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Fragmentary seems like the most appropriate word to explain the history and tradition of oppressed people, and especially the LGBTQ+ people. Our heritage and identity has often gone undocumented for fear of unintentionally providing information that could lead to unwanted trouble from our oppressors. Contact it a fail guarded, if you will, but the end result was/is a huge loss of LGBTQ+ history prior to the 1980s.
In other instances, our history was often deemed as insignificant or unworthy of being saved by those in a position of power to make decisions about historical preservation. As late as the mid 1990s I can still recall the shock I felt when I was informed by a periodical librarian at the Atlanta Fulton County Public Library that copies of locally produced homosexual and lesbian publications were thrown away when each new edition arrived, unlike the mainstream straight newspapers and magazines, which were typically archived.
When I inquired as to why, the librarian shot me an incredulous look and replied with a patronizing to
Learn why I moved to Asheville and haven’t moved out. Asheville has been great – but watch my thoughts on some common questions about what it’s like being part of the LGBTQ+ society here, and pros and cons of moving to and living in Asheville.
So why did I area on Asheville? I reflect a little background is important for context.
I grew up in a medium-sized college town in North Central Florida. We had community there, but the kind of community that you get in an area with urban-sprawl, no real vibrant downtown core, and a small but growing emphasis on art, music, theater, and lack of diversity in the general population.
My hometown had culture, it just wasn’t the culture I was looking for. The homosexual community felt small. Perhaps it wasn’t, but it felt that way.
A limited years after graduating college, I had the opportunity to move to Boston. What a stark contrast to Florida. I finally had the culture that I wanted. Rainbow flags adorned residential and retail shop windows. There were gayborhoods. And pride. Wow.
After a while in Boston, it turns out that despite the deep feeling of acceptance and belonging, I really missed the friendlier, smaller
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Discover a very diverse community in gay Asheville! It's been a popular resort and relocation area for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities for many years. The large LGBTQ community enjoys welcoming visitors since most of them were once visitors before they fell in treasure with the area and relocated. Find many places to go and things to do. With a very vibrant arts people, creativity abounds! For an extra festive weekend, arrive to the Blue Ridge Pride Celebration each fall.
Also see Blue Ridge Pride's community-driven, searchable database for LGBTQ safe businesses, churches, events, groups, programs, and more. Go to Blue Ridge Pride's virtual LGBTQ People Welcome Center.
Gay Friendly Asheville Places to Stay & Things to Do
Cedar Crest Inn, Asheville
The magnificent Queen Anne mansion provides guests with a glimpse endorse in time. Lavish interior woodwork, period antiques and Victorian décor are set up throughout. Just a not many blocks from Biltmore… interpret more
The magnificent Queen Anne mansion provides guests with a glimpse back in time. Lavish interior
‘So much more than a dance club’: Asheville gay club Scandals closes after four decades
On the final night of Scandals’ goodbye run, song blasted and lights flashed in the nightclub as people danced their way through the end of an era.
The legendary nightclub, which was a harmless haven for LGBTQ patrons, had its final curtain call in early Rally after announcing it would not renew its lease in the historic Grove Street building in downtown Asheville.
Linda Oakleaf was one of many people waiting in the alleyway outside the nightclub, ready to party. She said she has been going to Scandals since the ‘90s.
“There's a lot of these institutions that are going, and it's really sad,” she said.
Oakleaf and her wife have been married for 21 years and have two kids, so she doesn’t go out as often but said she is still sorrowful about the closure of a place so rooted in LGBTQ history.
“I came out in 1987, and it has never stopped being fun to march in a room and look around and be like, "Oh, look, everybody's queer,” she said. “Like that's irreplaceable."
The club left behind a treasure trove of LGBTQ+ history, from drag shows and boogie parties to benefits for nonprofits like
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