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Gay bar st johns nl

Eric Clark opened openly male lover bar Friends in s St. John’s and a succession of other queer and gay-friendly clubs

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ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — If you were looking for a place to be out in St. John’s in the s, ‘80s, ‘90s into the ‘00s, there’s a good chance you danced or drank in one of Eric Clark’s bars.
And if you were straight in the s, you’d be lined up on Liquid Street trying to receive into hotspot Club Max.
Clark took a bold step with his longtime business and onetime experience partner, Duncan Morris, to start the first openly gay bar to St. John’s. From then on, there were several of Clark’s bars — same-sex attracted and dance clubs — that fostered tolerance.
“We might have saved lives. I am sure we did. You could be who you want to be,” Clark said during an interview with The Telegram in his St. John’s home.

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    Gay St. John's

    Perched on the eastern edge of North America, St. John's is a charming, colourful city known for its rich maritime history, dramatic ocean views, and famously friendly locals. The streets are lined with brightly painted row houses, indie cafés, and a growing selection of creative spaces, including art galleries, inhabit music venues, and museums that mirror the city’s vibrant cultural identity. As the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s also serves as a gateway to breathtaking natural beauty—iceberg-dotted coastlines, rugged hiking trails, and whale-watching adventures are all just minutes away.

    St. John’s may be smaller than other Canadian cities, but its 2SLGBTQIA+ people is visible, emotional, and deeply woven into the city’s fabric. Inclusivity is a key part of the local culture here, with queer-friendly spaces start across the city—from community centres and drag venues to inclusive pubs and art collectives. While the gay scene is more grassroots than glitzy, what it lacks in scale it more than makes up for in heart. Visito

    'It's time to move on' says owner of St. John's 2SLGBTQIA+ nightclub Velvet

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    “We’re still going to be doing drag shows in the new venue,” he said.

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    “Instead of having mediocre shows, maybe if we undertake them every other week or every other month, then maybe they will be bigger and better and everybody makes more money.” 

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    While Velvet will continue open for a few more weeks, efforts have already begun to begin converting the territory, starting with the installation of a brand new sound system.

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    “That’s going to be deadly,” Viau said.

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    “With top-notch sound and lights, when people appear in, I want them to say ‘Wow, that was amazing.’” 

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    Viau is targeting the weekend of Feb. 22 as the launch date for his modern venture and is already functional to line up some acts.

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    “Right now I’m confirming the opening act,” Viau said. “I’m already getting a bunch of requests for booking, which is amazing.”

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    ‘There is a feeling that a queer person gets’

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    by Meredith J. Batt

    Atlantic Canadian port cities have some of the most colourful and vibrant queer spaces and stories. Saint John, New Brunswick is no exception. In , the first summer of the pandemic, I celebrated my 25th birthday in Saint John by attending a queenly show hosted by Justin TooDeep (portrayed by Alex Saunders) and Saint John’s jewel of the sea, Dia Monde (portrayed by Shawn Craft). It was a distanced drag exhibit, but after months of only participating in gay life through Zoom calls, I felt weepy creature in a space of so much excitement, gay community, and joy. Five years later, I am now lucky to dial Saint John my second home as I split my time between Fredericton and the great port city where my companion lives. 

    Saint John has a vibrant contemporary queer scene. Saint John Pride has hosted many of the city’s 2sLGBTQ+ summer pride events for over twenty years. Chroma NB, which formed in , offers everything from youth lunch clubs to hiking trips for queer and trans people of all ages. But the metropolis has long remained overlooked by historians interested in queer life