Last November, Rod 2.0 reported the disheartening story of the Starlite Lounge, New York City's first black-owned gay bar which may be forced to close following the sale of its building in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The New York Times ventures on the A Train to the "hot spot that has been a quiet part of Brooklyn’s gay history since the early 1970s."
The Starlite has sat in the same location, at Bergen Street and Nostrand Avenue, since at least the 1960s, according to its current owner. It was in the early ’70s, when a well-known Crown Heights resident named Mackie Harris bought the bar, that its distinct cultural history began. Back then, it was one of the few gay-friendly bars in the neighborhood. “The Seville was for the upper-, upper-class experience, and the Starlite was sort of for the ‘Brokeback Mountain’ types,” recalled Bob Mack, who frequented both and worked at the Starlite as a manager. “We’d go over to the Seville in our furs, and then put them in our cars and head over to the Starlite.”
Nowadays, the Starlite is not exclusively a gay bar; its personality changes with the time of day and week. At 3 p.m. on a weekday, the typical patron is a straight, black older resident from the surrounding blocks. Karaoke night on Thursdays draws a mixed-race crowd of straight and gay patrons. And Fridays offer a drag show. Saturdays starting around 11 p.m., the bar fills with a mostly gay clientele, and by 2 a.m. one recent Sunday, it was packed with young women, two of them nuzzling each other’s necks, and men of all ages circling their hips with abandon to old-school, creatively spun house music.
"It’s a place I can come and not be bothered by homophobic people," says Timothy Yates, a young publicist "who added that he had been taunted with gay slur" in the neighborhood.
The Starlite is an institution in Brooklyn's black gay community. The drinks are strong, the music is killer and there is no telling who you'd see there. Martha Wash and fashion models rubbed shoulders with neighborhood drag dolls and fierce local trade.
Big City, Gay Haven [nyt]
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Great place, not only are the drinks tasty, they're cheap! I've been visiting more lately, and bringing friends to sign the petition to keep it in business. I remember cutting a rug 5-6 years ago when I was barely old enough to get in, but get it in I did! It's great to get your night started, get your party on, or as a nice nightcap in the neighborhood. Gotta run a poll though, what's the best day/hour to catch the "curious" dudes from around the way? LOL
Posted by: Procrastination_Xtravaganza | 26 January 2010 at 18:11
I used to LIVE at the Starlight when I lived in Brooklyn. That is a low bar, they music is fab and it has a very neighborhood feeling. Not pretentious at all. So sorry to hear they are being forced out thats not cute. Is there anything people can do?
Posted by: Campbell | 26 January 2010 at 18:11
That little dance floor in the back would get crowded. Especially when Greg was spinning.l Oh and I met the fiercest piece of thug trade there once, just "checking things out". I'll say he did!
Posted by: Christian Lebeija | 26 January 2010 at 18:30
I always felt like a star at the Starlite. Been going for years and she is just down the block. They have a web site with a link to sign a petition to get their bldg considered a landmark but they are up gains odds.
Posted by: Andrew | 26 January 2010 at 18:44
A similar story can be repeated about such neighborhoods bars in cities all over the country. Goodness knows I have my memories of similar places in central Florida, Atlanta, and Washington DC. Good times!
Posted by: Honut Sinti | 26 January 2010 at 18:48
Hopefully the Starlight will not close. It is such an institution in Brooklyn and it is an inclusive bar that attracts people that are basically non-prejudicial. I have spent many nights there talking with patrons and just having a blast and you never know who will pop up in there.
Posted by: Anthony | 26 January 2010 at 23:00