Gay bar san diego
They Were Here, They Were Queer: San Diego’s Historic LGBTQ Sites
San Diego was home to same-sex couples as far back as the 19th century, but it wasn’t until around Society War II that gays and lesbians started to approach out of the shadows and uncover places to notify home. In honor of this month’s San Diego Movement celebrations, here’s a look at local LGBTQ historic sites that offer understanding into the triumphs and struggles of past generations.
The Gayest Neighborhood of Them All
The Hillcrest “Gayborhood“
Location: North of Balboa Park, south of Mission Valley (1970s-present)
For most of Hillcrest’s history since its birth around 1907, the neighborhood north of Balboa Park and south of Mission Valley was best known as the home of senior citizens, working-class residents, a Sears store, and a pair of hospitals. During World War II, the city’s gay bars were mainly downtown, where they catered to sailors.
But things changed dramatically in the 1970s as Hillcrest attracted LGBTQ people who sought low-cost housing and were willing to repair up Victorian homes, a classic case of “gaytrification.” The Brass Rail, meanwh
Friday
The weekend is finally here in San Diego! The last thing you wish to do is get into an hour-long text discussion with friends about which gay bars and gay-friendly restaurants to hit up in the gayborhood in San Diego. Let GayDiego advantage the way!
- Rich’s San Diego
- Electro Pop / Dirty Pop: 2 Dj’s, 2 boogie floors. Electro pop remixes on the main dance floor. Hip Hop melody in the front room dance floor.
- 1051 University Ave, San Diego 92103
For a list of all our favorite Clubs, Bars and Eats, visit our DIRECTORY
- Flicks
- Hillcrest’s favorite gay exclude – Flicks has happy hour from 4pm-7pm with free pizza (while supplies last) and plays the hottest hits on their song video screens! Everyone goes here before heading to Rich’s!
- 1017 University Ave, San Diego 92103
- Fiesta Cantina:
- Featuring walls that uncover right onto the sidewalk AND 2 Happy Hour’s daily?! Why aren’t you there now? HH from 4pm-8pm & 10:30pm-12:30am with 2-for-1 cocktails!
- 142 University Ave, San Diego 92103
- Uptown Tavern:
- Rustic meets current at this local tavern boasting 20 microbrews and locally-grown fare! Try the chicken and waffles!
- 1236
San Diego's oldest gay block turns 100
The San Diego Pride Parade marks its 50th anniversary this year. It’s one of the largest and oldest Celebration celebrations in the state, and it's almost moment for the big celebration to begin. The Parade Parade and Festival symbolizes the progress made by San Diego’s LGBTQ+ collective.
But as flags are waved and as the good times roll, it’s worth remembering that an important part of local LGBTQ+ history is not found in Hillcrest.
It’s a few miles away, in Point Loma — across the street from Liberty Station. It’s a below ground bar originally called The 19th Hole, a tip of the hat to the golf course across the street, which has also been here for a very prolonged time.
“1924 is as far back as we could find any records of its existence," Karen Sherman said. She’s owned the place since 2000, but she took over running it in 2015.
“It was started by some Navy wives who were avid golfers and just wanted a place of their own to hang out … but they didn’t legitimately have it until 1933 when it was the end of Prohibition, so it was a bit of a speakeasy during that period of time," Sherman said.
Sherman said it was The 19th Hole
San Diego’s Gay Bar History: Reflections on Community History and the Documentary Production Process
by Paul Detwiler
The Journal of San Diego History
San Diego History Center Quarterly
Spring 2019, Volume 65, Number 17:45 p.m., Lambda Archives, June 17, 2017
I’m hunched over a smoky glass table covered with a treasure trove of photographs, shivering from the chilly air conditioning as much as from the excitement of discovering photographic gold nuggets. I’m alone, but surrounded by faces smiling to me across the decades.
There’s a shirtless, mustachioed blond on roller skates in front of a 1965 red Plymouth Barracuda; the position of the Giant Dipper roller coaster and street signage in the background establishes the photo was taken in the vicinity of the Apartment, a women’s gay bar that opened in Mission Beach in 1974. Another photo presents a dance floor crowd, beaming faces glistening under a sheen of sweat, big 1980s hair and lip gloss in packed effect on the women (and on some men, too). A third snapshot: a festive lineup of Halloween-costumed contestants—a drag version of Tippi Hedren (a stuffed crow entangled in her stylish platinum updo), a garish clown, and a bu