Sickening
Queer spaces and people struggle to survive a global pandemic
Albert Serna Jr., Rebecca Schupp, Paris Galarza
During the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses were forced to close to ensure the health and safety of the public and to prevent the spread of the virus. Queer people and spaces, which have historically been vulnerable to economic uncertainty, were hit hard during the lockdown. Now, as restrictions are being lifted, queer business owners and stakeholders face an uncertain future having survived another plague.
As The World Fell Down
The places that were once frequented by the queer community have been shut for various lengths during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are their stories.
God Save the Queens
How do you survive a global pandemic? You get the lashes, and the hair, and the heels and all the duct tape you can find.
Future Nostalgia
As the world slowly reopens, queer spaces are facing challenges put upon them by the pandemic. For some, this means business as not-so-usual, for others possibly permanent closure.
Last Days of Magic
The number of queer spaces in Los Angeles has continued to decline over the last 20 years. Despite new spaces popping up, there is a downward trend that has continued to worsen through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear as of yet how many spaces will remain permanently closed when lockdowns are lifted.
As Seen on TV
TV is one of the most popular forms of escapism and it provides a safe space for many. Shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race are queer spaces on the big screen. Representation matters and it is important that queer characters and especially Black queer characters are appearing regularly on broadcast TV and beyond.
Dancing with Yourself
Queer people in the U.S. are more concerned that their spaces will not reopen after the pandemic, while non-queer folks don't have the same concerns. Because queer spaces have steadily declined over the last 20 years, the fears are not without warrant.
Different Names for the Same Things
After the unexpected loss of his husband, Thor, Brian McIntire comments on what it would mean to lose the space they built together.
Peaches Christ, Super Star!
Joshua Grannell, a.k.a. Peaches Christ, talks about how queer folks can bounce back from the pandemic in an equitable way.
Brian McIntire
Brian McIntire opened the Precinct in 2015 together with his late husband, Thor Stephens. Stephens unexpectedly passed away in 2018, his services were held at the bar. McIntire was hoping that 2020 would be a better year and had big plans for Precinct. Then the pandemic hit and the Precinct has been closed ever since. To help save the bar, community members started a GoFundMe to cover some of the mounting expensives.
Joshua J Cook
Joshua J Cook is the manager and one of the owners of Beaux, a neighborhood bar in the Castro District in San Francisco. Cook has been in the industry for many years and fulfilled his dream to own his own bar in early 2020, not knowing that it would be his biggest challenge yet to keep the bar alive in the year that followed.
Militia
Militia is a drag queen in San Francisco, known for her musical talent and her stunts. She is well-known in the community and advocates for more equity in the gay community. She is also a founder of the
Bay Area Queer Nightlife Coalition (BAQNC) , an organization of, for, and by the BIPOC Queer Artists, Entertainers, Producers and Employees of the Bay Area’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife community.
Afrika America
Born and raised in San Francisco, Afrika America has been an activist performer for many years, raising money for people living with HIV, AIDS, and other life threatening challenges. Since she started performing as Afrika America, she has made it her mission to increase diversity in the drag community, so that she is no longer the only black person in a show.
Joshua Grannell
Ever since Joshua Grannell was a child, he always wanted to be a performer and entertainer and a story teller. He started performing in drag in 1995. Today he is performing and producing shows as the drag persona Peaches Christ in San Francisco. As Peaches, Grannell has been active in the queer community and is considered by many to be a community leader.