Words and photos by Veronica L. Holyfield
CAN QUEER SPACES SURVIVE
THE CORONAVIRUS? An Industry, Dismantled Words and photo by Veronica L. Holyfield Words like social distancing and self-quarantine are now in the normal lexicon of our society due to the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus. We sat back and watched the rest of the world isolate, and then it was no longer a suggestion in Denver; it was required.
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ith the sudden break from the cold in early March, Denver queer spaces were alive and thriving. Typically, that time of year can be a slower time for bars and restaurants, as folks are still hunkered down for the winter, saving up that cashflow for the upcoming, long summer nights. The spring-forward time change that occurred March 8 with the nearly-70-degree afternoons had people pouring out of their front doors with sandals and tank tops, gathering by the hundreds in the gayborhoods Cheesman and Washington Parks, as well as the new, hipster haven Sloan’s Lake. Patios were full of people and pets for brunch; bookstores and antique shops were busy with perusers and window shoppers, and it felt as though the city of Denver was coming alive, emerging from hibernation. That is, until March 17 when everything changed. 2 2 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 3 , 2 0 2 0
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, under the guidance of Colorado Governor Jared Polis, mandated that gatherings of 10 or more people be restricted, and bars and restaurants would be required to close for eight weeks. An entire industry which employed thousands of Denver residents was shut down in the blink of an eye. “It's a shock to everybody,” says Jody Bouffard, co-owner and founder of the lesbian bar Blush & Blu. “I've been in the industry for 24 years; I have never seen anything like this. And having been a business owner for the last almost 15, this is a huge, huge hit for the bar, my staff, myself.” Eight weeks is a long time for any business to survive without a steady stream of income, much less queer spaces, which are becoming fewer and further between in the gentrified city. The
