Gay clubs in greensboro

By Jackson Mc Cutcheon

Over the past half-century, gay bars and clubs have been crucial social hubs for the LGBTQ+ community. These venues fostered self-discovery, exploration, and thriving communities, enabling connections and forging bonds among like-minded individuals. From World War II to the advent of social media, a night out served as a steadfast, central gathering place for those identifying as gay or queer. Though advancements surged in metropolitan areas during the New Deal years, the Cold War's Lavender Scare cast a shadow, even in these social spaces, bringing surveillance and oppression. "Several eateries, clubs, and other establishments rely heavily on this clientele of sexual deviants," stated Congressman Arthur L. Miller, questioning how many governmental secrets might be revealed by the tolerance of "perverts and bottle clubs in the District of Columbia." [1] Following the Stonewall riots, the 1970s and 1980s witnessed a significant increase in the acceptance and popularity of gay nightlife, establishing it as a cornerstone of LGBT subculture. [2]

The need for such spaces and communal connection is paramount in all settings, as evident in Washington, D.C., and Denver (CO). However, this essentiality is undoubtedly magnified in more conservative regions of the United States, specifically the Southeast, or "Bible Belt." Despite advancements in the 1970s and 1980s, Greensboro (N.C.) and other major North Carolina cities required social havens just as much as any other demographic group. This need was starkly demonstrated by police actions at a rest area in Greensboro (1983), a mall in Raleigh (1985), and a Charlotte park as late as 1987. [3]

This article documents and summarizes Greensboro (N.C.)'s and other locales' gay bars and clubs, drawing upon available documentation from the Pride! Of the Community oral history project. [4] These establishments in Greensboro are commonly described as uniform, due to the limited number of bars and a lack of varied or specified niche offerings. [5]

Davey's Bar

Davey's, a smaller bar and club, was situated at 723 Kenilworth Street on the UNCG campus (now the site of the UNCG Human Resources office). Jeff Rainey, a participant in the Pride! Of the Community project, described his 1977 experience at Davey's as a 18-year-old: "The doorman terrified me. He was the first flamboyant individual I had ever encountered. It was a leather daddy atmosphere. A shock, truly a first." Rainey further recalled, "...it was a dive, but its sunken dance floor was unique, a contained space unlike anything else at the time." [6]

The Palms

Originally located at 209 West Bellemeade Street in Greensboro, The Palms relocated in the early 1980s to 413 N Eugene Street, now part of First National Bank Field, downtown. Known for its "local clientele," the jukebox joint was open seven days a week. The Palms had a substantial lesbian presence, more so than other LGBTQ+ establishments in Greensboro. Owned and operated by "Joyce the Bartender," The Palms, open seven days a week, was noted for its laid-back and less intense atmosphere, compared to other venues, and an older crowd. The Palms operated from 1980 through 2004.

Wham!

Located at 1011 Arnold Street (now Boston's House of Jazz), Wham! presented a more vibrant atmosphere than The Palms or Davey's. A light-up dance floor and disco music drew a younger, more outgoing crowd. Rainey described it as a place frequented by more 'glamorous' members of the gay community. Wham! was primarily a gay male venue, but straight female friends of the male patrons were also present.

Busby's

Initially at 2507 High Point Rd (now West Gate City Boulevard) and later on Bellemeade Street near First National Bank Field, Busby's was perceived as the most "grungy" bar, a "dive" by numerous Pride! Of the Community interviewees. With limited seating, patrons frequently sat on empty beer cases. Owned by Randall Busby, the location at 330 Bellemeade Street, near a gay cruising area, operated from 1986 to 1990, followed by Time Out, another LGBTQ+ bar, which is no longer in operation.

X.T.C.

Located at 2519 High Point Rd (now West Gate City Boulevard), XTC, owned by Liz Hamilton (formerly of Wham! and Encore), introduced a successful Tuesday night drag show, a pioneering concept that later attracted attention at the Palms. Large Friday night crowds were also typical. XTC operated from 1986 to 1990.

Encore

The successor to Wham!, Encore occupied the 1011 Arnold Street location from 1982 to 1991. Encore remained open until 4 a.m., a late closing by state standards which permitted the serving of alcohol until 2 a.m. Preceding Wham! and Encore, the building hosted a beach-music club, The Castaways.

Others

Several Greensboro establishments in the 1980s and 1990s, while not exclusively "gay bars," welcomed all and attracted a significant LGBTQ+ clientele. Examples include Babylon, The Edge, and even New York Pizza.

Babylon, established by DJs Ed Bronson and Don Black, was arguably Greensboro's most popular club in the early 1990s, renowned for its Friday night raves. Unfortunately, the tragic murder of Ed LeBrun, another DJ at Babylon, led to public scrutiny and the subsequent seizure of its alcohol license in 2000. [9] Babylon is notable for its remaining video footage, accessible on YouTube. [Links omitted]

Notes

[1] Karl M. Bowman and Bernice Engle, "A Psychiatric Evaluation of the Laws of Homosexuality," American Journal of Psychiatry 112, no. 6 (February 1956): 577-83; "A Noted Psychiatrist Asks Why So Much Hysteria?," Mattachine Review, July-August 1955, 14-15. [Retrieved from David K. Johnson's The Lavender Scare]

[2] Thomas Jacob Noel, "Gay Bars and the Emergence of the Denver Homosexual Community," The Social Science Journal no. 15 (1978); Martin Bauml Duberman, Martha Vicinus, and George Chauncey, Jr., Hidden from History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past. (Markham, Ontario: New American Library, 1989), 427.

[3] The Front Page. 1985. 'Raleigh Police Tactics Denounced in Court'. 5 February 1983: 3. Ibid., '…Greensboro Too'. 20 May 1986: 11. Ibid., 'AP Covers Alamance Bust'. 6 December 1988: 2. [All three retrieved from David Gwynn's Urbanization and Social Change in the Gay South: The Experience in North and South Carolina (1971-1991), 1991]

[4] https://library.uncg.edu/dp/pride/

[5] Interview with David Gwynn, Digital Projects Coordinator and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

[6] Jeff Rainey Interview - https://youtu.be/ykY3numZ1fI

[7] Ibid.

[8] Per Jeff Rainey

[9] Marty Schladen, 'Club Surrenders Liquor License,' Greensboro News & Record. April 14, 2000. Access date: 6/21/2019.