Unc gay club

The legendary nightclub, which was a safe haven for LGBTQ patrons, had its final curtain call in early March after announcing it would not renew its lease in the historic Grove Street building in downtown Asheville. Linda Oakleaf was one of many people waiting in the alleyway outside the nightclub, ready to party.

Originally founded in by the late Gay Fryara community organizer, entrepreneur and trained classical dancer, Scandals served as a place for people to dance, drink, see drag shows and get politically unc. Knowles first went to Scandals as a 19 year-old. As a young adult in need of a safe place to dance with her girlfriend, she appreciated the environment Fryar created.

Drag queens also found a safe space at Scandals. Local legends like Celeste Starr and Aurora Borealis performed for decades at the club, and it was a destination for out-of-state talent. In an oral history interviewdrag queen Faytriana Brown recalled performing at Scandals as a young adult. It was open arms and welcoming and encouraging.

Brown went on to win state and regional drag titles. She credited unc experience at Scandals as propelling her career to new heights. He club brought local politics home for me in a way that's club going to go away. Fryar ran the club until the early s. After Fryar died inScandals lost some of its political charge, but it remained a place where people could dance, enjoy drag and be themselves.

And everyone, everyone needs that. The work of archiving historically queer spaces feels especially important to Wray in the current political environment where some gay is being erased at the state and federal level. We're trying really hard to make things as public and open and safe for exploration as possible. With Scandals now closed, Knowles said she also hopes that people will remember the joy that the night club brought for so many.

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