A
gay bar is a
drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly
lesbian,
gay,
bisexual, and
transgender (
LGBT) clientele; the term
gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and
queer communities. Gay bars once served as the centre of gay culture and were one of the few places people with
same-sex orientations and
gender-variant identities could openly socialize. Other names used to describe these establishments include
boy bar,
girl bar,
gay club,
gay pub,
queer bar,
lesbian bar, and
dyke bar, depending on the niche communities that they served. With the advent of the Internet and an increasing acceptance of LGBT people across the Western world, the relevance of gay bars in the
LGBT community has somewhat diminished. In areas without a gay bar, certain establishments may hold a
gay night.