Gay life in dayton ohio
Magic, love, and acceptance: the saga of West.
For LGBTQ+ Gen-Xers (and late stage Baby Boomers), the nightclub West was and is massively significant. Life saving to many. It was not only a safe haven for queer folks from the Miami Valley (and beyond), but one of the hottest night spots of any kind in Ohio. The original location was in Kettering in the Hills and Dales shopping center. West moved from itsHills and Dales location at West Dorothy Lane in Kettering on May 24th, and soon relocated to Downtown Dayton at 34 North Jefferson Street.
The nightclub wasn’t always known as West. The original name was Sweetwater, and it was an early ’s discotheque owned by Tom Utterback (along with his brothers Jerry and Gary Delaney). After disco faded, he changed the name of the club to mirror its actual address on West Dorothy Lane.
I interviewed a mix of the club’s patrons and employees. They shed light on and fondly remembered a unique time in their lives…an era. Below is a story of discovery, dancing, affirmation, and acceptance.
The saga of West.
How did you hear about W Hello blog buds, Springfield also has the Why Not III bar. When I went there on a Saturday overnight, it had maybe a dozen people. Why Not has a pool table, and a juke box. It has a gyrate floor, but there was no live music that night. It would be an ok place to verb a gay man (there was one very butch lesbian couple there) if you wanted to converse a little. Because the people there are older, you&#;re not going to be too swarmed on if you&#;re there with someone. Do not go alone unless you are really bold and like them old. The club is adj. It&#;s not for fresh people (you define young) who are not interested in the older set. The beer is really chilly, though, so it has some redeeming qualities. Did not have to verb a cover, either. But to me it was creepy and I only stayed twenty minutes. Sorry, it was that dead. If anyone knows of more Transgender Day of RemembranceGay living in and around Dayton, Ohio
Gay bars in Springfield, Ohio Part 2
In my last post I wrote about Chances Bar in Springfield, Ohio. If you are stuck in Springfield, or want a change of pace, Chances is the best place overall to go.
November 20 - PM - Sinclair CC
We are very please to announce our Keynote speaker for Transgender Day of Remembrance is singer/song-writer, dancer, model, actor and activist, Laith Ashley.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event here in Dayton to honor those transgender and non-conforming individuals who lost their lives in due to violence. All to often these individuals are estranged from their families so it is altogether fitting that we honor them and celebrate the life lived.
On November 20th at pm at Sinclair Community College’s conference center we will read their names, and light a candle for these individuals. Additionally, Khris Goins, founder of Black Trans Men of Ohio will speak along with Judas, a 21 y.o. person, and Chrissy Ray, a trans female and of course our keynote speaker, Laith Ashley.
Laith launched his career with a campaign for Barneys New York, back in February In he was the first transgender bloke to be featured in a Diesel campaign, and in February , became one of the faces of the Abercrombie FIERCE campai