Long Live Queer Nightlife: How the Closing of Gay Bars Sparked a Revolution

Ghaziani’s (sociology, Univ. of British Columbia; The Dividends of Dissent) argues here that despite the shrinking number of gay bars around the globe, the effulgence of queer nightlife can be found in emergent alternatives. He sets the scene by providing detailed social and historical context and does so in the best ethnographic tradition, by visiting the underground queer parties of London, which some see as creative successors to gay bars. Opening with the Buttmitzvah, the book’s argument is that a transformation has taken place; the gay bar has been replaced by queer parties, club nights, and episodic events. These gatherings, sometimes pop-ups, have variable venues—a basement, a camper, a warehouse—and welcome all comers, regardless of sexuality, gender, or ethnicity. Ghaziani shows that he’s a good listener and quantitative sociologist who skillfully captures the stories of his interview subjects; his portrayals of attendees of these clubs and his sophisticated analyses of the statistics he gathers are captivating.