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A review by librar_bee
Gay Bar: Why We Went Out by Jeremy Atherton Lin
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I approached this book anticipating a history of gay bars across time and cultural spaces; however, this is not the case. Instead, this book is a deeply personal memoir of the author, a gay, Asian-American man's, experiences in gay bars in both San Francisco and London. The reflections are interwoven with historical narratives from the queer scene of the late 1900s, detailing the history of communities through bars as public spaces. Gay Bar: Why We Went Out left an impression on me in many ways, namely through the smooth narratives and explicit detail.
Atherton Lin's writing is natural for storytelling. He does a fantastic job bringing together the vivid scenes of night life with his own personal feelings and experiences, and eventually those of his partner's ('Famous Blue Raincoat') as well. There were parts of the story where I found the transitions between reflection and history unclear, but nonetheless, the balance of the historical narrative and life lessons learned with the explicit sexual descriptions of encounters inside and outside the gay bars kept me engaged. For those uncomfortable with graphic sexual scenes, this may not be the ideal read for you, but I found it powerful that Atherton Lin so directly put into words the experiences of men being with men that have long been censored throughout history.
Other topics touched on are the commodification of queer life and capitalism's role in the eradication of these spaces, increased queer visibility and the changing dynamic of gay bars, consent and inclusivity, and the intersections of white queer life and white supremacy. Atherton Lin's mixed feelings on the progression towards bars as safe spaces for communities to flourish were interesting to read in print. He touches on his own feelings, but ultimately declares that "the kids" have taught him better. While I found the remark a bit patronizing, I found it intriguing that he was able to lay out his thoughts in such a way that allows queer folks to more closely examine our community spaces and what values we promote within. Perhaps a more comprehensive history of gay bars could address this.
Gay Bar: Why We Went Out is challenging, informative, and above all else, a very engaging story. While I did not always agree with Atherton Lin regarding his preferences in bars and night clubs (I also am not a gay man), I found that his feelings and thought processes made me think deeply about issues facing the queer community's past, present, and future, and it is crucial that we make space in our community for challenging discussions as we move forward and create more spaces for ourselves.
Atherton Lin's writing is natural for storytelling. He does a fantastic job bringing together the vivid scenes of night life with his own personal feelings and experiences, and eventually those of his partner's ('Famous Blue Raincoat') as well. There were parts of the story where I found the transitions between reflection and history unclear, but nonetheless, the balance of the historical narrative and life lessons learned with the explicit sexual descriptions of encounters inside and outside the gay bars kept me engaged. For those uncomfortable with graphic sexual scenes, this may not be the ideal read for you, but I found it powerful that Atherton Lin so directly put into words the experiences of men being with men that have long been censored throughout history.
Other topics touched on are the commodification of queer life and capitalism's role in the eradication of these spaces, increased queer visibility and the changing dynamic of gay bars, consent and inclusivity, and the intersections of white queer life and white supremacy. Atherton Lin's mixed feelings on the progression towards bars as safe spaces for communities to flourish were interesting to read in print. He touches on his own feelings, but ultimately declares that "the kids" have taught him better. While I found the remark a bit patronizing, I found it intriguing that he was able to lay out his thoughts in such a way that allows queer folks to more closely examine our community spaces and what values we promote within. Perhaps a more comprehensive history of gay bars could address this.
Gay Bar: Why We Went Out is challenging, informative, and above all else, a very engaging story. While I did not always agree with Atherton Lin regarding his preferences in bars and night clubs (I also am not a gay man), I found that his feelings and thought processes made me think deeply about issues facing the queer community's past, present, and future, and it is crucial that we make space in our community for challenging discussions as we move forward and create more spaces for ourselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia