Visiting a Gay Bar Before Your Wedding
Forming a union with your partner through marriage is a lovely way to take your relationship to the next level. People have worked tirelessly over the decades to ensure that LGBTQ individuals have the same rights and freedoms as all other citizens. By getting married, you are taking advantage of an opportunity that people in the past were not able to take. Before the date arrives, you and your partner might want to enjoy the luxuries of single life a bit more. One great way to achieve this is by heading out to the bar with friends for a night of dancing. Visiting a gay bar before your wedding can be a wonderful way to achieve this goal. If you are planning on hitting the local gay club with people who have never been to such an establishment before, you should consider some basic rules of etiquette.
Entering the Space
You might be gay, but that does not mean that the people closest to you have the first clue about how to act or behave while in a gay bar. Unlike a typical bar, a gay bar is a place where LGBTQ individuals go to mix and mingle and feel safe while doing so. It is considered a safe space to many people, especially because these bars and clubs were created with the express purpose of giving gay, lesbian, and transgendered people a place to go to cut loose and feel comfortable dancing with the people they love.
Showing proper respect should be one of the top priorities of anyone entering the club with you. All people are welcome at these bars and clubs, but it is important to remember etiquette. Make sure that your friends and family members are not going to stare, ask rude questions, or try to act as if the space is their own. You’re encouraged to dance and drink, but straight people in a gay bar need to always remember that they are guests in someone else’s space and to behave accordingly. This will help to keep the night fun and free of drama.
Straight Bachelorette Parties
If you are straight and planning on holding your bachelorette party at a gay bar, then you need to take a step back and think about your decision. Patrons might find it rude when you go to party at a gay bar but no one in your group is gay. You‘re entering a safe space and making it your own, something incredibly offensive to many members of the LGBTQ community. Sexuality is not a gimmick, and having your bachelorette party there can send a trivializing message to others.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with groups of straight people coming to a gay bar. Members of the LGBTQ community encourage this for many reasons. What is wrong is going to this type of bar with people who are not gay for the express purpose of “watching the wildlife.” Remember to respect the space and the people in it before finalizing your plans to go dancing at the local gay bar.
Keeping Things Light
Visiting a gay bar before your wedding can be an amazing way for you to connect with family and friends in a place where you are most comfortable. To have a truly enjoyable experience, be sure to familiarize your non-LGBTQ friends and associates with what to expect and how to behave in the bar. Keeping everyone on the same page can help you to have a truly unforgettable experience before you finally tie the knot with the person you love.
