Gay bars near inglewood

But unlike the other watering holes, this bar is out, proud and gay. Northern Ireland is yet to legalise same sex marriage, so in a town of just 17, an LGBT venue is quite unexpected. James has been in the bar business since the age of 13, and time and time again would ask his bosses to put on a gay night.

With Shauna off to serve another punter, I take a seat at an empty table, turning to talk to a group of guys. In gay bars in larger towns and cities, straight invasions are often bemoaned by the queer clientele. Outside in the courtyard year-old Steven Patton is drinking, and welcomes me over when I ask for a chat.

I already know so many trans people coming out here — I never thought that would happen in this town. Small town teens usually have to travel for hours to find one, but not in Strabane.

Plaza (CLOSED)

As I head back inside someone shoves a shot in my direction. Perched on the stool opposite is Kelly Devlin, another regular who lives just down the road. Born in London, the year-old has been in Northern Ireland for nearly a decade, moving to Belfast before ending up here in Strabane. Now you can just come here and be yourself.

With the place getting busier, an off-duty barmaid called Whitney grabs me to have a chat upstairs. As I stumble towards the exit, and beeline for the local chippy, it dawns on me just how much of an impact this place has already had. A home for local queers, and a place of advice and refuge, the Central Bar clearly serves its customers well.

Gay shame and stigma still run deep in our culture, and the earlier we confront what it means to be queer the easier the coming out process — and what follows — will become. By Sammi Caramela. By Luis Prada. By Ashley Fike. Videos by VICE. These People Think So. The Internet Went Nuts.