In the Guardian Today

[LuluBlakey1]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/27/first-edition-pride-queer-nightlife-london?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I have a view about both the article and The Guardian, I wondered what anyone else thinks.

well these "queer" spaces aren't gay and lesbian places anymore, are they? They're for the pansexuals, the asexuals, transwomen and anyone who uses the queer label to other themselves into a special club. Like my daughter's friend who is a trans woman, having a relationship with a trans man. One is biologically male and the other female. In old terms you'd just say they were a pair of boring straights. But nope, they're queer apparently. 🙄

What's your view on it? It just seemed a bit ambiguous to me - are these spaces on the decline or not, because the second person didn't seem to think so. As for rent making various businesses less feasible, it happens everywhere.

🥱 when I read the Q word so I didn’t get past the introductory paragraph.

The rewriting of history is so sinister...
"...just how healthy are today’s queer venues?"
Implying that there were 'queer venues' in the past. There were no 'queer venues'. Gay people didn't want to be called queer, it's a slur.
"...has been an almost inescapable part of LGBTQ+ life since it opened in December 1979"
I used to go to Heaven nightclub in the late 80's; I don't remember seeing any TQ+ people there!

My daughter also has friends like this. It's odd and she agrees with me.

I wonder why lgb clubs are going underground again 🤔

I can get past the headline, 'Pride is nearly over'? Yeah, right!

It's never bloody over! We go from one day/month of celebration straight into another one. Yesterday I was in London and I saw a rainbow painted digger! Then I walked past John Lewis on Oxford Street, which is decorated with a rainbow stripe all around it. And I'd deliberately avoided Regent Street!

Pride seem to have vomited on the front of a nearby Waitrose, no idea what they're doing inside...🤔😳. But nothing in Tesco bar a few gnomes, which I think they've been trying to sell since last year, and a lackluster, recorded announcement with a few empty words about acceptance.

Tesco online shopping is draped with the flag of vomit. Rainbow is absolutely fine, though a bit obtrusive after a while. Shove those extra Moselyesque colours on the end and it makes my lip curl.

Yes,we get the announcement in our Tesco and an 'everyone is welcome' cardboard sign that they drag out every year.

When was anybody not welcome in Tesco? When did Tesco ever monitor the alphabet credentials of everyone coming through their doors? These big corporations make themselves look so stupid.

We all know that once Waitrose, M&S et al are milking a cash cow, that cow has long been drained of anything useful to the people it was originally supposed to feed.

I read the article and a few things struck me:

The Guardian cares little about spaces for women being closed/taken over.

It is an example of how London-centric The Guardian can be in articles about Britain.

I just don't understand why this is a national broadsheet article right now. It's 'narrow' news and published for political stance rather than because it is important or matters much to many people.

The same with me. If I see LGBTQ+ I see something unrecognisable, false and nonexistent.

Tell what exactly is meant from among all that, then talk about it.

Indeed,I doubt anyone's debit card has ever been rejected on the basis of their sexuality.

British Jewish people and British Moslem people are being attacked and vilified over things happening in other countries thousands of miles away. Where are the flags of acceptance showing that they wool be safe shopping at Tescos?

No. It’s all about the spondulicks.

This just reads like someone of a certain age mourning the venues they used to go to, tbh.

I’m sure the same article could be written about a whole bunch of mainstream venues which have shut down, are struggling financially and/or have been replaced with more niche events or warehouses on the outskirts.

The whole “death of queer culture” angle is a massive red herring.

I was replying to @WickedSerious but very fair point, @JellySaurus . I think the big corporations steer clear of current, controversial political issues not realising that in urging us to eat their rainbow sandwiches 🤮 they are actually involving themselves in a very hot topic and pissing off many members of their core demographic 🤦‍♀️

Subtle and terrifying

It's no surprise that the Guardian can only write through the lense of an 'oppressed marginalised group' but the truth is that - according to this article:

Between March 2020 and June 2023, Britian lost 30% of its nightclubs
The independent sector has been worst hit, 33% of independent nightclubs now gone
The nightclub sector is half the size it was ten years ago

So of course gay and lesbian clubs have declined - in line with 'hetrosexual straight' nightclubs but they only notice or comment when loosing our 'cultural heratige' applies to their favoured sub group.
You could argue that a capital city is well served and choice will always be available but working class towns out side of London where average run of the mill clubs are all closing will have much more impact on peoples lives.

www.ndml.co.uk/articles/how-many-bars-and-clubs-closed-last-year/

Being priced out of locations isn't reserved for gay clubs etc. It affects all businesses. There's nothing about the businesses featured here that mean they require special treatment. They're businesses. Market yourselves. Find new sources of income. Offer something unique that brings in customers. Being "queer", whatever the loving eff that means, is irrelevant. You're running a business. Sink or swim.

Indeed. And scary that they even need to.