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Check their website for details of ongoing events. Having a gay bar is not about keeping straight people out, it's about curating a space where people who aren't straight can express, play and celebrate their sexuality and relationships. If that’s not enough, try the Sexagon, a 6-sided glory hole Live DJ plays the kind of tunes that get you in the mood. Queer people make up ~10% of the population, but almost 100% of all public-facing media and advertising regarding sex and relationships is geared towards straight people. In fact, if you've never had the experience of what it's like to be in the sexual minority in a space, maybe pay Paparazzi a visit on a popular theme night and see what it feels like to witness people who are subject to the constant barrage of straight culture and advertising enjoying and expressing themselves in an environment that welcomes people whose predilections run counter to the mainstream. Nobody is saying that you as a straight person are unwelcome in a gay bar. Quick note to the "why do we need separate spaces" people: there's a big difference between exclusivity and inclusivity when it comes to creating community spaces.
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Could've been for reasons beyond my reckoning at the time - management problems, politics, who knows, but if a city that size has a hard time keeping multiple gay bars open, I'm sure it's even more challenging here where there's only a third as many people. I moved here from Edmonton 10 years ago, a city of nearly a million, and they struggled to keep gay bars afloat. They just aren't as vital to the queer hookup/social scene as they were 10+ years ago.
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Even when The Ledge was still open, most of my rainbow friends and I aren't big drinkers or partiers, we tended to congregate and hang out at people's houses more than at bars. Victoria is a small city and there just aren't a huge number of queer people. Philip Haney, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) whistleblower who was an outspoken critic of the administration of former President Barack Obama, was found dead Friday, about 40 miles east. I think the reason gay/queer-oriented bars don't seem to fly in Victoria is a combination of queer dating moving over to the apps, and the general limit of population and demographics. It was my go-to for pool, hanging out with friends on nights out, or a good spot to cool off and read a book with a cold pint. Terry the bartender was a lovely man, they had good food, and the atmosphere was always friendly and welcoming. Anyone remember when The Ledge was still up and running inside the Bedford-Regency hotel? It used to be my favourite place to hang out when I was downtown.