In the United Kingdom and the Netherlands gay bars were established throughout the first quarter of the 20th century. In Cannes, France, such a bar had already opened in 1885, and there were many more in Berlin around 1900. It is not clear which place is the first gay bar in the modern sense. The site was the scene of alleged gay marriages carried out by the Reverend John Church. The raid led to the executions of John Hepburn and Thomas White for sodomy.
The White Swan (created by James Cook and Yardley, full name unknown), on Vere Street, in London, England, was raided in 1810 during the so-called Vere Street Coterie. Reports from as early as the 17th century record the existence of bars and clubs that catered to, or at least tolerated, openly gay clientele in several major European cities. Gathering places favoured by homosexuals have operated for centuries. No matter how you slice it, it’s racist.The Mixei nightclub in Tammela, Tampere, is the oldest, still operating gay bar in Finland, having first opened its doors in 1990. You can’t say you prefer one race of people as romantic partners, or anything really, to another because all of the people who belong to one race are not the same. Yes, people like what they like but sometimes the things people like are racist, like lawn jockeys or the current president of the United States. I’ll put aside the fact that broadcasting your distaste for an entire race, or multiple races, in the year 2017 is really dumb in addition to being racist as fuck, and just challenge the reasoning here head on. Almost as if it’s a magic phrase that just kind of ends the conversation and absolves you of your bullshit. Can’t change that.” I’ve heard that excuse, or some iteration of it, used many times. That’s fine and to make you feel more heard I’ll even repeat the most common point used to counter my argument ― “but people like what they like. I should point out that I’ve had this conversation with more than a couple of white gays in person and here is where the debate usually begins, so I’m going to assume that you’re rolling your eyes at me right about now. But you may want to take my words to heart if you’d like to live up to those progressive memes you share on Facebook all the time. There’s only one capital H-i-m and it’s not me. As a black man within the gay community, I recognize that shit all the time and have a few points I’d like to discuss with you.
As a result, there are often times when you don’t recognize when your behavior towards people of color veers into problematic territory. the world, you must admit, you have no clue what it means to be racially discriminated against. You mean well when it comes to race relations but, as a white man in. You’re good guys, I know this to be true. I’m talking to you ― the cisgendered, white, gay men out there who hold no ill will towards minorities (especially black and brown ones) but somehow have never found themselves in bed with one. I’ve never been one to throw that word around casually and even though I’m sure there are some that word would fit like a glove, I’m not talking to them.
Before I begin, I want you to understand that I’m not calling all of you racist.