Creating a rainbow oasis of diversity and inclusion in a hostile environment — sometimes violently so — is what LGBTQ bars have always been about. In past decades such an establishment would often operate on the fringes of the law, with police raids and being outed in the media a constant threat. Yet, they were also spaces of connection, community, and, especially in the '80s with the advent of AIDS, political activism. But where are LGBTQ people who want to drink less — or not drink at all — supposed to go? It's a question that concerns more and more people as they seek sober avenues that empower and fulfill, especially if they are in recovery. The answer: Queer-owned cafes, tea houses, creative community spaces both online and in the real world — even high-end chocolate shops. Such sober queer spaces do exist; they are gaining ground (even despite the COVID-19 pandemic), and they're bringing new visibility with them. It's a trend that's been gathering momentum for a few years. In 2020, NBC News reported on how alcohol-alternative LGBTQ spots were popping up across the nation in unexpected locales — from the online Sis Got Tea in Louisville, Kentucky, to the brick-and-mortar Queer Chocolatier in Muncie, Indiana. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?☕ (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi, ?: Getty)

Creating a rainbow oasis of diversity and inclusion in a hostile environment — sometimes violently so — is what LGBTQ bars have always been about. In past decades such an establishment would often operate on the fringes of the law, with police raids and being outed in the media a constant threat. Yet, they were also spaces of connection, community, and, especially in the '80s with the advent of AIDS, political activism. But where are LGBTQ people who want to drink less — or not drink at all — supposed to go? It's a question that concerns more and more people as they seek sober avenues that empower and fulfill, especially if they are in recovery. The answer: Queer-owned cafes, tea houses, creative community spaces both online and in the real world — even high-end chocolate shops. Such sober queer spaces do exist; they are gaining ground (even despite the COVID-19 pandemic), and they're bringing new visibility with them. It's a trend that's been gathering momentum for a few years. In 2020, NBC News reported on how alcohol-alternative LGBTQ spots were popping up across the nation in unexpected locales — from the online Sis Got Tea in Louisville, Kentucky, to the brick-and-mortar Queer Chocolatier in Muncie, Indiana. Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?️‍?☕ (?️: Kilian Melloy / @dragelruairi, ?: Getty)