq+ bars. With no shortage of options, the LGBT collective can choose to hang out in environments that range from an outdoor tiki patio to all the bells-and-whistles drag shows. Here are 5 of the best homosexual bars around the bay. For some San Francisco-centric spots, see here.
501 W. Taylor St.
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 275-9902
www.renegadesbar.com
Renegades Bar is the south bay gay bar at which to chill out and relish a relaxing hour with friends. Unlike many clubs in the city, Renegades is not a nightclub, and many night patrons can be found kicking back and enjoying drinks without the pressure to move. Staff and patrons are friendly to all, and there is a monthly drag show, as well as a men's-only underwear exhibition. For those post-drinking munchies, locals rave about the Tacomania truck just across the street from Renegades.
Related: Everything LGBT - cbssf.com/lgbt
43 6th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 896-6473
www.clubomgsf.com
Club OMG! is a hopping connected located on the outskirts of the SoMa district. In addition to drinking and dancing, th
HAYWARD — In the 1980s, this city had eight lgbtq+ bars; now the last one, the Turf Club, has evolved into an outdoor live tune venue and neighborhood gathering space.
“We’ve gotten rid of the labels. It’s no longer a male lover bar; it’s a community exclude with live music,” owner Larry Gray said last week.
Gray transformed a parking lot into a landscaped patio with trees and plants, a Tiki bar, a stage and a pond with koi, goldfish and five turtles.
“We’re trying to bring live tune back into Hayward, making Hayward a destination,” Gray said.
There’s no longer a need for homosexual bars, which were safe places to meet, get information and raise money for political causes, he said.
“The laws have changed, and people’s attitudes toward homosexual people have changed,” Gray said. “Straight people love coming in and seeing the live harmony. Knowing it’s gay-owned and -operated has no effect. It’s free and open, blending straight and gay people into a peaceful situation, drawn by the music.”
Musician Kaye Bohler and her eight-piece band perform at the Turf Club on downtown Main Road about once a mon
Hayward, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – In this city just 26 miles east of San Francisco, there were eight gay bars in the 1980’s. Now, Hayward’s last gay club standing, the Turf Club, has converted into an outdoor live music venue and neighborhood gathering space.
“We’ve gotten rid of the labels. It’s no longer a same-sex attracted bar; it’s a people bar with live music,” owner Larry Gray said last week. He added, “There’s no longer a need for gay bars, which were safe places to meet, get knowledge and raise money for political causes.”
Twenty seven miles south of Hayward, another city — San Jose — is experiencing a similar phenomenon. San Jose didn’t have as many gay bars to kickoff with, but two of its gay clubs secure their doors permanently in the last couple of years — Brix Nightclub and Tinker’s Damn. Only three San Jose same-sex attracted bars remain open: Splash, Renegades and Mac’s.
Last week, The Adobo Chronicles reported that a new government review shows that the U.S. gay population is shrinking. Could it be that gay bars are also becoming a diminishing breed?
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