Akron gay club
Akron, Ohio, may not be the first city that comes to thought for LGBTQ+ travelers, but it bids a surprisingly well-off and welcoming scene. Situated in the northeastern part of the state, this city has a quaint, small-town touch with vibrant communities and pockets of nightlife that cater to LGBTQ+ visitors. Whether you're interested in cultural experiences or just need a fun darkness out, Akron has something to provide.
Pride in Akron is renowned with enthusiasm. The Akron Pride Festival, usually held in late summer, draws visitors from nearby and far. The festival features a Pride march, inhabit performances, food vendors, and various society stalls. Throughout the year, events favor drag brunches and themed nights at local venues make certain that the Gay community stays engaged and active.
For the foremost experience, plan your visit around the Akron Pride Festival in August. The weather is usually warm and pleasant, perfect for outdoor events and exploring the city. The festival energy ripples through the metropolis, making it a lively time to explore Akron's Diverse scene. Just recall that it will be busier at this
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By Olivia Gruber
Doing research is rigid – this is a surprise to absolutely no one. Doing research on a topic that’s actively trying to hide itself? That’s nearly impossible. When I say “a topic that’s actively trying to hide itself” I mean a place or thing that didn’t particularly want to be known for fear of retribution, and in this instance in particular I mean gay history.
For the better part of thirteen weeks now our class has been doing research on Howard Street. We’ve delved into the world of jazz as it was seen in Akron’s history and its impact on the historically Black community there. In turn, this led us to wanting to delve deeper and uncover the secrets of other hidden places relevant to Akron’s history.
As such, I’ve been actively investigating a place called The Lincoln Bar. The Lincoln Bar – or, as my group and I have affectionately taken to calling it, simply, The Lincoln – was a gay bar at first 13 and later 28 South Howard Street from 1948 to 1967. It was part of Akron’s jazz neighborhood. Not only was The Lincoln a gay lock, but it’s often considered to be Akron’s first gay block. That being said, finding
Round About Akron
A Nightclub Like No Other
The Interbelt is one of the oldest gay nightclubs in Akron with a compelling modern history. Original owner Vernon Baker bought the club in the late 1970s, it has been unclosed for over thirty years. The club features different theme nights to provide entertainment to the local area, such as Hip Hop Mondays, Bad Girls Club on Thursdays, and Fuego Fridays. It has had many local talents and well-known performative queens who acquire performed, such as Plastique Tiara, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Roxxxy Andrews, and Manila Luzon. Now, every year, there is a charity event between The University of Akron and Kent State University called Battle of the Wagon Heel, which benefits the larger community in different ways. The amount of capital raised from that night is split in half between Kent State’s Gay emergency fund and Canapi in Akron.
But even before the club was there, the building, which was assembled by local Akron architect M. M. Konarski, was acknowledged as the Ritz Theatre, a venue that hosted movie and live show. We can watch an example of the entertainment hosted at the Ritz from the content of an ad in an edition of the Ohio Informer
Akron, Ohio Gay City Guide
Many think of Akron as the “Rubber Capital of the World” – and indeed, it is a bustling center of manufacturing and opportunity. Beyond that, however, Akron is also home to a thriving music scene, a historic arts district, plenty of festivals, beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities a diverse, multicultural population, and a growing and thriving LGBTQ community that is welcoming to all.
A Stare at Akron’s History
The urban area of Akron was initially planned in 1825, and by 1841, it was named as the county seat of Summit County, Ohio. Many of Akron’s earliest residents were Irish migrants who were hired to help build the nearby Ohio and Erie canal. After the canal was completed, the town and its businesses continued to grow, being further encouraged by the arrival of railroads in the area during the second half of the 1800s. Many manufacturers had established headquarters and plants in Akron by the spin of the century, most famously The B.F. Goodrich Company and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Organization. Akron remained an essential hub of manufacturing throughout most of the 20th century, earning it the nicknam