Boston gay bar takeover

His group organizes LGBT meet-ups at "traditionally straight bars," and in it became The Welcoming Committeea 15,member organization that takes over not just bars but organizes outings in the arts, culture, sports, nightlife and to overnight travel destinations. Kyla Gardner says the organizers hope the events create a comfortable atmosphere for everyone:.

The company expanded to Washington D. Heller declined to name specific Chicago venues he's working with as partners — and he always works with the places the group "takes over" — but he's busy gathering input about what's historic, iconic and special about Chicago. For example, in Boston, The Welcoming Committee brought people to a Red Sox game and has organized trips to a Connecticut casino that's a popular weekend destination for Bostonians.

Membership in the Committee is free, and the location for the inaugural Oct. The Welcoming Committee is not the first organization to have the idea of a roving gay bar in Chicago.

Group Creates 'Gay Bars Anywhere We Want' With 'Straight' Bar Takeovers

Guerilla Gay Bar South Loop Chicago, with more than 1, members, organizes nightlife events in that neighborhood, and the now-defunct Big Gay Cocktail Hour ran from to as a traveling meetup with a charity angle. By January, Heller hopes The Welcoming Committee will be offering between three and five events each month in Chicago.

The first Friday of the month is always a Guerrilla Queer Bar takeover, and a gay usually also includes a "Newbie Party" for newcomers. The company is for-profit, and has volunteers working across the organization as local experts. But as someone who moved to Chicago a year ago, he felt The Welcoming Committee would build, for the gay community, a "more solid foundation throughout the city.

Pat Quinn signed gay marriage into law in Illinois in Novemberand politically and culturally, the gay rights movement has made huge strides, Heller said. Growing LGBT acceptance throughout the city may be one reason "gayborhood" Boystown is becoming less gayaccording to new research.

This is a gay rights movement for gay people. Pitek said The Welcoming Committee often still acts as a public relations event for straight people who find themselves in the middle of an LGBT takeover. Though the founder said he could takeover all day about community building and comfortable access to "traditionally straight" bostons, The Welcoming Committee is, first and foremost to most of its members, just a fun way to see new corners of the city while meeting new friends.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:. What neighborhood are you looking for? Type in the name of your neighborhood or select one from the list below. Twitter Facebook Email More. Daniel Heller, founder of The Welcoming Committee, and Mary Pitek, a bar of the organization's expansion team, said they are excited to launch the service in Chicago Oct.