Regardless, G-A-Y Late will always be one on my favourites, not going to lie, I am biased. But regardless of the amount of love I have for that place, there are absolutely many borderline disgusting events I encountered there gets me to experience the worst of some of my night outs. But what can I say, the contrast of bad and good is just more attractive.
Last night, ‘stars’ came out for the last day of G-A-Y Late, queer icons like Daniel Lismore and more were in the crowd of club goers that are giving Late its last grand party. The statement from Jeremy Joseph (owner of G-A-Y Late, G- A-Y and Heaven) back in November came in as a shock for many. As an iconic Soho queer venue for years and one of the ‘go-to’ places for people on a night out the sudden closure was unexpected. But Jeremy had given a very comprehensive line of reasons of why G-A-Y Late is struggling to stay open. And a lot of his concerns in the statement actually are reflected precisely at times when you are having a night out there.
Of course, for Late’s last night I have to be there and pay respect. I suspected that I would get sad and sentimental and over compensate with alcohol but for the good memories, why not. But before all that, I experienced the worst of some people’s behavior.
For the last night of a crowd favourite bar, you would think people there will be on their best behavior but unfortunately, from the start I was cut in the queue by people, but it happens all the times so I didn’t mind. But what followed was way much more interesting. There was an older man (probably in his 60s) was staying behind me in the queue, looked completely harmless, started talking to me. And I responded, as I don’t want to be rude. The conversation started with the love of the venue so I thought, yes I can keep the conversation going. Then the conversation moved to inclusivity in music videos. Kind of a touchy topic for people I guess, and he just couldn’t stop talking about there’s absolutely no need for inclusivity in art works and now a lot of them are going too far. Imagine a 60 something white male talking about the unencessity of inclusivity to a Asian queer person that happens to wear a lot of dresses, you may say I’m playing the race card, well not really because I was patiently explaining to him why inclusivity in art and music is quite important. And he didn’t have any of it and switched topic.
But I know I can’t change people’s mind and I was not intended to, since it was him brought up the topic after all. Then he carried on with some other things that is kind of inappropriate, cruising in the park which is not something I’ve really encountered or heard much about (and he really made me doubt the safety level of me walking around my neighbourhood in the night as the location he was talking about is in my area), whilst just keep getting closer and closer to me and leaning towards me. In a two file queue there’s not much space for me to move so I just leaned over the barriers and trying to keep as much distance as possible. I mean don’t people read the signs anymore? And since he never said his intention (well I guess I assumed) I couldn’t really just reject him and ask him to step back.
So the awkward leaning carried on for, well quite a bit. But gladly, the queue was moving quite quick so we were at the front and there were more space so I got to keep the distance in the end. But he pulled his last stunt of the night, he was behind me in the queue when he joined and by the end somehow he cut in front of me and disappeared in the crowd that was trying to get through the bouncers.
But I see his disappearing as a blessing. To be fair he probably couldn’t take anymore of my inclusive views and leaning my whole upper body so far away anyway and couldn’t wait any longer to get away from me. That was some decent core exercise though.
As usual, when there’s a queue that long, the cloakroom will be full. Coming from a concert and just did a ‘costume’ change, I got in with a gigantic bag of clothes, I was the most annoying person that has a bag always in people’s way.
Naturally I went to queue for the bar and hoping I can get the service soon. While I was queuing, there was this very tall guy behind me, wearing straps and low waist shorts, seemed nice and cool. He was with his friends at one point and started dancing, and his arms just kept hitting me, I get it everyone’s drunk and having fun, it’s fine. Then his friend left, just him behind me. He then started pushing and pushing, I didn’t say anything because it’s very crowded so that happens and it’s OK.
The queue was moving quite quickly at one point and the person in front of me just got their drinks and left, the tall guy behind me swooped straight over me and knocked me over behind him. I was in disbelief. I turned around and saw others saw what he did. The person who was standing next to me couldn’t believe that just happened and tried to help me getting the justice. He reached to the guy who knocked me over in the queue and trying to tell him what he did was not acceptable and he needed to step back in the queue. That rude person turned to him and saying aggressively ‘I don’t care, don’t talk to me.’ At that point, all the people around were all getting annoyed of his behaviour. So the person next to me reach to him again and try to reason with him, and this time the unmannered man said ‘don’t touch me.’ Wow how convenient! Don’t you remember when you literally pushed me over just a minute ago? Forcefully! After that one liner statement, he pulled a typical rolling eyes bitch face.
The situation was agitated quite quickly as the person next to him was not taking that behaviour of his either. Then he turned to the person who had been helping me and said if you want to fight, let’s go out and fight. Wow pipe down you ... you ain’t worth fighting against to be honest. So I said to the helping gent, let’s just leave him be, he’s not worth our time and energy. Yet again, that rude man was still running his mouth. The gentleman next to him pulled me up next to him so I get to the front on the queue, and there I was, getting a cursing like stare and followed by a huge rolling eye from the barbaric man. I said to the guys helping, I will report him to the bartenders and let’s just leave him as he is.
Then the rude guy just couldn’t leave us alone and kept squeezing and stare, so the gentleman who pulled me to the front, Charlie, asked me to switch to his left so he will be in between me and the barbaric and create some distance and keep me safe. So we did.
It’s the mixed feelings of at a queer club you get ‘abused’ by your fellow marginalised, discriminated and suffering ‘group mate’ and you are saved by the amazing people around you from a shit situation and they provided so much care and help to you and willing to get into a fight for you, who’s a complete stranger to them. I felt most vulnerable of course, because I know I don’t have the power to fight against someone like that not even be able to speak up for myself actually. But also I felt most powerful, empowered and loved, from and by strangers, fellow queer and the good in humanity. I’ll be grateful for the person who was next to me and jumped into my ‘rescue’ from the start, unfortunately I didn’t get his name but his almost heroic act was significant. I’ll be grateful for Charlie, who also jumped into ‘fire’ for me and protected me.
I ordered them both a shot, and Charlie offered to get me one too, toasting to G-A-Y Late and the ’start’ of a better night, we had a bond over tequila and the love of this place. Then Charlie said to me, if I need any friend or company I’m more than welcomed to join him and his friends and he will protect me and try to get me enjoy the night. He said it twice, reassured me even if I were there by myself, I wasn’t alone. It wasn’t something huge or deep but it was so magnificent in that moment, full of meanings and full of love.
The night moved fast and I saw them once at the door but never get to find them and express my appreciation again. But I know whenever I see them again, there will be more tequila to toast with.
Being made feel uncomfortable this night was not the first time I felt that at G- A-Y Late, things happened many times on my night outs there. Which echos with Jeremy’s point on why closing the club, which is due to security reasons, and London has not been as safe for queer community. I got people scolding me, making funny faces and spitting on me in Soho. Out of all the places, in Soho because of who I am. I got a lesbian telling me I should be a woman and should be a lesbian and I just didn’t know it for myself yet, I have people pushing me around, I have people giving me stink eyes in Late, but I never engaged. This time the difference was I felt a community, they stood by me, they fought for me, they protected me.
Being made feel absolutely comfortable, beautiful and amazing is an always. I don’t remember if I had one night that I’ve not had any complement about my outfit or my look or my moves on the dance floor at Late. There’re always people unconditionally hyping you up. Maybe when you’re fixing your hair, adjusting your heels, taking a photo or striking a not so good move, people hype you up, give you that compliment, putting a smile on your face. I asked two people to take photos for me inside and outside next to the G-A-Y lights.
And Both of them were saying how good I looked, how well I posed and they took dozens of photos from different angles. Outside, the person who took the photos of me was the person always with killer dance moves and he hyped me up for minutes when taking the photos, I just felt honored getting the compliment from the icon on the dance floor.
I LOVE.
Whilst the eventful night unfold, my bag was still with me. And I kept running to the cloakroom to check if there’s any availability, but unfortunately not for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6th times I tried. It was approaching 2:00 I was tired and with a bag just limited me from being on the dance floor and have fun. So I was ready to call it quit, I thought I will check again, if still no availability by 2:30, I’ll drag my sorry ass home. So around 2:10 I tried again, and the host tried his best and found me a spot. While I was getting my card out to pay, he said it’s fine darling sorry kept you waiting for so long. Waiting for the cloakroom for ages clearly was out of his control and with the overwhelming amount of people getting into the club that needed go go through him and getting their entry, it must have been a swamping day for him, yet he still made the effort to make my night better. It felt in a way, homey.
He probably knows me by face, we never talked much other than getting the entry every time, I don’t know his name, I actually don’t know anyone’s name at Late which I regret now. I know the faces of a few bartenders, I always go to the girl with black hair and killer eyeliners to buy drinks. Everyone was nice. Reason I go to her is the night before my birthday in 2022 I was at Late and then it was after midnight, so it was my birthday, I indulged myself a bottle of Prosecco and it was her who got me the drink. Every time leaving G-A-Y Late, you will get the bouncer telling you ‘enjoy the rest of the night and get home safe darling.’ Where else? If this wasn’t beautiful, what else. And of course, I got this on my way out this time too. I said thank you and greeted them back and walked away extremely quickly. Because I know, one more second I talk to the bouncer, or stand there under the G-A-Y neon sign, my weak ass will have tears dropping like a waterfall.
I think, it’s the people that make amazing things great, for a bar, it’s the staffs that make it iconic. The people is what makes G-A-Y Late, unmistakably sensationally G-A-Y Late. From Jeremy to the bar staffs to the bouncers to the cleaning ladies in the restroom to the very often on the screen Jacob, they are the key factors. So many good memories. So many fucking good times.
It wasn’t a never ending night for me as I was being sensible because I have to go into the office the next day, left at a ‘sensible’ time, but, how I wish I could’ve stayed till 5:00 am and seeing sunrise by its door and witness the last of the glory of G-A-Y Late and the end of an era, oh god how I wish for that.