![]() “Now gay people no longer look to Ripples or any other gay bars or businesses as a safe haven because they can go anywhere,” said Garcia. The city is recognized for its acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. It’s just one sign of how things have changed for gay people in Long Beach. They used to be blacked out for privacy and safety. ![]() Now you can see through the club’s windows. We’ve had to protect ourselves from different people: Aryan nation, crazy people with swords and knives and guns and everything else so it’s been a battle,” said Hebert. “We had a lot of problems with being accepted. Sometimes it was a matter of staying alive. I mean everybody in business was pretty much practically against you,” said Garcia. They own the Ripples bar, the land, and a small attached liquor store.īy the time they had bought out all the original owners in the 1980s they had some lessons to learn. Together they have established a reputation. They are partners in business and partners in life. RELATED l Woman Serves as Stand-In Mom at LGBTQ Weddings – It is the oldest gay club around, but it won’t be in business for much longer.Ĭlub Ripples co-owner Larry Hebert has been looking after the place for more than four decades.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |