Guerrilla gay bar

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≠Guerilla Gay Bar (also: Guerilla Queer Bar, Gorilla Gay Bar, Gorilla Queer Bar) is the name a variety of groups that organize visits to nightclubs with predominantly heterosexual clientele by groups of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and others.

The concept originated in San Francisco in the year 2000, but has since spread to urban centres throughout the United States and Canada. In the US, the name "Guerilla Queer Bar" is preferred, but "Guerilla Gay Bar" is the preferred term in Canada, where the spelling "Gorilla" is also common. Smaller cities in the US are starting to catch on as well and here the term used is simply "Takeover". Charolotte, NC has a group called Takeover Friday (www.TakeoverFriday.com) while the Lehigh Valley (Allentown and Bethlehem, PA) has a group called Takeover Lehigh Valley (www.TakeoverLV.com). In Australia, where the concept is also starting to catch on, the events are known as "Fag Tags." Similar events are starting to be staged in Europe as well.

The chosen location for a given outing is often kept secret until the last minute. No violent incidents have been reported to date nor is it the intent of Guerilla Gay Bar events to disrupt or offend anyone. One premise behind the events, other than simply as a means to have fun, is to encourage gay people to go to different nightlife venues from the gay bars they may otherwise exclusively patronize.