Straight man gay bar

Here they are welcome, not alienated; their pleasures are shared, not stigmatized; and they are celebrated, not just tolerated. And as a good friend … I want my boy to have a good time.”

How about we take this to the next level?

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They went to the club and Saint said he was sitting there chilling. 

“I’m a friendly guy, OK.

I make eye contact with people who are looking at me.”

Saint tries to persuade the guy to invite his gay buddy for a dance, but the stranger makes it clear it’s Saint he’s interested in.

Wanting to throw himself into having a “good time”, Saint dances with the man, carefully leaving “good space in there for Jesus” between him and his new friend (he holds up his hands to illustrate the generous distance between them).

Eventually, the man leans over and “whispers something” into Saint’s ear, making him realize it’s time to end the dance and return to his friends.

You’ll actually see a lot of straight women go to gay clubs in Sydney just so they can enjoy a night out without being hit on by sleazy guys. All these conversations extend to mainstream media where, for the first time in the show’s “her-story,” there’s a cisgender heterosexual male contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, sparking a debate on what it means to be a drag queen and who can be one.

The notion of straight people attending queer parties raises questions on cultural appropriation, but it’s also a sign of progress for society as a whole.

Below, VICE spoke with some straight people about why they go to queer parties, the importance of respecting the LGBTQ community as an ally, and how being around the queer community has changed their outlook on life. 

Mathew Slough, 30

Sydney, Australia 

VICE:  Tell us about the first time you went to a queer party.
Mathew: The first time I went to a queer party was in 2012, when I was 21 years old.

They just do whatever they want, be who they want to be. Others praised him for being a good ally to his gay buddy. 

“The fact that you just went to support your friend, green flag,” said one woman. 

“​​And that makes you 10x more attractive,” said another. 

Another woman said, “My husband likes going for the free drinks.” 

The video also went viral when shared by someone to X, with a caption commenting, “He’s such a secure king”. 

Some people felt Saint was too comfortable at the bar, suggesting he might be in the closet.

You’ll be comfortable in anything from jeans and a t-shirt to a dress or a suit.

What is the age requirement for gay bars in Hanoi?

The legal drinking age in Vietnam is 18, and most gay bars in Hanoi enforce this age requirement. But queer parties have become all that and more for those who identify as straight, too. 

Social media is now awash with comparisons of straight and gay clubs, with the latter gaining a reputation for having better music, better dancing, and simply a better vibe.

Be all the beautiful things in between. The openness of the crowds both to music and people, the lack of judgment, and the positivity is something you don’t get at “regular” parties. That was my perception ever since, so being exposed to [the queer community] makes me feel like I belong there. This prompted an angry backlash, pointing out that straight men who are truly secure in their sexuality are usually unbothered by gay people.

Not everyone wants straight men in gay clubs

However, some queer people said they wished straight men would stay away from gay clubs.

Not just in partying, but in all aspects of life. It built my confidence and made me believe in myself. The bar has a wide selection of drinks, including cocktails and craft beer. In a video he posted last month he said he was aged 24.

In a new video posted two days ago, he spilled on visiting a gay club. 

“I was there to support a fellow brother who I’ve known since high school.

Before, the dance floor was where guys could hit on drunk women.
You can be whatever you want. Presumably, the man wanted more than just a dance.

Green flag

To cut a long story short (because the 4-minute video does waffle a little), Saint had a good time at the club, he appreciated the generous drinks measures, he ended up giving a “motivational speech” to two entertainers, and the night overall was an interesting experience.

It’s all about respecting and celebrating our individualities as humans, and not having those stupid normie rules. It makes you think about the concerns of everyone, not just the majority. 

“I’m a married woman with kids, so I don’t always have time to go to parties. Most straight guys won’t believe this but gay guys party harder than them.

In recent years, the city has seen a growing number of gay bars catering to the LGBTQ+ community.