Robert's Lafitte, the oldest LGBTQ+ bar in Texas, has been warned it could be shut down in 30 days unless it makes thousands of dollars in repairs. The bar, located in Galveston, was reported to county health authorities and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, prompting the need for urgent renovations to meet code requirements.
Terry Michael Fuller, who coordinates special events and bartends at Robert's, described the bar as a second home and a safe place for the queer community. “It’s our safe place,” he told The Independent. The bar has supported its patrons through hurricanes, the AIDS epidemic, and the Covid pandemic, during which it distributed food baskets.
First opened as Lafitte's in 1965, the bar has always welcomed a diverse crowd, including straight, gay, transgender, and bisexual individuals. Fuller emphasised its role as a safe haven where people can be themselves. The potential closure threatens not only the business but also performers and vendors who rely on it, including those involved in Galveston's upcoming Pup Weekend festival in May.
The staff have set a fundraising goal of $10,000, though the final amount may be higher if further issues with ageing plumbing and drywall are discovered. So far, around $4,000 has been raised through online donations and local events, with staff also contributing their own savings. The closure would add to a trend of LGBTQ+ bar closures across the US, with about 50% of gay bars closing between 2012 and 2021, according to sociologist Greggor Mattson.
