Out In The Mountains : News - Queer Social Space in the Making

by Jen Berger, Liz Blocker and Connie Beal

      “On the night that Pearl’s closed I danced my heart out until the very last minute when they stopped the music and turned the lights on. I went from having the best night of my life, to sadness wondering what would become of the queer community...”
Concerned Community
Member, Burlington

       The above statement about the future of the queer community gave voice to concerns on many of our minds, and has become the catalyst for much discussion within our community. We all feel the gap in our social lives, and our concerns are growing as we deal with the aftermath of having had something cherished - and, as many feel, essential - removed from our community.
      After the doors closed at Vermont’s last queer bars (Shooka Dooka’s in Rutland and 135 Pearl in Burlington), a small group of community organizers began a series of conversations about what it means to have a very real absence of openly queer social space, and the potential possibilities for Vermont’s queer community. The concern over the lack of public visibility of the queer community, as well as issues of safety, incited further discussion. On Saturday, July 2nd, activists met at the R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center in Burlington to talk about the lack of public queer nightspots and queer public space in Vermont.
      After much discussion, we realized we needed input and feedback from more members of the queer community. At the Vermont Pride celebration on July 8th, a survey was distributed amongst the crowd in Battery Park, allowing the larger voice of the queer and allied community to be heard.
     While levels of passion and dedication varied among the 30 surveys collected, not a single respondent said there wasn’t a need for a queer social space. R.U.1.2? and other places like it are essential for information, education, community and peer support, and social services, but a queer social scene serves another purpose entirely.
      Here are some of the thoughts community members share queer social space in Vermont and thoughts about the community integrating into the larger nightclub scene in Burlington:
      “Integration is bullshit. We are already integrated. We need a place where it’s cool to be yourself.”
      “Integration should be a choice.”
      “Assimilation is bad. The uniqueness of the queer community will be lost.”
     “There needs to be a queer culture in Burlington.”
      “We need substance-free spaces as well as bars/other social venues, just like any other community.”
     “Queer spaces provide safety for multiple alternative-minded people.”
     “While I’m not a B-town resident, I feel that knowing that EVERY night of EVERY WEEK there’s a dedicated queer space available is INVALUABLE. Ladies’ nights/mens’ nights can fill the gap but are not enough.”
      “Although I think outreach and political work are really important, it’s good to have a space where that’s not the major piece of it.”
     “We are a fractured community.”
     “It helps people connect and come out.”
      “Maybe when trans folk and GLB folks can dance and be sexy without noticing anything odd - then we don’t need it. A safe space is crucial.”
     “I, as a femme, feel unsafe in straight bars, as men often get overly affectionate with me as I ‘pass’ for straight.”
      “Support, solidarity, and love.”
      There was a strong feeling among respondents that the community wants more out of a new space than a typical nightclub offers. Many expressed interest in a space that increases visibility and provides a safe space for all sexualities, genders, and generations to come together.
     Most recently, folks gathered at the Langdon Street Café in Montpelier at an event called Stitch & Flicks (held every 3rd Tuesday of the month). About 25 people came to the event, and watched the film After Stonewall. Following the film, we all participated in an open dialogue about the lack of queer social space in Vermont.
      People agreed with those surveyed in Burlington, and added their concern over the following points: lack of visibility, publicity, and a sense of community (as one woman said, “it’s like you need a secret password to find the lesbians”).
     Participants also expressed the need to have social spaces scattered throughout the state, including spaces accessible for those who are disabled or who don’t drive.
      The difficulty in building numerous spaces spread throughout the state is clear, but as one individual expressed, “If we get one place started, it will be inspirational for everyone.” The need for these spaces is equally clear. As one of the hosts of the Stitch & Flicks said, “Our lack of space is affecting our ability to organize.”
      Building a new social space will take time. In the interim, the potential in the queer community in Vermont is enormous.
      We encourage everyone to cultivate the excitement and ideas expressed by the crowd at Pride and the discussion at Langdon St. Café by organizing events in your own local communities.
      For example, a professor at Goddard College offered the school as a space for a queer event, a student at the New England Culinary Institute was excited about the formation of a new gay-straight alliance, and the new groups’ potential to cater or host events; and many people identified the possibility of utilizing spaces, such as bars and cafes, to bring the community together for queer events at least once a month.
      By encouraging dialogue and providing mediums for discussion (such as the new blog space at qssvermont.blogspot.com and the email list at qssvermont@gmail.com), we hope local communities will take ownership of this project, and feel empowered to begin creating the social space you envision.

Jen Berger is a community activist and student at Burlington College, Liz Blocker is a playwright and community activist, and Connie Beal is a queer community/anti-violence activist.

For those of you who would like to stay connected, the next Burlington-based queer social space meeting will be on Thursday, August 24th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Peace and Justice Center, 21 Church Street in Burlington. Light refreshments will be provided. Also, thank you to all of you who filled out the community surveys at pride and for those who attended Stitch & Flicks at Langdon Street Café. to receive regular updates, please email qssvermont@gmail.org