As general manager, one of my main responsibilities was to handle the advertising accounts from all bars and clubs. Sure โ there were POC at just about every bar, however the bar culture echoed the city in general: the blacks kept to their bars, the whites to theirs. Personally, some of my favorite memories and best dance nights were in the bars that catered to POC.
The process was painful for me to view, because it was my first face-to-face understanding of the constant struggle my friends faced; both in the gay club scene and in life generally. I feel the main difference between then and now is the overall awareness of society in general.
Getting attention on this discrimination was a true uphill battle as many community groups were focused on trying to grasp the oncoming health pandemic. Thankfully there was Black and White Men Together, a group that really worked hard to make this issue important in the eyes of the community at large. Its members included many lesbian and gay religious groups as well as the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force.
Together they created a uniform policy for local bars. Most complied until the spotlight was turned off. Then they went back to their previous behaviors. Wilcox, Jr. The only major difference is that there is more appreciation now that we should be doing the right thing. This problem is ours. White members of the LGBT community like me bear the responsibility to correct these wrongs.
It is up to us to open our eyes and call out moments of discrimination that we witness. The only way to create a chorus of change is with everyone singing, loud and proud. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. Thoughtful essays, commentaries, and opinions on current events, ideas, and life in the Philadelphia region. Lawnside community holds vigil to shine light on love in the face of hate incident.
