Melendez served in the military during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and said she remembers when people weren’t so accepting of who she is. However, Side Kicks Saloon is a safe space and “accepting environment” for customer Candace Melendez. The internet and older generations dying off are a cause for the lack of gay bars in the city, according to Taylor. “When I first came to Kansas City in 1980, there basically 28 gay bars and there’s five now,” Taylor said. Over the years, Taylor has seen the number of gay bars decline. “A lot of them would come in and order a drink and give $100 tips,” Taylor said. The saloon – the area’s longest-running gay bar – survived the COVID-19 pandemic propped-up by its LGBTQ+ customers. “Gay pride is the month that we celebrate that we’re not being persecuted and everybody can live the way that they were born,” Side Kicks Saloon Manager Buddy Taylor said. For Kansas City LGBTQ+ business owners, they feel the community support during this month. Pride month began Tuesday for the LGBTQ+ community and is a time to remember their past, enjoy the present and be proud of who they are. What originally started as a riot has turned into celebrations and parades in several cities, including in the Kansas City metro.
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