Should Boulder open a gay bar? Members of newly founded Proposition Gay said it’s not necessary in a place as accepting as Boulder.
Proposition Gay is an LGBT organization taking over a bar once a month to raise awareness for the LGBT community, according to their Web site. Last month the group held a Halloween party at Catacombs on Oct. 30.
Mathew Sommers, a senior ecology and evolutionary biology major, founded Proposition Gay in June. Sommers said Proposition Gay is not trying to advocate or push for gay bars in Boulder.
“Rather, our purpose is to integrate into the community and raise awareness,” Sommers said.
Camren Von Davis, a webmaster for the online video community Viva Peace, does the web design and management for PropGay. He said he has no interest in Boulder implementing a gay bar.
“Some of the people involved with PropGay may feel differently, but I think we all agree that PropGay is not about advocating for a new gay bar,” Von Davis said. “Our interest is in taking over bars, not starting one.”
Von Davis said he thinks a gay bar is unnecessary because the LGBT community is so accepted in Boulder, not judged, and seen as totally legitimate citizens.
“We are all comfortable going to non-gay bars where…the environment is basically neutral to our sexuality—as it should be,” Von Davis said. “I think gay bars serve a purpose in places where general acceptance we experience in Boulder doesn’t exist.”
Sommers said he does think gay bars are an important part of the LGBT Community.
“Gay bars provide a place for the community to gather, network and feel comfortable with their sexuality,” Sommers said, “and not to mention, have a blast!”
Many current and former students of CU seem to not care one way or the other.
“I’m indifferent to a gay bar, or bars, being opened in Boulder just as I am indifferent to Boulder opening the circus or a kickboxing gym,” said Sean Doherty, a CU alum who graduated in 2005 with business administration and sociology degrees. “If entrepreneurs find a business to be profitable, then the City of Boulder, in [its] political capacity, should get out of the way of said business.”
Colby Kamin, a freshman marketing major, said he agreed.
“I really couldn’t care less one way or the other, and no, I wouldn’t go to [a gay bar],” Kamin said.
Leonardo Labriola, a sophomore international affairs major, also had a “live and let live” take on opening a gay bar in Boulder.
“If they opened [a gay bar] I wouldn’t go but I wouldn’t protest it,” Labriola said. “I really don’t have an opinion about whether or not there is a gay bar here in Boulder.”
MaryPat Cullen, a gallery manager at Naropa University, is a member of PropGay. She said not having a gay bar in Boulder might be a mixed blessing.
“When groups are segregated, it’s easier for people to think that the ‘others’ don’t exist or are in a very small minority,” Cullen said. “On the other hand, I’m sure a lot of people would like for there to be a place where they can go and socialize without worrying about being judged or harassed.”
Cullen said she thinks PropGay has filled the gap in Boulder left by a lack of gay bars.
“I think it would be great if all kinds of people were welcome everywhere and there was no need [for a gay bar],” Cullen said. “By having large groups of gays and allies all patronizing a chosen ‘straight’ establishment every month, I think that PropGay may be creating an opening for that.”
Sommers said the bars have all responded very positively to PropGay.
“We’ve received invites from many local bars and words of support,” Sommers said. “As for now, there have been no acts of violence or bigotry.”
Von Davis said he agreed, adding there has been huge support from nearly everyone involved or affected by the PropGay events.
“The last two venues, Tahona and Catacombs, showed great appreciation for us having PropGay at their establishments,” Von Davis said.
Patterson, who is also a member of PropGay, said he agrees the bar events were successful.
“The fact that we have had no problems with [or] at the bars we’ve descended on is an affirmation for me that Boulder is a great place to live, gay bar or not,” Patterson said.
The organization runs monthly events, which Sommers said always have impressive turnouts.
“We’re been growing substantially each month,” Sommers said. “We’ve only been around for five months but our last event had approximately 250 people in attendance.”
However, Sommers said those numbers may not be enough to open a bar for the LGBT community.
“The LGBT community is relatively large in Boulder, but maybe not large enough to exclusively support a bar,” Sommers said. “However, I believe given an appropriate bar with a good location and management, it could be successful.”
Von Davis similarly said there is not enough demand in Boulder for a bar.
“I’m sure that’s why the last gay bar in Boulder closed,” Von Davis said. “Even Boulder establishments like the Foundry are closing. It’s a hard market.”
With or without a gay bar in Boulder, he said the PropGay events are a fun way for the community to come together.
“The support of our friends, the fun that the bars have, the good time that is palpable—that brings a basic awareness to the larger community that gays aren’t so bad,” Von Davis said. “In fact, they can be great people, and maybe, just maybe we should have equal rights.”
PropGay’s next event will be on Nov. 27 at 10:00 p.m. in a to-be-determined location.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Julie Ryan at Ryanja@colorado.edu.
