Opening the black doors into Splash nightclub takes club goers from the dark cinder-block exterior into the neon-lit interior.

As the music changes to signal the beginning of the night’s drag queen performances, a crowd gathers around the stage. There is a confidence and defiance each performer embodies in their numbers giving true meaning to their queen status. When each queen appears on stage, dollar bills are thrust into the air.

After the show, spectators get on stage and dance together for the remainder of the evening. The queens come out and mingle with the audience, dancing and taking photos while thanking them for coming to the show.

COMING HOME

Splash, a nightclub located on 2183 Highland Rd., is a staple among the gay community in Baton Rouge. But, it’s not just a place for LGBTQ youth to have fun — it’s a celebration of everything they are. It transcends the notion of being just another place to go out. For patrons of Splash, it’s as if human connection is tangible. It’s family, friends and ultimately, love.

“There is a sense of community in Splash you don’t get anywhere else,” political science sophomore Brandon Miguez said. “You can walk into Splash and instantly see 20 people that you know and you’re friends with. Everyone is like you.”

Going to Splash gives attendees a home, Miguez explains, especially for University students who may not be out to their family. By allowing people to act unashamedly in a nonjudgmental space, gay bars can have a huge impact on people who are struggling to become more comfortable in their sexuality.

For Miguez, the word “gay” used to be a derogatory term. Now, his interpretation of the word has evolved since he’s become more established in his community, he said.

“Now, I’m a lot more comfortable with accepting the fact that that’s who I am and being able to say that to anyone. Now… [the word gay] is associated with family and friends and places like Splash,” Miguez says. “It’s a positive thing and I love it. It’s nothing I feel like I should hide.”

For people who aren’t fully open about their sexuality, or have just come out, Splash serves as a refuge and a place to meet other likeminded people. Theater senior Charles Davis credits the experience for relieving the stress that arises from being queer in a predominately heterosexual society.

“[Splash] honestly helped me feel better about myself and my insecurities about my gayness,” he said.

Davis performed in the “Drag Search: First Time Drag Competition,” an amateur night Splash held in March.

“Being on stage in drag made me realize how much I love performing,” Davis said. “I love to project happiness and provoke emotions out of people by just being on stage and giving them a performance.”

Davis says Splash has become a rite of passage for LGBTQ youth in Baton Rouge.

“You need an escape from reality to keep your grasp on reality,” he explains. “For me, being in Southern Louisiana, not only is it hard being black, it’s hard being gay and black. Going into Splash alleviates all that stress.”

GOING OUT

Although Splash is known as a gay bar, people of all sexual orientations feel welcomed.

English sophomore Bari Sonnier’s first time in the nightclub was this past September. Sonnier brought some of her sorority sisters along with her to Splash and said the night was the most fun outing she’s had in college.

“Every time I go to Tigerland, I’m there for the wrong reasons,” Sonnier says. “I realized that when I went to Splash and I had nothing else on my mind but having fun.”

Tigerland, an area of bars popular among University students, presents a different atmosphere than that of Splash. Miguez went to the string of bars once and said that he’ll never go back.

“It’s a gross mentality and it’s lifted up, and idolized,” Miguez said. “What disturbs me is that Tigerland is ‘the LSU experience.’”

Political science sophomore Sarah Perkins went to Tigerland with her gay roommate. She said when they’ve gone out, he feels he doesn’t belong there. Perkins said people need to open their minds to better understand the LGBTQ community.

“People should be pushing themselves to get out of their comfort zone and get over the stigma surrounding gay bars,” Perkins said. “To bridge the gap, we need to connect and listen to each other.”

EDUCATING ALLIES

The experience in a gay bar can be very different depending on one’s gender and sexuality. Splash is oriented toward gay males, so it caters more toward that demographic.

“For a straight girl, it’s a safe space in the sense you don’t have to worry about drunk college guys hitting on you… but you’re not necessarily a part of the gay community in the way I am when I walk in the door,” Miguez said. “When I walk in the door, that’s truly my family. Those are people I spend countless hours with outside of Splash.”

Being a different sexual orientation than the norm in a conservative state is a feat in itself, biology sophomore Mia Sanchas says.

“If you didn’t know anyone here that was at least LGBTQ friendly or LGBTQ themselves, you would have a difficult time feeling accepted,” Sanchas said. “I still feel like [being gay is] a taboo thing in Baton Rouge and it’s cool having a place where people aren’t scared of that anymore.”

TRAGEDY SHAKES A COMMUNITY

When a shooter opened fire in Pulse Nightclub in Orlando on June 12, he killed 49 people. It is now considered the deadliest mass shooting in American history, shaking members of the LGBTQ community around the world.

Davis says that after the shooting, he and several of his friends didn’t want to go out for fear of being targeted just for being who they are.

However, Miguez handled the tragedy differently.

“[My friends and I] didn’t let it affect us,” he says. “It had to be a conscious choice that we made, that we’re not going to let this deter us and take away the place we call home. If you let that happen, it’s taking away your identity as well as the gay community in Baton Rouge’s identity.”

A NATION-WIDE FAMILY

Although Splash is especially popular with college students due to its proximity to the University, the experiences clubgoers have are universal to gay bars everywhere.

“It’s the same no matter where you go when it comes to the gay community,” Miguez said. “I can go to any city in the United States, to a certain degree, and I can instantly have a family that will accept me.”

Josh Richardson is the emcee of Splash’s weekly Thursday night drag queen performances, “Diva Nation.” While he’s been the emcee for two years, he’s been doing drag for ten as Josalyn Royale.

“It’s a place where we can go and all be equal,” Richardson said.

Richardson said for as long as Splash has been around, they’ve had Thursday night drag shows, Friday “video music night” and Saturday “Dance Revolution.” He says this weekly routine will continue on.

“Splash will never get away from that,” he said.

CONTINUING TO GROW

Natural resource ecology and management senior Courtney Murr is the president of Spectrum, one of the University’s LGBTQ student organizations. Members can attend social functions, education-geared workshops and participate in student advocacy and community activism which are all provided by Spectrum.

“We basically just try to create a safe and welcoming community space for LGBTQ students and allies,” Murr said.

Murr has been a member of the organization since her freshman year and is in her second year as the Spectrum president.

The safety of members is the club’s number one priority, Murr said. While gay bars like Splash provide an outlet where those present don’t have to worry about their sexual orientation, Murr thinks our society could do more.

“I think there need to be more places that are more queer-friendly that aren’t bars or nightclubs,” she says.