Goodbye gay bars?

Are gay bars headed for extinction?

That's the central question in this Slate article, which asks if a broadened gay rights movement will make gay bars, well, a little unnecessary. An excerpt:

Once upon a time — back in the dark days of the late 20^th century — gay bars were the only venues where gay people could let down their defenses. Now, at least in urban centers, gay men and lesbians feel safe in scads of straight restaurants and bars. But when new options open up, what happens to the old segregated institutions?

I'm not sure if this hypothesis holds up in Columbus, where gay bars still often exist under a cloak of secrecy.

I think the major issue locally is getting gay bars to a point where they're not hidden by unmarked doors and secret locations.

Share your experiences with the local gay bar scene, or lack thereof.