On Pride Day, Burlington’s Nectar’s hosted the first official “Bear” event, the Burly Bear Beer Blast. No wonder straight bars are redefining themselves as spaces where it’s safe to be openly queer. Numerous hate crimes against individuals have been reported.
In May, vandals threw bricks through four windows at R.U.1.2?, the gay community center in Burlington. In February, conservative Vermont radio host Paul Beaudry launched a weeks-long diatribe against Outright Vermont, the queer youth advocacy group, for bringing its anti-bullying presentation to Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton.
A recent spate of anti-gay incidents in the region may offer the most compelling argument that such a space is still vital to the community. Some have called it the one place queers can go, be themselves and feel safe. The bar has always been the epicenter of gay culture. “People are definitely saying, ‘What the hell! Will someone please open a gay bar!’” he says. Lipenski and Antara are also responsible for the “Cirque du So Gay” pride party at Higher Ground, which attracted more than 700 people.ĭespite the success of these events, Lipenski and his party patrons want a true gay bar in town again. He’s behind the “1/2-Cocked” queer parties at 1/2 Lounge, and co-organizes the First Fridays for lesbians and their friends at Higher Ground with local musician Antara. Shawn Lipenski is the health-and-wellness program director for R.U.1.2? Community Center and a queer event organizer. Some say this assimilation into the mainstream clubs means progress.Īt first glance, it’s enough to make a queer all warm and fuzzy inside: straight clubs welcoming displaced gay patrons with open arms. In the absence of 135 Pearl - or Pearl’s, as many still call it - local straight clubs such as Higher Ground, Nectar’s, The Green Room and 1/2 Lounge all hosted Pride events this year. On July 7, the Vermont queer community celebrated its 25th Pride Day in Burlington.
The Rainbow Cattle Company outside Brattleboro had closed a few years earlier. Weeks earlier, Shooka Dooka’s in Rutland lost its lease and shut down. The venerable 135 Pearl in Burlington closed in the spring of 2006.
IATA airport code is LEB.Ah, Vermont, land of the civil union, bluest of the blue states, where gay people flock to raise families and transgendered people are now protected from discrimination.īut if there’s a queer bar left in the state, someone should ask it to please come out of the closet.Īfter years of struggling for equality - and, some say, for assimilation - the Vermont gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community (GLBT) finds itself at a cultural crossroads, asking: Has the gay bar become unnecessary here? Lebanon Municipal Airport (New Hampshire) is located approximately 33.5 miles / 53.9 kilometers east of Rutland and about 42.3 miles / 68.1 kilometers west of Laconia. Lebanon Municipal Airport (New Hampshire) (LEB)ĭistance from Lebanon Municipal Airport (New Hampshire) to Middlebury (village) is 50.9 miles / 81.9 kilometers. Plattsburgh International Airport is located approximately 3.4 miles / 5.5 kilometers south of Plattsburgh and about 17.4 miles / 28.0 kilometers northwest of Colchester. Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG)ĭistance from Plattsburgh International Airport to Middlebury (village) is 46.4 miles / 74.6 kilometers. Rutland–Southern Vermont Regional Airport is located approximately 5.7 miles / 9.2 kilometers south of Rutland and about 34.9 miles / 56.2 kilometers east of Queensbury. Rutland–Southern Vermont Regional Airport (RUT)ĭistance from Rutland–Southern Vermont Regional Airport to Middlebury (village) is 35.4 miles / 56.9 kilometers.