History Main / WhereEverybodyKnowsYourFlame

In real life, the average gay bar is simply a pub where most of the regular patrons are of [[QueerAsTropes gay male, lesbian, bisexual]], and/or [[{{Transsexual}} transgendered]] persuasion. That's really all there is to it. Mostly they are just places where GLBT people socialize, dance, have a few beers, play pool, etc. Sometimes people chat up/pick up a new partner in these places just as straight people do in ordinary bars and pubs.

As is the RuleOfCool, gay audiences will note that such bars will ''always'' be larger, sleeker, flashier, wilder, and generally far more interesting than anything they have in their own neck of the woods, unless they live in a big city. In fiction, the gay bars in Youngstown, Ohio (all two of them) are just as huge and lively as anything in West Hollywood. Depending on the reaction of the characters, this is a SubTrope of either CoolestClubEver or BadGuyBar. Contrast BikiniBar, which if anything is ''[[DoubleStandard tamer]]'' than the RealLife places it portrays.

** Also (possibly) subverted when Kima Greggs and her girlfriend go drinking with two other gay women. They might be in a lesbian bar or they might not be - you can't tell.

In movies, TV shows, comics etc. this is not the case. Any bar or club catering to GLBT people will be portrayed as far wilder than its straight counterpart, mostly to prey on straight fears. People will order drinks dressed in fetish gear such as studded leather, gimp masks or tight rubber. Men in elaborate/fetishised drag will probably be present. The fact that there are different clubs for each subculture in RealLife goes ignored ([[{{Leatherman}} Leathermen]], {{Drag Queen}}s, and {{Twink}}s seldom hang out at the same bar). Any dancing will seem wildly, almost threateningly, sensuous. At least one of the gay men present (probably one of the ones in studded leather) will be [[HardGay about the size of a professional wrestler]] and will almost always look interested in the wimpiest and most timid of the straight characters who have had to come in here for some reason. Such fears tend to be unfounded in real life, since most Hard Gays and Leather-daddies prefer men like themselves. That said, stories out to [[DarkIsNotEvil debunk]] this stereotype may reveal that while the patrons have [[FreakyFashionMildMind freaky fashions, they're also mild tempered]], and will be genial with the visiting characters.

* The first episode of ''WireInTheBlood'' had a classic example, right down to the hapless straight cop getting hit on by ''two'' HardGay types in quick succession.

--> -- '''Electric Six''', "Gay Bar"

** Averted, however, in that it's just a somewhat upscale bar with non-stereotypically gay patients.

* Amusing parody of the trope: In StephenKing's ''{{It}}'', the landlord of a failing bar, the Falcon, is relieved when business picks up, in the form of quiet, youngish men who start patronising his establishment. It takes him weeks to work out that his bar has become the official gay bar of the town, but once he's aware of it, he starts listening to gossip and begins to hear about all the orgies and perversions that straight men who would never dare set foot in the place ("In case all their wrist muscles went instantly limp") just ''know'' are going on there on a nightly basis.

* "Uneasy Rider '88" by the Charlie Daniels Band, in which two cowboys get a flat & are forced to stop at a joint where one is asked to dance by a DragQueen, though [[DudeLooksLikeALady he doesn't realize it at first]]. (A stark contrast to their original "Uneasy Rider", which was about a hippie in a redneck bar.)

As is the RuleOfCool, gay audiences will note that such bars will ''always'' be larger, sleeker, flashier, wilder, and generally far more interesting than anything they have in their own neck of the woods, unless they live in a big city. In TV land, literature and comic stories -> Some how gay bars in Youngstown, Ohio, Hagersville, Maryland or York, Pennsylvania are just as huge and lively as anything in West Hollywood, San Fransisco, or New York City. Depending on the reaction of the characters, this is a SubTrope of either CoolestClubEver or BadGuyBar. Contrast BikiniBar, which if anything is ''[[DoubleStandard tamer]]'' than the RealLife places it portrays.

As is the RuleOfCool, gay audiences will note that such bars will ''always'' be larger, sleeker, flashier, wilder, and generally far more interesting than anything they have in their own neck of the woods, unless they live in a big city. In TV land, the gay bars in Youngstown, Ohio are just as huge and lively as anything in West Hollywood. Depending on the reaction of the characters, this is a SubTrope of either CoolestClubEver or BadGuyBar. Contrast BikiniBar, which if anything is ''[[DoubleStandard tamer]]'' than the RealLife places it portrays.

*** Although this was most certainly not the case for the Americanized show set in Pittsburgh. The city's and the state of Pennsylvania's fairly strict regulations for bars and clubs would not allow anything like the fictional bar to stay open. This led to some very confused and depressed visitors. Not to mention that Pittsburgh's gay community would not be large enough to support a club the size of Babylon- we have a very different form of recycling here...

Expect the world's most grating and annoying techno/synth music to be playing non-stop. That, or the campest pop music the producers could find. Particularly brutal (if [[TruthInTelevision honest]]) depictions might play grating and annoying techno ''remixes'' of campy pop music.

* Averted in ''ChasingAmy'', when Alyssa takes Banky, Holden, and Hooper to a bear in New York. It's a normal New York dive bar, so much so that Holden doesn't realize the significance that Alyssa chose it until after he's fallen for her.

* There's one of these in ''But I'm a Cheerleader''.

* Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland in ''ThereWillBeBrawl'' is a typical one of these. It's run by [[TheLegendofZelda Tingle]], with second- and third-in-commands being [[FZero Captain Falcon]] and [[KidIcarus Pit]]. This is also the reason we know that [[FireEmblem Marth and Ike]] are not HeterosexualLifePartners and that Samus may be into women if her actions right before Luigi tells they're leaving is anything to go by.

Lesbian bars will be filled entirely with broad-shouldered, cigar chomping, work-booted, [[ButchLesbian diesel dykes]]; or [[GirlOnGirlIsHot young, nubile,]] {{Lipstick Lesbian}}s. And the twain shall never meet, even if it's the only lesbian bar in town[[hottip:*:Lesbians are generally not as scene-obsessed as gay men, so it's not unusual for a city to have one or two dyke bars while having a dozen clubs for each gay male subculture]].

Lesbian bars will be filled entirely with broad-shouldered, cigar chomping, work-booted, [[ButchLesbian diesel dykes]]; or [[GirlOnGirlIsHot young, nubile,]] {{Lipstick Lesbian}}s. And the twain shall never meet, even if it's the only lesbian bar in town.

* Played for laughs by ''TheSimpsons'' with a GayBarReveal; Homer, having been banned from Moe's and looking for a new watering hole, is the only man in a very obviously lesbian bar, muttering "Something's not quite right about this place, but I can't quite put my finger on it... wait a minute, I've got it! ''This lesbian bar doesn't have a fire exit! Enjoy your deathtrap, ladies!''", which is followed by a woman asking "What's her problem?" as he leaves.

* Subverted in ''BuffytheVampireSlayer'' with the Demon bar "Willy's Alibi": "It's a Demon bar! It's like a gay bar... with Demons!"

* ''{{The Sopranos}}'': Vito is spotted in a gay nightclub in full Leather gear by two wiseguys there to collect protection money. [[spoiler: This ultimately gets him killed.]]