Many of these places were small – on the order of 3,000 square feet – which created an intimate, social atmosphere. To meet the demands of L.A.’s queer youth, 18-and-over dance bars opened up in underutilized retail stores fronts, mini-malls, or warehouses in commercial zones. Being “out” back than was to learn how to negotiate the physical and social landscape in order to find safety.īeing “out” back than was to learn how to negotiate the physical and social landscape in order to find safety – unlike today where people come “out” to their families, friends, coworkers, or even in cyberspace.
