“The gay clubs are it”: An analysis of straight women’s motivations for frequenting gay bars

The question of whether straight individuals belong in gay bars has long been a topic of debate. But why do straight cisgender women go to gay bars in the first place? Through qualitative semi-structured interviews, I analyze women’s motivations for frequenting gay bars in Canada and the United States. My findings show that straight cisgender women go to gay bars to pursue safety and joy—and that these motivations are complicated by reflections on belonging in a space that was not made for them. Decisions to frequent gay bars were positioned as a better alternative to straight bars which were described as dangerous or boring. More generally, this study offers new insights about group boundaries and safety in nightlife spaces.