The Victorian-themed Tin Lizzie Saloon, which has origins dating back to the 1950s according to their website, is one of the oldest queer bars in Orange County. Gavin Newsom made his shelter-in-place announcement, the business set up a GoFundMe to raise money for its staff, many of whom will be unemployed for an indefinite amount of time.Īccording to Strut Bar’s GoFundMe page, the $10,000 it hopes to raise will be distributed evenly among the club’s 26 staff members to help them support their families until the sanctions are lifted.īut Strut Bar & Club isn’t the only LGBTQ+ bar asking for financial support from the community. Closing after only a few months of business means the owneres likely will not have enough reserve capital to open its doors again if they are not able to open for business anytime soon. It has been popular since it opened its doors in September of 2019. Strut Bar and Club is a newly opened gay bar in Costa Mesa.
![gay bars orange county ca gay bars orange county ca](https://i0.wp.com/www.gayla4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/falcon-long-beach.jpg)
But the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the health of many LGBTQ+ businesses.
![gay bars orange county ca gay bars orange county ca](https://i0.wp.com/www.gayla4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Tin-Lizzie.jpg)
Life has become progressively better for the queer community in Orange County as local attitudes have changed. Wilber affirms that queer businesses have a history of struggling to stay alive in Orange County, but also said there is a queer community that supports these establishments, regardless of the political climate or challenge. “We would sometimes drive to Long Beach because they tended to be much more open and liberal,” Wilber said. “It was like living our life as a political statement,” Wilber said.Īt the time, Wilber felt that gay businesses would have had a better chance at surviving outside of Orange County because queer folks in cities such as Laguna Beach were closeted. The two lived as an openly gay couple in a conservative area. Stuart Wilber and his husband John Breitweiser came to Orange County in the late ’80s and settled in San Clemente for seven years during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Though times have changed, the effects of COVID-19 regulations on restaurants and bars is reminiscent of the difficulties faced by the queer community and its businesses in Orange County during the 1980s. Please, click here to make a tax-deductible donation today to support your local news. All-Inclusive LGBTQ+ Bars and Clubs Face New Challenges Amid Coronavirus CloseĪll-inclusive bars and clubs in Orange County have fought for years to establish a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, but the coronavirus pandemic has made it clear that their battle is far from over as businesses throughout the county are forced to temporarily close their doors.Įditor’s Note: As Orange County’s only nonprofit & nonpartisan newsroom, Voice of OC brings you the best, most comprehensive local Coronavirus news absolutely free.