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Young, 41, has been coming to the gay bar since it opened about 22 years ago. It feels like a safe space to engage in free thought and debate, he said. Basix, at First Ave. An after party will follow with The Box Lunch food truck serving food, and a drag show at 11 p. The presidential forum at 7 p. Tickets for the forum at Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe College campus are sold out, but the event will be livestreamed including on TheGazette.

Basix is holding the only watch party in Cedar Rapids registered with One Iowa. Young would like to see candidates promise to make the Equality Act 'a central part of their first days in office. Although Young has never been fired simply for being gay, it's something he has worried about over the years.

Patrons say ‘bye’ to Belle’s as Basix turns chapter as Cedar Rapids’ only LGBTQ bar

Throughout his career as an elementary school teacher, he has felt there were times he couldn't fully express himself for fear of how his students, their parents or the school administration would respond. Basix hosts viewing parties for almost every presidential debate. As the election heated up, 60 to 70 people would fill the bar during debates, said Andrew Harrison, owner of Basix.

It's a big issue for me when I vote. As a gay man, Harrison said it would be nice to live without the fear of getting beaten up or murdered because of who he loves. He would like to be able to hold hands with a partner without fear while walking down the street. Harrison doesn't expect protesters to camp outside Basix during the watch party.

But if they do, he sees nothing wrong with that as long as they are civil, he said. Basix has two bullet marks in its window from BB guns. The bar has been egged. People driving by scream profanity. After 49 people were killed in a mass shooting at Pulsea gay nightclub in Orlando, Harrison's anxiety is up on Friday and Saturday nights when Basix is at its busiest.

Melinda Johnson, 47, a bartender at Basix, said she checks customers' backpacks for weapons when she's working. If someone comes in who appears a little uncomfortable, she stands by the panic button as she greets him or her. Johnson has bartended at Basix for three years.

She found a home at the bar, however, long before becoming an employee there. When she moved from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids aroundshe would wander into Basix after work for drinks and to hang out. Watching presidential debates isn't Johnson's favorite thing to do, but she said it's her civic duty.

In JulyPresident Donald Trump said transgender individuals would not be allowed to serve in the military.