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She links some of the economic growth downtown with the increased presence of the LGBT community at local businesses, in part because of events such as GGB. “It’s a great way for people to explore new places in their community,” he says.īusiness owners that have hosted GGB events have told Wetherall they’ve seen a boost in new customers after these events. It shows that GGB has grown into a community, not just these once-a-month events, Wetherall says.īurck agrees and cites the more than 1,500 people who are part of the Facebook group. Sometimes these donations go to local LGBT efforts, but other times they go to other local community organizations, such as the Food Bank of Northern Indiana or Pets Connect, among others. There’s normally a suggested $5 cover at the door, which goes to cover the costs of the event as well as a community give-back donation. The way to do that is to host large public parties like these in welcoming bars, restaurants and other venues, that show people who might be publicly out as LGBT new places around the area where they can feel comfortable on their first visit as part of a larger, like-minded crowd. We wanted, no question, that people could be out and feel comfortable and safe in South Bend.” For some, it felt like we were living in Notre Dame’s shadows. “We do that well, but the big goal was to put South Bend on the map as a welcoming city. “It’s about more than just throwing a great party,” Wetherall says. The goal is for everyone to feel welcome. The events attract a diverse crowd, she adds - gay, straight, different racial and social backgrounds. The monthly event is modeled after similar events in such larger cities as Boston and Los Angeles, although instead of just showing up to a venue en masse, Wetherall and other organizers work with local places ahead of time to let the venue be part of creating the event’s atmosphere. A fun event like this brings out everyone.” “It’s a nice cross section of the community. “Each person has a different reason for going,” he says. With his background in community development, Burck quickly got involved with the organization level of the events. “It just didn’t compute with my image of South Bend.” “Two hundred-plus people going to an event,” he says. Most of the events have a place for dancing, as well as a place for people to relax and socialize.Īdam Burck, who moved from Chicago to the area about a year ago, says he was searching for an active gay network locally. The events are normally held the second Saturday of the month, but sometimes switch to a different weekend during football season or if there’s another big event that day.Īlthough there were and are LGBT-welcoming bars in town, Wetherall says GGB fills a niche that people wanted but didn’t find in the area - an upscale, nonsmoking socialization environment. In March, they’ll head to Main Street Grille in Mishawaka. This Saturday, GGB is taking over the gym at Madison Center with an ’80s-themed dance party, with attendees encouraged to wear their favorite Lycra, Day-Glo and tennis shoes to dance in. Now they have to get a little creative with their locations, so they can host the crowd size. They’ve grown out of a lot of their initial venues, Wetherall says. “The fact that we have something that attractive for people to drive that distance says a lot about what we’re doing,” she says. The events draw folks from cities and towns around the area, but also regionally, with people driving in from Chicago, Grand Rapids and Indianapolis to come to the parties. It was a respectable size, organizer Willow Wetherall says, but it was small compared to the 200-plus crowd the event attracts now, three years later. In December 2012, 40 people attended the first Guerrilla Gay Bar event in South Bend. Editor's note: The February Guerrilla Gay Bar event was changed from Feb.