The Other Bar holds events or shows every day it is open. "If you offer a safe, comfortable environment with great entertainment and great drinks, the people will come." "We have an inviting atmosphere," Pickle said. The Other Bar prides itself on offering a safe place to go out and have fun. "We're packing it out every single weekend," he said. Pickle said since he took over as manager nearly four months ago, business has been increasing. Dancers perform in an illuminated cage on Saturday nights. In the left-hand corner of the bar, there is a sitting area with leather couches, tables and a wall of framed photos of iconic figures who are gay or support the gay community. The bar has an open-concept floorplan with a bar illuminated by bubbles that change colors. "The owners are straight, and we work hard to cater to the gay community." "There are no other gay bars in Gulfport," Pickle said. The Other Bar is on 25th Avenue near downtown Gulfport. Pickle said prizes at bingo come from local businesses who support the gay community. "It's basically a two-hour drag show," said Ellis Pickle, manager at The Other Bar. "For the first round of Drag Bingo, you can get bingo anyway you can, whether it's horizontal, vertical or diagonal."Īt bingo, there is no cover, and the cards are free. "We're starting the night with B-9," White said on a recent Wednesday. White starts the night with a song performance and stand-up comedy set before she takes her seat to call out bingo markers. There are no markers, fanny packs or troll dolls, but instead beer bottle tops, cocktails and Jayda White, house drag queen and show manager. Wednesday night bingo at The Other Bar in Gulfport isn't your grandmother's bingo. Koval said that she has seen many gay bars open and close their doors over the years, but she is committed to keeping Just Us open. "Our entire community is more accepting."
#WHERE IS THE NEAREST GAY BAR TO KESSLER AIR FORCE BASE FREE#
"We get busy in the early morning hours because casino workers and service industry workers come in for a free shift drink," Koval said.īroussard said that Just Us has been kept alive for so long because of the unique Coast community. Holloway spent a day at Just Usįor a benefit event, and military servicemen and women frequent the bar because it is close to Keesler Air Force Base. "We only close if a hurricane is coming and they knock on the door and make us leave," Broussard said.īroussard and Koval agreed that all walks of life are represented at Just Us.īiloxi Mayor A.J. "I told my staff that if a Molotov cocktail didn't come through our doors the first year, we would be open for 20 years-plus," Koval said.įourteen years later, Just Us still keeps its doors open to the entire community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. Koval said the bar was also protested by white supremacists. When Just Us first opened, Koval said she was greeted by three hanging nooses on the door one day when she arrived to open up. However, the bar has seen fierce opposition.
Just Us opened its doors to provide a safe social outing spot for the South Mississippi gay community, but Koval said she used to have a sign that welcomed both gay and straight patrons to the bar.
Broussard and Koval opened a separate bar, Sanctuary, in 1996. Just Us has been open on Division Street since 1998. "As long as we can meet overhead, our goal is to give back to our community." "We are a viable resource, not just for the LGBT community but the entire community - period," Koval said. Broussard said the benefit will become an annual fundraiser. The money from the cover charge was donated to the organization. 18, Just Us hosted a benefit night for Walk for Down Syndrome. "We buy them everything on their wish list," Koval said.įrom donating turkeys to the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi to hosting benefit nights at the lounge, Koval and Broussard rarely ever use the word 'no' when asked to give back to the community. Koval and her sister, Lysa Broussard, own Just Us Lounge on Division Street in Biloxi and say it's more than just a gay bar.įor the past 13 Christmases, Just Us Lounge has adopted every South Mississippi Angel Tree child with HIV or AIDS.
In South Mississippi, where Lynn Koval has seen five gay bars fail in the past decade, three such clubs have found success by becoming part of the community by giving back to it. Since it seems every time I load it, it asks me to login now, I'm going to start quoting the articles completely and throw a link in at the bottom.