Is our male-dominated gay community chauvinist? Boy babe Adrian Gillan asks leading lesbians about the rise of the girl bar and gender dynamics out on the scene.

Clare Summerskill, Comedienne
www.claresummerskill.co.uk

Of course the UK’s LGB scene is male dominated! Especially if you’re talking about gay bars in central London or Manchester, then yes, you’ll find many more male-run and owned venues. But in the last ten years or more I’ve really noticed an increase in women-run events for lesbians, which are maybe women’s equivalent of “the scene”. These days I’m getting asked to perform at book and music festivals and lesbian-themed conferences as well as in theatres and cabaret venues around the country. There is also an age issue here because bars often attract younger lesbians whereas older women over thirty find themselves creating other groups for socialising, like Kenric.

Whilst there appear to be very few women running gay businesses, there are many gay women working in businesses generally. Unlike ten or twenty years ago, loads of dykes are now extremely well-off financially but you only have to attend a Stonewall fundraising dinner to see that, as reflects straight society, proportionally it is rich men who far outnumber rich women.

Another obvious example of male dominance in the gay community is Gay Pride in London: gay male run, loads of gay male tents, gay male favourites as performers. As women we might feel like we’re attending a gay male friend’s party, but certainly not our own.

I think that the LGB community is probably a microcosm of straight society. There is certainly a degree of male dominance but I don’t think one could call it chauvinism, just unequal opportunity. Of course gay men and gay women have extremely different needs and tastes but as long as we are both discriminated against in mainstream society, which I firmly believe we still are, then it makes sense that we join together whenever and wherever we can.

Amy Lamé, Broadcaster and Performer
www.duckie.co.uk

I wouldn’t say it is chauvinist and I don’t feel threatened, but male dominance is even more concentrated on the gay scene than it is in wider society: I imagine straight men generally want straight women around, even if only to try and pull them! And it’s not just venues. Most gay media are basically for men.

I’m an integrationist, definitely not a separatist. It’s great to have places like Candy Bar and such, but gay men and women have more in common than we have to divide us. In the end, it’s all about atmosphere, about feeling welcome. At Duckie we’ve never had a door policy baring anyone, either for their gender or their sexuality. Of course there has to be some limits - you don’t want hoards of hen parties - but, despite all the hype, straight people don’t generally want to hang around in gay venues.

Even though they’re more common now, women-only bars and events have always been there - it’s just we don’t make such a big song and dance about them as men. Although I don’t go out that much on the gay scene, I’ve noticed many girl bars are becoming less slick, intense and ‘Soho’ and are more at ease creating their own genuinely female vibe.

And the perceived male-dominance is not so much since lesbians have less money; it’s rather that we flaunt and relish our spending power less than gay men. Perhaps we’re more intelligent and have different priorities - more likely to spend £50 on feeding a child than buying a face cream sold at us in some glossy magazine where we’re targeted by lots of companies who, at the end of the day, are only after our money.

Sarah Garrett, Writer and Publisher
www.g3mag.co.uk

The gay scene is incredibly male-dominated, especially bars and clubs. However, I think the girl scenes in major cities have branched out and are finding their own formula. Lesbians seem to be breaking away from the shackles of their stereotypes - thank god! Dykes are finally being individuals, with a variety of images, tastes and styles, demanding a variety of club nights to visit. This has encouraged a more diverse girl scene, and how refreshing.

In big cities, the scene has always had some degree of segregation between men and women - after all, some of the nights are based entirely on sex or cruising - but there are enough punters to warrant different types of gay bar, and this includes bars that are delineated by gender. In some suburban areas however, this is completely different: where there is only one gay bar stuck out in the sticks, a handful of women are usually found in one corner surrounded by hoards of blokes, that is if they have bothered to visit their local gay bar at all.

I think that the girl’s scene was about ten years behind the men’s scene but is now finding its feet. Maybe this is a reflection of society in general and the fact that women used to rarely get managerial or highly-paid jobs compared to men. However, the increase in women’s spending power and earnings is almost synonymous with the growth in the lesbian scene. We are now seeing more women spending, and more female entrepreneurs opening bars and clubs.

Also, I have spoken to many gay girls who don't feel they have to necessarily go to a girl bar or club just because they are a lesbian! Many women enjoy going to mixed gay places or straight nights, or to gigs or cultural events - even IKEA! There is life after the lesbian scene, and I think gay women are the first to realise this.

Kim Lucas, Promoter and Entrepreneur
www.thecandybar.co.uk

There are more males out on the scene, but they certainly don’t dominate me! And it’s a different kind of dominance to that found in wider society. I don’t think it is chauvinism. I just think men need more sex and will go to greater lengths to get it. Just look at all their bars, clubs and saunas - not to mention many of the scene mags out there. Should they know any better? I don’t think they have much control over it!

I’d say it’s just as male-dominated now as it was ten or more years ago although the misogyny isn’t there like it used to be. Moreover, the women’s scene has increased dramatically over that period. I don’t think the rise of the girl bar is merely some reaction to boy-power. It’s just that us girls are going out more now and want more from our own scene. The more the merrier: I’ve always maintained that the more there is to do, the more the women’s scene will grow.

Men and women are different in many ways, with different needs and hence different, if overlapping, scenes. But I’d still say there is one LGB community overall, since we all have that one thing in common - a shared experience of being gay and what goes with that.

I think gender is only an issue if you have a chip on your shoulder and let it become one! I have always worked well with men in business, and enjoy them out on the scene, so it really depends on the attitude of the individual woman. Or man - if he’s chauvinist!

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