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Society
Pub Management:
Gay Versus Lesbian
by
Rajesh Talwar
 The
air is smoky, the music is loud, but it’s still possible for people to
hear each other. Its like many pubs after seven in the Leicester Square
area in London, but typically perhaps for some bars in the Soho area
this one has mostly men bunched together around tables swigging beer
with only the odd female couple in the corner.
Freedom Bar, located near the junction to Old Compton Street is a
regular haunt for Nasir, 34 and Philip, 42 who have been together for
many years. Nasir is Bangladeshi and he met Philip who is English soon
after he came over to study law in England in 1996. Despite having
different nationalities they have somehow managed to continue their
relationship owing partly to the international career that Nasir has
launched into. Today they have two friends who have joined them over
drinks, an Irishman called Andy, 38 with very long hair and Raj, 46 one
of Nasir's Indian friends from his University days.
Raj who is here on a short holiday is possibly the only heterosexual and
this is his first visit to a gay bar. He wants to know if there are any
lesbian bars in the area that he could visit but his hosts cannot help
him there.
'There used to be a lesbian bar, something called 'Opera' that had
opened not so far from where we are presently sitting,' says Andy, 'but
it soon closed down.'
Philip seems to recollect the bar but says it soon closed down because
the couple that started it fought with each other. 'I don't know why it
is,' he says, 'but this is the third time I know that a lesbian bar has
opened, and there have been differences and they closed down.'
Nasir suggests that it could be because male homosexual couples are
happier than their female counterparts. 'I mean, we are “gay” aren't
we?' he puns. 'The women are just not so happy together.'
Philip, who has written a book on Afghanistan frowns disapprovingly at
the political incorrectness of Nasir's contention. 'I can't say I agree
with you there,' he hesitates, 'although its true that there are no
lesbian bars around this area. There are very very few lesbian bars in
the city as a whole.'
'Could be because there are fewer bars being managed by women anyhow,'
says Andy.
'That’s as far as the hetroes are concerned,' says Philip, 'but I don’t
see how it applies to lesbians.'
It seems to be a mystery. The Soho area has a number of gay bars but no
lesbian bars. It shouldn't really matter that much because surely
lesbian couples can hang about in gay bars if they want to be intimate
with each other without the heterosexuals peering over their shoulders
to see what was happening. At the same time, it is a strange phenomenon,
not totally accounted for by Andy's observation that it is mostly men
who run pubs anyway. If no further credence is to be given to Nasir's
politically incorrect argument will the lesbian women please step
forward and explain the reasons?
August 20, 2006
Image under license with Gettyimages.com
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Society
The Week of August 20, 2006
The Telgi Saga : Why Exposure Always Ends in
Closure by Rajinder Puri
Coming Chaos in Afghanistan by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
India's Independence Day 2006: Striking
Observations by Dr. Subhash Kapila
Manmohan's Win-Win Argument by Col. Rahul K.
Bhonsle
Human Power: A Divine Gift by TA Ramesh
The Real Problem with Globalization by
Aruni Mukherjee
A Parable on Proactivity by PGR Nair
Hair Loss Prevention through Ayurveda by Dr.
Savitha Suri
When the Earth Trembles! by VK Joshi
Vanishing Tropical Forests by Kusum Choppra
Health Hazards by Dr. Prasenjit Maiti
Smart Wi-Fi by Ruchi Gupta
Sons as Lovers by Julia Dutta
Blame it on Blue by Prakash Pathre
The Witty Side by Melvin Durai
Are we an Inconsiderate People? by CR Gopalakrishna
An Evening in Haridwar by Ragini Puri
Velvety Velavadar: Weekend Rendezvous in the
Black Buck National Park,
Bhavnagar by Dr. Sutapa Chaudhuri
Story of the Two Khans Fiction by CR
Gopalakrishna
Indo-Pak Conflict: 'Ripe' Enough to Resolve? a
Book Review by Manjari Sewak
Indian Novel in English: A Sociolinguistic
Study a Book Review by Dr T.S. Chandra Mouli
Superwomen Need to Eat Well by Priya Sahai
Shirali
Maximum City, Minimal Shelter by Usha
Ramanathan
Four Mothers Against War by Anat Cohen
The Power to Choose by Stephanie Hiller
Marriages are Made in Goa by Lionel Messias
The Gambler Girls by Yvonne Barlow
Pub Management: Gay Versus Lesbian by Rajesh
Talwar
Dilli Hat Glitters with their Jewellery by Debi
Prasad Sarangi
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