Picture it: the Marina, 2000, a club called Trap Door playing goofy throwback hip-hop, shirty dudes and "woo" girls playing the heter-mating game with hetero-abando.
In strut a gaggle of rough and ready queers, me included, part of Guerilla Queer Bar, to shake things up and sprinkle a little unicorn rainbow dust (and wig hair) on the proceedings. Web 1.0 was in full effect, queers were losing their spaces, and so we wanted to "take it back" by invading "straight" neighborhoods and wreaking a little lavender havoc -- you know, to even things out and have fun. It was kind of the original flashmob, spread only by the limited social media of the time (i.e. email listservs).
And that's when the shiny-cuffed bro pulled out a $20 and told me to make out with his roommate so he and his friends could watch. "We've never seen two guys make out in real life!" he said. I didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted, but damn right I took his money stright up, and cultural experiences were shared all 'round.
Now, just in time for Folsom frolicking (most of it restricted to Soma), GQB is back, but in a much more global-reaching form called "Pop-Up Gay Bar," still intending to challenge assumptions gay and straight in unexpected neighborhoods, while downing some yummy cocktails and making new friends. The next one will take place tomorrow, Fri/21 -- sign up at the link above to get the details! Let's take some queer leather and love to the normals.