Cincinnati gay bars
Cincinnati might not always be on the tip of your tongue when thinking about Homosexual destinations, but this Ohio city deserves a spot on your travel list. With a growing and welcoming group, Cincinnati offers something for everyone, from cultural experiences to vibrant nightlife. It’s a city where the rainbow flags fly proudly and diversity is renowned.
Throughout the year, Cincinnati hosts several LGBTQ+ events that draw crowds and spread delight. Pride Cincinnati Celebration and Festival in June are giant attractions, featuring business, community outreach, and a vibrant pride through downtown. Agreement Festival and the LGBTQ+ Film Festival are other annual highlights that foster community bonding and celebrate queer society.
For the best experience, think about visiting Cincinnati in the summer months. The warm weather coincides with many LGBTQ+ events, and the city buzzes with activities both indoors and outdoors. While it can get busy, the vibrant energy and events like Lgbtq+ fest make it an ideal time to explore.
The LGBTQ+ nightlife in Cincinnati is diverse and livel
Celebrating the history of Cincinnati’s famous gay bars
Some of Cincinnati’s most iconic gay bars have come and gone, while others are still going strong. But for those in our distant memory there are no more late nights belting out karaoke at Shirley’s, tearing up the dance floor at The Dock, or simply enjoying a beer with old friends On Broadway.
But these late-night haunts hold a place in the collective memory of their guests: That Cincinnati’s LGBTQ establishments are home, even if the house you grew up in isn’t always there for us.
On Cincinnati Edition, we celebrate the history of our city’s legendary gay bars.
Guests:
- Randy Bridges, owner, On Broadway
- Carl Fox, founder, Crazy Fox Saloon
- Michael Chanak, gay rights activist
Ways to monitor to this show:
- Tune in live at noon ET M-F. Call 513-419-7100 or email talk@wvxu.org to have your voice heard on today’s topic.
- Catch the replay on 91.7 WVXU and 88.5 WMUB at 8 p.m. ET M-F.
- Listen on-demand. Audio for this segment will be uploaded to this page by 4 p.m. ET., or subscribe to our podcast.
Updated: June 25, 2025 at 8:52 AM EDT
This segment first aired June 24, 2024.
Why trust us
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After Cincinnati LGBTQ+ bar shutters, blindsided employees are left wondering what's next
CINCINNATI — The Birdcage, an Queer bar and staple in Cincinnati, has permanently closed its doors, citing its struggle to remain "financially viable."
The bar announced its closure in a social media post on Christmas Eve.
"It has been an incredible six years serving you, Cincinnati," The Birdcage wrote on Facebook. "We’ve had our ups and downs but will forever be grateful to possess played our part for the Greater Cincinnati LGBTQIA+ community."
Later, the bar posted on social media explaining the reasons for the sudden closure.
"For the past year, The Birdcage has struggled to remain financially viable," the post on the Birdcage's Facebook page stated. "Bills and payroll were covered out of pocket — not through the bar’s profits — in the hope that community support would rebound. However, sales have plummeted by nearly 75%. In recent months, sales fluctuated, and we remained hopeful, it was not enough to cover basic deployed costs."
According to the send, the bar's insurance expired on Saturday, Dec 21. The owners said they attempted to sell the bar and nightclu