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Gay Bars Lure Straights to Stay in Biz

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 22, 2009 7:09 PM CDT

(Newser) – Gay bars across the country are facing an unexpected dilemma, the Anchorage Daily News reports: Attract straight customers or close down. With Americans growing more tolerant and gay connections moving online, one gay activist says "it's like 'mission accomplished.'" But bars from Pittsburgh to San Francisco are shutting their doors as more gays integrate into the straight world.

Successful bars, like Mad Myrna's in Anchorage, are increasingly filled with women and straight couples there for the drag show. "Everybody's money is green," says the manager. Backstage, the youngest of the drag queens—Trevor "Ashley" Council, 24—is used to a diverse crowd. His fans "are the kind who are straight and more accepting of gay people," he says. "It's nice to be around those kind of people."

Transvestite Arieli La Diva, left, talks to drag queens Sheila Tonka, center, and Maria Pia at Punto G gay bar in La Paz, Friday, June 27, 2008.
Transvestite Arieli La Diva, left, talks to drag queens Sheila Tonka, center, and Maria Pia at Punto G gay bar in La Paz, Friday, June 27, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
A drag queen and other guests attend the official opening party of the Axel Hotel on March 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
A drag queen and other guests attend the official opening party of the Axel Hotel on March 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.   (Getty Images)
Drag queens, including Sheila Wolf (C) and Janka Kroft (R), attend the official opening party of the Axel Hotel on March 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
Drag queens, including Sheila Wolf (C) and Janka Kroft (R), attend the official opening party of the Axel Hotel on March 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.   (Getty Images)
Drag queens Maria Pia, 29, right, and Sheila Tonka, 30, pose for a picture after preparing their make-up and costumes before going to a gay bar in La Paz, Friday, June 27, 2008.
Drag queens Maria Pia, 29, right, and Sheila Tonka, 30, pose for a picture after preparing their make-up and costumes before going to a gay bar in La Paz, Friday, June 27, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
Drag queen Maria Pia watches dancers at El Caldero gay bar in La Paz, Friday, June 27, 2008.
Drag queen Maria Pia watches dancers at El Caldero gay bar in La Paz, Friday, June 27, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dado Galdieri)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
riffran
Mar 23, 2009 9:12 AM CDT
reminds me of the movie "The bird cage"......"OH...I PIERCED THE TOAST!"...Nathan Lane was awsome

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