Gay clubs columbia mo
How has Columbia LGBTQ acceptance changed in 40 years? Arch and Column regulars share stories
If you see the Arch and Column Pub, Columbia's sole LGBTQ bar, affectionately known as Arches, on the Business Loop in the preliminary evening hours on a Wednesday, and maybe even Friday or Saturday, you are sure to spot a group of guys sitting around, chatting about their week and sometimes reminiscing.
These men have lived in Columbia for at least the last 30 to 40 years and have had a chance to observe the transforming moods in Columbia's tradition and its acceptance of the LGBTQ community. Among these regulars are those who were former owners of Columbia LGBTQ bars.
The group of regulars are somewhat the vestiges of what was known as the Rainbow Rotary. This was a group of men who would connect to have dinner on a regular basis and also hold a 50-50 raffle over the course of the evening in support of a local charity.
With the Mid-MO Pridefest coming up Sept. 23-24, the Tribune wanted to take down an oral history, however brief, about LGBTQ life in Columbia dating back upward of 40-50 years ahead of the festivities. 2023 is PrideFest's 19th year in Columbia at Rose Harmony Hall, this year occ
LGBT Populations
This guide shows the estimated uncooked number of LGBT people (ages 13+) living in each state. The numbers are based on a Williams Institute analysis of surveys conducted by Gallup Polling (2012-2017) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2015 and 2017 YRBS). For more facts, see the methodology in the Williams analysis.
500K - 1.4M+
200K - 499K
50K - 199K
8K - 49K
Data are not currently available about LGBT people living in the U.S. territories.
Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws
*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ mature person population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ individual population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.
This guide shows the estimated percentage of each state's individual (ages 18+) population that identifies as lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual, or transgender, based on a 2018 investigation of Gallup data by The Williams Institute.
5.0% and greater
4.0%-4.9%
3.0%-3.9%
1.5%-2.9%
By Katie and Sugar
For most people, Columbia is a pit stop on the I-70 trek from St. Louis to Kansas Capital. For those lucky enough to live here, there’s so much more to love.
Katie: I moved here 3 years ago to start graduate school at Mizzou, and it didn’t take long for me to feel like passionate and fuzzy about Columbia – that’s the Midwestern hospitality. After a petty longer, I’d found so many other reasons to love it here. Because of the university, Columbia has is a liberal bubble in a surrounding sea of red. There are plenty of astounding cultural events happening, and a lot of one-of-a-kind and wonderful people. Gender non-conforming people and places aren’t hard to find, and the other residents of Columbia largely embrace the LGBTQ community.
COMING OUT Night AT MIZZOU
Sugar: I possess officially lived in Columbia, MO for 5 months now, and it has blown me away. I was born and raised in Arkansas and was proud to live there. I began a extended distance relationship with my current partner and future wife, and began making trips to Columbia whenever I could. There’s something about Columbia that made an impact on me and that I reflect would impress any member of the
Going to The Social Room is like visiting Wonderland: You get there through the looking glass. From outside the one-story brick building on Eighth Highway, a yellow banner reads: “Be yourself. Be alternative. Be social.”
If you stare through the left window, you can see a cafe washed in red light. The eatery and the club are separated by a mirrored wall. It might seem silly to push on a mirror in a nightclub, but have faith. It’s actually a door that swings into a hallway illuminated by lights that look like the Super Mario Bros. video game mystery boxes.
On the right, the hallway leads into a game room with a pool table and three retro Nintendo consoles with a rotating selection of games. Vinyl records adorn the walls. On the other side of the hallway, you’ll discover a dance floor illuminated by flashing lights, silver streamers and a glittering disco ball.
Tucked away at the end of the hall is a nook decked in a gold sequin curtain. It’s a small spot, but it makes the perfect photo backdrop. The bright teal and yellow walls, sparkling glitter and nostalgic gamer decor combine with the lights and swelling melody to amp up the whimsical feeling.
For many fresh LGBTQ people in Columb
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