In 1998, music producer Shep Pettibone bought the then-vacant Empress Hotel in Asbury Park he opened the nightclub Paradise on the premises in 1999, and reopened the hotel in 2005. Some of these safe spaces have been around for decades. Shangela teaches America drag power: 'Heads will turn and hopefully hearts will open “Straight people have almost everywhere in the world to find each other, but for the LGBTQ community, those places are limited to bars and community centers and organized support groups," said Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Asbury Park-based education and advocacy organization Garden State Equality. "So it’s very important that all LGBTQ establishments get through this pandemic so that they’re here on the other side for our community to continue to thrive in safe spaces.” Like, they didn’t have that safe spot to go anymore.” So I think that had a lot to do with people’s peace of mind. They don’t have a good home life, sometimes work doesn’t accept them.”Ĭole said Georgie’s, like fellow Asbury Park spots Paradise and Hotel Tides, is “a place where a gay person or trans (people), anyone, can go without being judged and they always feel welcome and they always feel like they can be safe here. “But especially for the LGBT community, a lot of people were disowned by their family. “I know a lot of people deal with health issues and mental issues, anxiety, depression,” said Joe Cole, general manager of Georgie’s in Asbury Park. While businesses have started to re-open for outdoor or take-out service, concern over an uncertain future remains. View Gallery: Paradise Pool heats up social scene in COVID-19 times Losing your job overnight: How NJ's LGBTQ community is affected by the coronavirus
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Julius’ is representative of the oldest gay bar in the city and these spaces need to be saved, need to be nurtured and need to be supported at this time.” "Julius’ is more than a whiskey and a burger," said Byrnes. "Julius’ is its history. "These safe spaces, these warm spaces, these welcoming spaces to the LGBT community, to the queer community, become really important spots in our lives," said Brendan Byrnes of Manhattan who, along with his husband Stephen Cabral, is a longtime patron of Julius' Bar in Greenwich Village. When their clubs were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March, those spaces were lost. Watch Video: Club Feathers at risk of closingīars that cater to members of the LGBTQ community are not just bars: they serve as community hubs and safe spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer folks.Īrea LGBTQ bar owners and community members said that again and again during recent interviews.