Bars and dance clubs have been an integral part of Cleveland’s queer community for decades, serving as places for members of the LGBT community to socialize, have fun, and let their guard down. However, they have not always been welcoming to all. Many businesses were informally segregated by both race and sex. Some locations were also subject to homophobic attacks from outsiders. Despite these tribulations, bars, clubs, and discos persist as places of refuge for many in the LGBT community.