The Red and Black

Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: JAKE CLARK Loretta Brown, a cook at Weaver D's Delicious Fine Food, waits to cross Dougherty Street in front of Detour Monday. Detour closed in December. [Click to enlarge]

The bar known as Detour should be renamed Road Closed, as Athens' only gay-oriented bar quietly shut its doors during winter break.

The main causes of the club's demise were diminishing profits and the cost of the liquor license fee, Rocky Williams, who had been performing as Ecstasy in "Pheromone Cabaret," told The Red & Black on Friday.

"Unfortunately, the city didn't move quick enough to give it to them after the cut off date. New Year's Eve came around and they didn't have it, so we've been closed since Dec. 22," Williams said. "The money was there, but the owners waited too long to get it and they didn't know there was a penalty."

"Detour is permanently closed, if they couldn't get the liquor license within two weeks after New Year's Eve, there's no way they can recover the losses," he said. "Maybe they aren't sure what will ultimately happen and don't want to say anything until they're certain.

Boneshakers, the only other bar which catered to Athens' gay community closed in August 2005 due to diminishing profits.

The closing has been a substantial blow to the LGBT community, Williams said. The sudden closing came as a surprise to many in the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community.

The closing was a bigger shock to the staff at Detour, many of whom were not notified.

"Management's choice to be aloof with clientele and staff is a disappointment," said Isaac McCalla, a 1992 University graduate who DJed for Detour's weekly drag show, "Pheromone Cabaret," as DJ Isaac M.

"It's a huge loss. Though Athens has become more progressive, there's still not a safe space to go dance with your boyfriend or girlfriend and expose yourself for who you are," he said.

"There's a lot of people e-mailing me asking 'Where are we going to go? I don't feel comfortable going downtown.' Now they're going to have to go to Atlanta which is an hour and half drive and pay the Atlanta drink prices," Williams said.

Such effects have been felt within the University population.

Jake Campbell, a former Detour bartender and junior majoring in political science, said he found himself without a job or a haven.

"I, along with hundreds of other LGBT people, no longer have a bar to hang out at that overtly accepts us," Campbell said. "Detour was a sanctuary for so many LGBT people."

Williams is unsure how "Pheromone Cabaret" will recover.

"Unless another bar opens up, I don't know how we can have a full show again," he said.

Yet despite the grim outlook, Williams said he wanted to reassure the community of one thing:

"We're not dead yet, we're just beginning to live. Trust, believe and know that we will be back in one shape or form."

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