TNG Flashback: HALO — Chic Lounge or Racist Hotbed?
The work day is almost over. We hope you use your last ounce of concentration to revisit this year-old TNG article. Originally published by Ben in September of '07, and republished on 2/27/08 in response to reader comments on a separate post.
I heard some interesting gossip lately about HALO, the WASP (and those who love them) gay bar on P street. A trusted source told me the owner made comments to the staff there that the bar was becoming "too dark", which caused some disturbance among the employees. Having heard about this, a large group of African-Americans walked in recently, "had a great time, and left without buying a single thing"--an act of protest that was definitely noticed.
Curious, I inquired about the matter with a friend who works at HALO. He told me that the issues seems to be that 1) the black clientele are not dressed in a manner that the management deems appropriate for the venue (tank tops, pants that reveal too much ass crack, etc.) and 2) that the bartenders are annoyed that their black patrons don't tip for the services rendered. To HALO's credit I have not heard anything about overt racism other than the owner's comment, but for many, that doesn't remove the cloud that is now fixed over this business.
Is this just a matter of dollars? As a former waiter, I know how bad tippers don't pay the bills. I also know that every socio-cultural group wants to be around others like themselves. From a business standpoint, if the WASP crowd that purchases the majority of your high-end specialty cocktails turns away from your establishment because they don't see themselves reflected in the crowd, you stand to lose a lot of money. I've personally walked into HALO, spent 10 minutes around waspy pricks talking about status symbols and real estate, and promptly walked the fuck out. Does that make me a classist, or just someone who doesn't want to hang around pricks? If those same pricks don't want to hang around black people, does that make them racist, or just people who don't want to hang around people who don't share their prick interests? Maybe it depends on your definition of racism.
It's been noticed for some time that a racial divide was growing at HALO, with black patrons predominantly gathering at the downstairs bar while white patrons flocked to the upstairs bar. It's difficult to report much about the situation being that I don't usually hang out at HALO and I'm relying on only two opinions (goods ones, but two nonetheless). Race relations in the gay community are too often glossed over, so if anyone out there has anything to add, let's see those comment boards light up. I would particulary like to hear about the experiences that African-Americans have had when visiting HALO, or other area gay bars.
12 comments:
If those same pricks don't want to hang around black people, does that make them racist, or just people who don't want to hang around people who don't share their prick interests?
I realize this article is a year old, but I am still hearing similar reports about Halo.
Ben, I'm know you didn't mean it this way, but I can PROMISE readers that there are black pricks who are into status symbols and real estate. They are the people often referred to as "white acting," because good grammar, education, and culture are the monopoly of one race (sarcasm). So, the question then becomes, are these guys racist because they exclude people with the same interests but are a different race? And, if so, does THAT then make them racist?
To the extent that people buy into the notion that personality is trumped by familiarity, people frequently unite under the banner of class. People also unite over shared value systems, religion, opposition to religion, sexual orientation, and a myriad other things.
Based on my experience, the thing that bothers me the most is that it seems like gay men specifically associate with people they want to fuck, have fucked, would fuck, or who boost their ego because they want to fuck them. If your skin color doesn't fit into their "preference," then you don't meet any of those criteria, and even the prospect of being friends is off the table.
For all the people who fall anywhere on the spiritual scale, I wonder how they are going to find true love if their "soul mate" is in a body that has a skin color (any of them) that they do not prefer.
Every bar has a different feel. I think of Halo as a place for social climbing twinks, uptight yuppies and prissy old guys.
I remember one of only two nights I've been to the Eagle. Unbeknownst to me it was some special bdsm/fetish night. It was so jarringly creepy that after a half hour I went to Halo just to get some balance and feel less weirded out. I found myself feeling no less uncomfortable and no less creeped out in Halo for the very same reasons: costumes and delusion. Same thing, different place.
Haven't been to Halo in a very long time. I guess that says it all. Is Halo's reputation an issue of race or class? Or a little of both?
This is no different than readers of this blog who read Butt Magazine, think they are alternative, call each other “queer” and prefer to hang out at bars that cater to their own delusions of alt trendy ness. They have a uniform (maybe its American Apparel or thrift store chic); all think the same way politically, desire to live in a specific neighborhood and hang around their own kind. While looking down on the mainstream crowd at Halo. Keep using mommy and daddy’s money to be cutting edge. Yawn.
Why does TNG keep reposting old material? Post something new and link to the old article if you need to.
To the last Anonymous - Here here. The degree of Guppy bashing found in this article, and the subsequest comments, is appalling. I challenge any "alty" queer on here to find us one example of a net article bashing them to the same degree.
The only difference in these two communities is that I've never once heard a Guppy unapologetically refer to all "New Gays" as pricks.
Grow up boys. There's a big wide world out there full of adult gay men and women who feel right at home at, or at least not threatened by, Halo, or Taint, or the Eagle.
I just love how everyone in these comments continues to paint the world with broad brushes, just generalizing everyone into nothingness. My new New Year's resolution: stop generalizing and lumping people into groups, see everyone as individuals.
it's just a place to get drinks. sometimes i go. i don't care who else goes. i go with my friends and enjoy myself and get drunk. i challenge all to do the same at halo or whatever their bar of choice may be.
I am amazed at how virtually everyone in this thread has ignored the primary subject of the post. This isn't about groups and cliques. It's not about Guppy vs. "alty". The question on the table is whether or not there is a potentially racist, inhospitable attitude being encouraged and allowed to flourish at a bar in our community.
Ben makes the point that, "Race relations in the gay community are too often glossed over,"and here is a thread of people proving his point. I don't get it. It's like the old saying says, "the first step is admitting you have a problem." People talk about race in the LGBT community. I know they do, but when it's time to talk to people who don't look like us it becomes acrimonious. Why?
Why are people so ready to dismiss race as a POTENTIAL issue at Halo? If, in fact, it is a matter of hanging out with people who have similar interests, then why would that result in a segregated club? Let's say it is a matter of "urban" & "guppy." Are there no black guppies and no white, gay men into urban culture? There is no category
or grouping of people that transcends race.
Halo's problem cannot be one of class. That would suggest that every person upstairs is in the same income bracket, as is all of the people downstairs. "Class" is a code word for race.
Why would any LGBT person feel comfortable in a bar that segregates? The level of denial on this issue amazes me. And to be clear, I am not saying anyone is a racist.
MY POINT IS THAT PEOPLE, AS BEN MENTIONED, GLOSS OVER ISSUES OF RACE. WHY ARE WE SO AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT IT?
Um, racism is over now, Ed. Like, hello? Obama?
On a serious note, I do *not* feel comfortable in a bar that segregates. Even though I'd say it's more accurate to say that the patrons at Halo self-segregate.
But I think this goes beyond Halo and boring conversations about real estate. I've noticed self-segregation in the gay community ever since I came out. When I was a young thing hanging out at Woody's in Philadelphia, every group had its own corner of the bar -- the blacks, the whites, the Hispanics, the Asians, even the deaf guys.
Gays, like everyone else, are cliquey. And people -- all people -- are uncomfortable dealing with race. Awkwardly self-segregating at Halo is obviously preferable to all involved, because why else would people voluntarily engage in it?
So I think the fault is not in our bars, but in ourselves.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the comments. You gave me an idea for a post. Actually, you gave me two ideas.
UGH!! I want to say something, but I am going to same it for my column.
We doing BSG on Friday? This is going to be a good one.
Ed
This was such an intriguing article. Being that I am biracial (black & white), Jewish, GAY and a Capricorn, I am constantly trying to understand what it means to be a part of those different communities. I have been so fortunate to have such a diverse group of friends, both str8 and gay, that I never really experienced too much segregation. Maybe because I am the type of person that even though my complection is dark I would naturally find myself wondering upstairs and mixing with the lighter gays. When you are a Real World cast wrapped up into one like me, you find yourself open to all types of people because you know there's got to be some common interest (even if it is just your adoration of David Beckham) However, I must say i do agree with the comment that some people do go to gay bars to hook up...and some people just aren't that into certain races...I myself (before I got married) was an equal opportunity whore but thats just me...I can remember when I was a young college gay I was at Apex four cocktails deep and went up to a white guy with the most beautiful baby blue eyes and before I could even slur a word to him he put his hand out and said "I'm not into black guys"...did that make him racist? I didn't think so...did it make him a jackass...DEFINATELY... Now it is safe to assume that much like the rest of our society, as diverse as the LGBT community is, it is also full of people who have not had many experiences with other races, so naturally they will cling to familiarity. I feel as though I lost my train a thought as I am trying to write this while working so I'll leave it at just that....all I can say is that if you are black and at Halo...go upstairs, and if you are white and at halo get in the mood of the price is right and come on down! And if you find yourselves at a loss of conversation...just mention David Beckham...
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