INFO:

Did you know? Before gay bars became safe havens, they were often run by the Mafia. Back in the mid-20th century, when being openly queer was illegal, the Mafia stepped in—not out of kindness, but to profit off a community forced into the shadows. They offered spaces for LGBTQ+ people to gather, but it came at a price: extortion, secrecy, and fear of police raids. These spaces became the backdrop of both joy and resistance, paving the way for the queer nightlife we know today ✨