Germany's Weimar Republic period (1919-1933), for example, had its fair share of edgy/artsy drinking establishments, as represented in film such as Cabaret, the 1972 musical based on the 1930's works of gay author Christopher Isherwood. It may be that a bar switched from a partly gay crowd to a mainly gay crowd, and you would have to decide at what point that bar had turned 'gay'.īut again, there were definitely establishments where gays congregated long before the 60's. Many otherwise 'not gay' bars would cater to - or tolerate - a gay clientele so might not have been considered a 'gay bar' precisely. Other bars of lesser fame than the Stonewall Inn have existed in the decades prior to the 60's as well as outside the USA. This is accepted as a major flash point in the start of modern Gay Liberation, which succeeded in getting laws discriminating against gays changed in many countries. This was on June 28th, 1969 and the reason Pride Day is generally celebrated on or near that date. Step in for its drag shows, drag bingo, karaoke, or even professional and amateur strip nights. It was famous because that's where gay people finally said to themselves, 'We're not going to take it any more!' and fought back against the police bullies. One of the most famous 'early' gay bars in the US was the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village in New York City. Very difficult to answer this question, as the Ancient Greeks and Romans didn't keep too many records.
