Small Town Gay Bar (2006)

Small Town Gay Bar
Released: 2006
Runtime: 81 minutes
Rated: Not Rated

For anyone growing up gay or living in a small town the outlets to be yourself are few and far between.  In Small Town Gay Bar, Director Michael Ingram captures the real-life importance that these venues have for those that do not have the access to resources that are available in larger cities.

Shot in the "bible belt" of Alabama and Mississippi, Small Town Gay Bar primarily documents the rise (and fall) of two gay bars - Rumors in Shannon, Mississippi (population 1,657) and Crossroads/Different Seasons in Meridian, Mississippi (population 38,000) as seen through the eyes of those that own the bars and those that frequent them.

In addition, the documentary looks at the hate crime torture and murder of Scotty Joe Weaver in Bay Minette, Alabama (population 7,820).

Scene from the documentary Small Town Gay Bar

What immediately jumped out to me while watching this documentary was how these bars are more than just a local drinking establishment.  Each of the bars highlighted provided a connection to community that was otherwise not available to local residents.  It was apparent through each interview that the bar owners and patrons alike saw these as more of a community gathering place where one could simply be themselves.

Not surprisingly, as someone who grew up in a small town themselves, the larger picture debates around gay rights, same-sex marriage, 'et al' simply takes a backseat to the day-to-day struggles (and risks) of being gay in a small town.

Director Michael Ingram (a Canadian!) does a great job of exploring the life around these gay bars including the owners, past and present, and in capturing the desire for the residents in these areas to simply have a place to call their own.