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One of the last remaining lesbian bars in the country is just two blocks east of The Cuff.
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“If I didn’t have the support of my bar and job, I def (sic) would have struggled way more than I did,” Zello said. Among those participants, 50% reported being kicked out of their home. A lot of gay people are estranged from family, so they find a sense of that in their community, which involves gay bars.”Ī National Survey conducted by The Trevor Project in 2020 found that out of 40,000 LGBTQ individuals between the ages of 13 and 24, around 11,600 have experienced homelessness or have run away due to family rejection. “They give us a safe space to be ourselves. “Gay bars are so important to the community,” he explained. Zello said that, for the most part, everyone is happy to come out and follow the rules. Alcohol consumption must end at 11 pm, with tables placed six feet apart and a maximum size of six individuals per table. Patrons are to wear face coverings while dining at all establishments. Strict adherence to all state-mandated rules is required, per the Washington State Department of Health.
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“We do have some amazing customers who have been coming out for years and are awesome and super loyal,” he explains, “but there are also the people who are coming out and acting like nothing is wrong and there is no COVID, which puts the employees at risk.” Julius Schorzman (left) and Tyler Leslie-Butti (right) stand at The Cuff Complex bar on October 8. He mentions that there has been a definite shift in the gay scene with less LGBTQ-inclusive options readily available. Kristopher Zello (who’s known as Kristie Champagne when she’s on the stage strutting her nylon-laced legs in drag) is an employee at The Cuff. “I think they are important to the community as a meeting place for people, to meet someone new, or just hang out with friends and similar faces.”Īfter four months of closure, The Cuff Complex reopened its doors under state-mandated limited hours in July. “I enjoyed going to The Cuff to just be around other community people and relax,” St Julien said. The super friendly staff just make it a comfortable place,” said Brian St Julien, who’s been a patron of The Cuff Complex for over 19 years. “It was a friendly neighborhood kind of bar where you know 90% of the people in there. An outdoor patio with tables under a large, lit canopy allows patrons to cool off outside and enjoy the chilly Seattle breeze. It features a large main floor decorated in black and white décor, fluorescent rainbow lights, disco balls, and an elevated stage for live music and karaoke. Without targeted help, many may not recover from this devastating crisis,” said Joey Burgess, owner of The Cuff Complex and Queer Bar, two of Capitol Hill’s most cherished gay bars. “Even in the best of times these businesses struggle and often disappear. That same month, orders from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee forced non-essential businesses on Capitol Hill to close their doors. By March, over 1,000 of Seattle’s King County residents had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Washington State Department of Health. On January 19, 2020, the United States reported the country’s first novel coronavirus case in Snohomish County, Washington - just 10 miles northeast of Seattle’s Capitol Hill.
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Most have now been shuttered for many months.” “They constitute a major social hub and a significant economic driver. “Prior to the pandemic, Capitol Hill was famous for its nightlife, including bars catering to the LGBTQ community,” he told The Click. Jamie Pedersen is the Washington state senator who oversees parts of Seattle, including Capitol Hill (where he also lives). | Credit: Aeryn SaintĪ walk down Capitol Hill these days reveals lonely park benches, unplugged “open” signs, and chairs stacked on top of bare restaurant tables. The neighborhood typically sees thousands of visitors each weekend, on top of its nearly 20,300 residents.Ī sign of Gay City downtown Capitol Hill. I don’t think it affected us until probably a month to three months in, when we realized that we probably will never go back to those places ever again.”Ĭapitol Hill is known for its rainbow crosswalks, gay and lesbian bars, pride parades, and historic LGBTQ businesses. “Most people in the LGBTQIA+ considered bars a better safe space than most of our own personal residences,” Bradshaw said.