Community leader, advocate and story teller living life one day at a time
‘We can’t define ourselves in basements’: Popular Edmonton gay bar moving to Jasper Avenue
“This will be the first time that we’ve been so will be so visible in a structure that’s big and prominent and welcoming. We can’t define ourselves in basements or on second floors hidden away because we‘ve had to hide over the years,”
For the first time in nearly a decade, Edmonton will have two gay bars this summer.
Evolution Wonderlounge will open a new location on Jasper Avenue and 115 Street, as its downtown location on 103 Street near 102 Avenue winds down operations.
Ron Byers, director of Rainbow Story Hub, says opening a queer bar on street level is a significant milestone.
“Most of them have been down in the basement or up on the second floor. Very few have been main floor. Part of that is because of the fear of being found out,” Byers said.