Football Season & Gay Bars

Where do you go to watch sports as a gay person? I found one really great bar in Chelsea called GYM. Lots of TV, lots of different football games on Sat. and Sun. PLUS... they turn the house music off on Monday nights and let you enjoy Monday Night Football!

Here's the issue: GYM has become a "scene." Just the other month I was at GYM watching an Eagles game (this was early in the season when they were still winning). It was the fourth quarter and a close game. There was an amazing blocked punt and a touchdown that drove the three or four Eagles fans wild.

I heard two guys behind me comment on the cheering. The conversation went like this:

"Do you even watch football?"

"No. What happened? Did someone get a basket?"

*Jeff shakes head*

This is not an uncommon occurance at GYM. The dress is sporty so it weeds out the ultra-fashionista snobs, but, it's still full of guys who have no clue about sports. They are just there because it's the new "it" place. That's bothersome. I was hoping to find a place chock full of other sports fans. I guess there are still a lot of sports fans there, but it's hard to weed through the fluff to find them.

I have nothing against cruising at the bar. Hell, sporty sports fans, or laid back bearish/cub dudes tend to be the kind of guy that I dig. This makes GYM an ideal gathering spot for some of my favorite kinds of men. BUT, I also go for the sports, not just the men.

The Few, The "Not-So-Proud"

The life of a gay man is hard. Gay men have been frowned at, excluded, beat up, cast out of their homes or rejected by their religion. As put-upon men, you would think they'd be more willing to come together and support each other. And they do....if you dress alike, act alike and party alike.

What about the rest of us! I'm 6', 215 pounds and 32. I've never been to the Roxy, don't wear designer clothes and don't know anything about pop culture. Plus, I like sports. Football is my sport of choice to watch, while I spend most of my activity time playing volleyball. Most gay men think I'm from Mars.

I can't tell you how many times I've been talking to a little twink and had to explain the very basics of a sport. This is especially bad when I'm sitting in a Gay SPORTS BAR! What are they doing there! Sigh....I can't exclude them though. They already ignore me in their twinky circles, so if they're reaching out to the sports community I'm not going to lower myself to their level and slap their hands.

Join me as I journey into this world of the Gay Sports Fan. What they have to face, the trials and travails when their team loses and what they do when they are rejected by the straights and gays.