Gay bars champaign urbana il

1. The Bistro (19 reviews) $Closed until Wednesday “IIRC, I think this is the only gay bar in the whole Bloomington-Normal area.” more Gay Bars Dive Bars. For the first time since , Champaign welcomed Anthem, a new LGBTQ+ bar, to the city’s variety of nightlife opportunities in November. The permanent closure of Champaign’s one and only queer nightclub in , Chester Street Bar, took away a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.

"Nothing says queer like a pitcher of beer!"". Find 31 listings related to Gay Night Clubs In Champaign in Champaign on See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for Gay Night Clubs In Champaign locations in Champaign, IL. Tonight, Downtown Champaign’s Anthem opens in the former Soma space.

The new bar’s owner says, “Anthem is an inclusive, high-end cocktail lounge.” Grand opening events for the LGBTQ+ friendly space are planned for both nights this weekend: Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th. Fremont St. The bar was an instant success popular with gay men, gay women, drag queens, and drag kings.

drag show champaign, il

They were open 7 days a week, had a live DJ, and would host drag performances, such as a Miss Champaign contest in that featured " a couple dozen drag queens from all around the state " "Where gays can feel unfettered", Daily Illini, July 8, By , The Balloon Saloon became a known hotspot for gay people around the Midwest, with out-of-towners traveling from St. Louis and Indianapolis to go there. One patron said "Champaign is the biggest gay scene in this part of the Midwest, outside of Chicago.

Springfield used to be a big scene, but it's died out. Now everyone comes here. People would gather to hang out, celebrate holidays and birthdays, and organize performances at The Balloon Saloon. There were people who would get into drag specifically to perform at the bar, and people would also get into drag just for the fun of dressing up with their friends. The Balloon Saloon was more popular with gay women than gay men, whereas Giovanni's was more popular with gay men, though groups would often hop from one bar to another.

Prior to The Balloon Saloon and Giovanni's, it's said one of the only ways for gay women to meet one another was on the softball team. The bar made it easier to meet women, and one unnamed interviewee described, " It gives us a sense of legitimacy we never had before. Two people getting into drag in the kitchen. A person in drag performing for the crowd.

The Daily Illini , July 8, Four people in Halloween drag.

Three people at the bar. A matchbook that was available for bar patrons.