Fifty Years of Pride at Why Not III: Creating Queer Space in the Midwest

by Lauren Instenes

"Springfield has a lot of closet cases..."

[Floyd Hook Jr.]: Springfield has a lot of closet cases, and uh, they could sneak out to the gay bars. I mean uh, they had no other place to go.

View of a one story small green building from the street. It has one white door, no windows and no signs or markings on the building. The sky is bright blue and there is a streak of sunlight that shines in from the left side of the image.

View of a one story small green building from the street. It has one white door, no windows and no signs or markings on the building. The sky is bright blue and there is a streak of sunlight that shines in from the left side of the image.

 

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Hi there. Thanks for stopping by. In this exhibit I invite you to explore Why Not III, Springfield, Ohio’s oldest gay bar. Gay bars have long been sanctuaries to the queer community, and no where is a space like this more needed than in a small midwestern town where being different often meant you had a target on your back. Why Not housed a vibrant community and this virtual tour will give you a chance to walk in their shoes as you learn the unique history of this space. I hope to see you inside!

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