I used to live right across the street from The Cuff, which is always good for some thumping bass through closing on Friday and Saturday. It’s also right between a fire station and a police station, so definitely not the quietest place I’ve ever lived.
Reading through this thread, I was having a similar thought. None of the other gay bars in Seattle really have any kind of sex innuendo - there are the ones you mentioned, plus several that - at least to me - seem to have no indication of ‘gayness’ in the name at all: CC Attles, Re-Bar, The Eagle. Is the sexual innuendo name normal in other cities, or is it just a goofy stereotype?
NOTE: NOT SPEAKING AS A MODERATOR, BUT AS A POSTER.
Every stereotype has a grain of truth in its origin.
I also think it depends on the jurisdiction and the politics thereof.
For example, a longtime club in my urban hometown is called “Swinging Richards.” It’s a gay strip club. (Though in the past year they started featuring women as well, it’s equal opportunity!) Everybody kinda giggles at the name. There is no way any sort of business with a name like this could exist in the suburbs here, or in a small town outside of this city.
In many places there are gay establishments but they have to be more discreet about it. When your club is a stop on the route of the Gay Pride Parade you can let your freak flag fly, no problem. When you’re, say, close to the buckle on the Bible Belt, not so much.
While this thread is not the most high-toned subject ever written on the SDMB and most people have no malice aforethought, there is perhaps a little more sniggering than is appropriate.
You know until now I never realized Re-Bar was a gay bar, and I’ve been there several times! In Seattle (and for that matter Olympia) most bars fly a pride flag, have a “Safe Space” sticker, or otherwise show solidarity with LGBT–straight or gay. In this area, flying a rainbow flag or hosting a drag show doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a gay bar.
I guess it’s possible to get into a gray area about what exactly a gay bar is, but I’d say that Re-bar intentionally and successfully caters to a largely, though not exclusively, gay clientele.
