"That would be the first case against homosexuals actually proactively documented," Lustbader said.Īnd it all happened in 1966 - three years prior to the Stonewall riots, widely seen as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement.īut this piece of history, Julius' Bar, was almost gone for good thanks to COVID. The incident has become known as the "sip in." So they brought a photographer and newspaper reporter with them to document it. "We wanted to have a place refuse to serve us for being homosexual," Wicker said. So those protestors thought something might go down. See, those well-dressed patrons - some of the earliest gay rights protestors - knew that Julius' Bar in Greenwich Village was already being closely watched by state authorities due to prior infractions. 'Cause we already have trouble with that,'" Wicker said. That's when the bartender held out his hand. "We were saying, 'We are homosexuals and we want to order a cocktail,'" Wicker said. And Randy Wicker, on the far end of the bar in that photo, was one of those men.
Download for FREE!īut you could easily argue that a certain black-and-white photograph - showing a group of men being denied a drink - laid the groundwork for the gay bars of today. Get breaking news alerts in the FOX 5 NY News app. "Disorderly people were considered homosexuals." "After prohibition, the State Liquor Authority is formed, which has a regulation that basically says if you serve people who are disorderly you can lose your license," Lustbader said. You'd have to either be in possession of an underground guidebook listing places considered "safe" or rely on word of mouth.
"They were bottle clubs, you had a sign, a fictitious name in many cases to get in."
"In many cases, they were private clubs with bouncers at the door," Lustbader said.
"So bars became really safe spaces."īut the gay bar of the past was much different than the one we think of today where every inch is covered in rainbow flags. One visit to this long running bar and you will know why locals call it “DC’s Queer Cheers."People could lose their jobs, their families, employment, religious associations," Lustbader added. Let any of the friendly bar staff know you are visiting and they will be happy to introduce you around and get the conversation started.
If you are looking for an attitude free place, something often hard to find in a larger city, the Green Lantern is the place. Be sure to check out the special events page for a complete listing of parties and events. The Green Lantern also hosts many special events and theme nights ranging from dance parties featuring the best of today’s music to a monthly leather party on the second floor. Make sure you check out the Lantern on Facebook and Twitter for the most up-to-date information and events. The Green Lantern offers something for everyone, be it a happy hour drink after a long day at work or hundreds of shirtless men out on a Thursday night, kick starting their weekends. Other DC bars have tried to imitate this event, but the Lantern was the first to offer this long-running event. Make sure you do not miss the Lantern’s famous “Shirtless Men Drink Free” event every Thursday night from 10pm-11 pm. The second floor bar offers a more club-like atmosphere with great sound, lighting and video systems. This is the one place in DC where everyone gets along with each other. Open for happy hour everyday at 4pm, the first floor rectangular, granite-topped bar lends itself well to easy interaction among both long-time regulars as well as new arrivals. Now open for over 10 years, the “Lantern,” as most regulars call it, has long been known for its exceptionally friendly and welcoming staff. Located in a brightly lit alley just off Thomas Circle at the southern end of Washington DC’s trendy 14th Street corridor, the Green Lantern offers a comfortable friendly ambience that will make anyone feel right at home. A DC institution and a favorite neighborhood bar offering something for everyone is really the best way to describe the Green Lantern.