gay bars were hard-hit by the pandemic, which forced the closure of most indoor watering holes across the country. The loss was felt acutely by LGBTQ+ folks, who often relied on these venues for safe spaces and connection, sometimes over the span of decades.Even before the pandemic, the decline of gay bars was a sad trend; 37 percent of these establishments shuttered between 2007 and 2019 in the United States, according to one study.As COVID-19 restrictions ease, however, some new LGBTQ+ establishments have opened, offering signs of hope to a struggling industry and community.