{{Short description|US LGBT anthology}} {{Infobox book | name = Our Happy Hours: LGBT Voices from the Gay Bars | genre = anthology | image = File:Our Happy Hours.jpg | published = November 2017 | publisher = Flashpoint Publications | isbn = 978-1-63304-813-3 }}
'''''Our Happy Hours: LGBT Voices from the Gay Bars''''' is a 2017 anthology that came about as a result of [[Orlando nightclub shooting|the massacre]] at the [[Pulse nightclub]] in [[Orlando, Florida]]. The anthology is curated by writers [[Renee Bess]] and [[Lee Lynch (author)|Lee Lynch]] and contains contributions from LGBT writers from all walks of life. The anthology was created to give [[LGBTQ]] writers a chance to reflect upon the role of the gay bar in their lives and to express its importance to non-LGBTQ people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://metrosource.com/event/our-happy-hours-lgbt-voices-from-the-gay-clubs-anthology-reading/|title=Our Happy Hours LGBT Voices From The Gay Clubs anthology reading {{!}} Metrosource|publisher=Metrosource|access-date=2017-11-07|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108035550/https://metrosource.com/event/our-happy-hours-lgbt-voices-from-the-gay-clubs-anthology-reading/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== History == The [[Orlando nightclub shooting|massacre at the Pulse nightclub]] in Orlando, Florida brought [[LGBT+ nightclub|LGBT club life]] into the public view. However, it became apparent that many people outside of the [[LGBT community|LGBTQ community]] did not truly understand the role that bars and clubs play in the community and how their importance evolved over the years.<ref name="lgbtSr">{{Cite news|url=http://www.lgbtsr.org/2016/09/15/call-for-submissions-happy-hours-our-lives-in-the-gay-bars/|title='Happy Hours – Our Lives in the Gay Bars'|date=2016-09-15|publisher=lgbtSr|access-date=2017-10-10|language=en-US}}</ref>
When writer Renee Bess read [[Lee Lynch (author)|Lee Lynch]]'s blog, "Freedom Clothes", she noticed the historical descriptions of gay bar life mirrored the contemporary descriptions of the gay bar's role in the lives of [[LGBTQ]] persons. Despite the commonly accepted belief that the gay bar is a place of refuge and self-affirmation, it is also a place that offers different experiences to different members of the LGBTQ community. Bess felt it was important to have a discussion about the significance of the gay bar/club in [[LGBT culture|LGBTQ culture]]. The idea of inviting writers to contribute their pieces of short fiction, slices of their bar-related memoirs, and their poetry to an anthology came to mind as a means of sharing the LGBTQ club experience with the world.<ref name="lgbtSr" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://lgbtweekly.com/2017/09/17/the-amazon-trail-happy-hours/|title=The Amazon Trail: Happy hours|work=LGBT Weekly|access-date=2017-10-10|language=en-us|archive-date=2017-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918025741/http://lgbtweekly.com/2017/09/17/the-amazon-trail-happy-hours/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Bess asked Lynch, a revered member of the lesbian writers' community, if she would like to join her in inviting LGBTQ writers to create and submit original poetry, fiction, nonfiction, essay, and memoir pieces that explore the role the gay bar's culture has played in their life or the lives of the LGBT community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/m/APParticle.php?AID=56721&i=16&s=Books|title=Gay-bar literary submissions wanted - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times Books|date=5 October 2016 |publisher=www.windycitymediagroup.com|access-date=2017-10-10}}</ref>
== Publication == The "gay bar anthology" was titled ''Our Happy Hours: LGBT Voices From the Gay Bars'' and was published in the fall of 2017 by Flashpoint Publications.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reneebess.com/news.html|title=Renee Bess - News|publisher=reneebess.com|access-date=2017-10-10}}</ref><ref name="jenjsilver">{{Cite news|url=https://jenjsilver.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/our-happy-hourscoming-soon/|title=Our Happy Hours...coming soon!|date=2017-10-01|publisher=jenjsilver|access-date=2017-10-10|language=en-US}}</ref> It also contains memoir pieces about gay life in the 1960s before the acceptance of the LGBT community within the mainstream society.<ref name="jenjsilver" />
== Context == The anthology contains stories and poetry from over thirty LGBT writers that were influenced or inspired by LGBT bar experience and covers themes ranging from "fiery political birthplaces", "poetic reverence", and "points of resistance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kallmaker.com/happy-hours-gay-bars-lgbt-thrived/|title=Our Happy Hours - How LGBT People Thrive(d) and Survive(d) {{!}} Kallmaker.com|date=2017-11-03|publisher=Kallmaker.com|access-date=2017-11-05|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36511906-our-happy-hours-lgbt-voices-from-the-gay-bars|title=Our Happy Hours, LGBT Voices From the Gay Bars|publisher=www.goodreads.com|access-date=2018-01-20}}</ref>
== Donation of royalties == The necessity of the [[anthology]] came as a result of the massacre and the fact the many [[Homelessness among LGBT youth in the United States|LGBT youth are homeless]]. The curators felt the [[Royalty payment|royalties]] from the book should go to help [[Youth homelessness|homeless youth]]. It was decided the royalties from the anthology will go to benefit the Attic Youth Center in [[Philadelphia]] and [[Ali Forney Center]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sandraseamans.blogspot.com/2016/11/happy-hours-our-lives-in-gay-bars.html|title=My Little Corner: Happy Hours - Our Lives in Gay Bars - Charity Anthology|last=Seamans|first=Sandra|date=2016-11-30|website=My Little Corner|access-date=2017-10-10}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== See also == * [[Gay bar]]s * [[Violence against LGBT people]] {{Orlando nightclub shooting}} {{Portal bar|LGBTQ}}
[[Category:2017 anthologies]] [[Category:2010s LGBTQ literature]] [[Category:LGBTQ anthologies]] [[Category:LGBTQ literature in the United States]] [[Category:Orlando nightclub shooting]] [[Category:2017 LGBTQ-related literary works]]