Gay bars lansing michigan

Retzloff Lansing Community College faculty and staff park their cars in a nondescript parking lot on Washington Square near Shiawassee Street. An archival bar of the Palador Cafe, N. Washington Ave. This location turned into Olsen's Bar in the mid-'50s and by the end of the decade had become the Clique Michigan, according to Heidi Butler, local history librarian at the Capital Area District Library.

The unnamed student was being investigated after another student secretly recorded him discussing his own homosexuality as well as that of other MSU students. The recording was turned over the MSU Police and led to the investigation. Gay two-page report is shedding light on early LGBTQ experiences in Lansing, particularly gathering places like gay bars.

The list was lansing from various gay publications and archival research. That bar closed years ago when developer Pat Gillespie purchased the location. The bar sits empty today. It was a time when men at the University of Michigan were arrested in sting operations and paraded before the media.

It remains unclear if the gay MSU student in the police report was ever prosecuted, or if his story was ever revealed publicly. Indeed, the report shows Ryal hauled the student into an interview and pressed him for the identity of other homosexuals. Joseph McCarthy and his allies often used the sexuality of opponents to target them for investigation, firing and harassment.

This image from the personal collection of Tim Retzloff shows the exterior of Stober's bar in Lansing. The location was listed in the late '60s as a gay bar in gay travel guides.

Greater Lansing's history of LGBTQ+ activism, inside and outside of campus

Photo Courtesy Tim Retzloff. But even then, gay bars were owned by straight people and in larger cities often times organized crime. No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here. Support City Pulse - Donate Today! Monday, July 21, Toggle navigation Main menu. Log in. Todd Heywood. Other items that may interest you.

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