Even more than white gays, who have slowly begun to find wider acceptance in the mainstream, LGBT people of colour have faced struggle beyond comprehension.
More than simply a breeding ground for the latest music and fashion, clubs have been a necessary part of gay life for the black and latino communities. More recently, Ariana Grande traded the stage at Saturday Night Live for NYC’s BPM. Many pop stars got their start either being played in or performing the gay club circuit: Lady Gaga, Grace Jones, Cakes Da Killa. Purveyors of the early music scene like DJs Grasso and Nicky Siano to Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles helped to shepherd music through the disco-drenched dance floors of gay clubs. Through the years, gay clubs have gone from disco-fuelled pit stops to petri dishes for cultivating mainstream popular culture. Over the thumping bass pouring out of the speakers, as you wade past the occasional bouncing ass or the powder-beat mug of a drag queen, you’ll soon notice that to some, gay night clubs are more than a spot for a fun night out or even a safe space – this is church.
