A Gay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Ambush on the Road
Family time can always go one of two ways, either fun-filled joy, or a assess of your patience and tolerance (or in most cases a little of both).
Every Thanksgiving, I act a road trip with Mama Dawn to somewhere fun. Past trips include included Branson, Natchez, Nashville, Natchitoches, Mobile, Pensacola, Memphis, San Antonio and Houston.
As she has gotten a little older (81 years young) and less mobile, we moved closer to home in our trips. Thus, this year, we decided to get an AirBnB along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and off we went to Bay St. Louis for a long weekend of drinking, eating, shopping and gambling.
Here is my adventure tale of a Gay on the Gulf.
The house we rented, one block off Main Street, was aptly entitled Le Petit Retreat. It was an adorable two bedroom house with quaint decor, an extremely comfortable sofa and beds, and an extra immense television. It is ideal for a chill time. After getting settled, immediately we were off to our first casino, the Silver Slipper located in Waveland.
Coming out to loved ones can be both a painful and joyous moment.
Many people put off coming out as gay/lesbian, trans, or bi to their parents because of the unpredictability of their reactions. The Internet is full of stories of teens and young adults being kicked out of their homes and forced to dwell on the streets because their parents couldn’t consent their children for who they are. But in a post-“Queer as Folk” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” society, people of older generations are much more open and willing to understand people from all walks of life.
So when one mother learned that her son was homosexual, she called a local bar, not for a few pints but for another amazing reason.
As a bartender, Kara Coley has always offered up directions and answered burning questions by her inebriated customers. It pretty much comes with her job description. As a bartender, you’re also wearing your therapist hat.
Facebook / Kara Coley
Except for Coley who works as a bartender in a popular gay block in Gulfport, Mississippi, the types of advice and questions she receives a
Bartender Spotlight
Whenever I travel, I love visiting gay bars in other cities. And one of my favorite bars is very termination to New Orleans in Gulfport, Mississippi. Sipps is a fabulous LGBTQ+ venue with a relaxing atmosphere, great events and some of the best bartenders. My bartender for the month of April is Jacob Simmons.
Originally from Cleveland, Mississippi, Jacob has lived in Gulfport for nine years. His story of how he made it down to the Gulf Coast is fascinating. His best friend and his wife moved down here about a year before and knowing that there is nothing up in the Mississippi Delta, as far as opportunities and a life go, they showed up one evening on his door. They convinced him to travel with them, helped pack his stuff and moved down here with them. He remarks that it is the best verdict he has ever made.
He has worked at Sipps for the past six years and his normal shifts are every Friday through Monday. Jacob is great behind the bar. He is personable and professional, making all his patrons feel at home. He has impressive cocktail making skills as adequately. His specialty cocktail is called Jacob’s Twisted Berries. T
Just Us Lounge
906 Division St. (Biloxi, MS)
(228) 374-1007
Just Us Lounge has been serving the Gulf Coast’s gay community for 23 years. The Just Us Lounge is now the oldest still-running Queer Bar in the articulate of Mississippi!
They lgbtq+ fest themselves on being a safe, fun, and welcoming environment for the entire Gulf Coast Community with events for everyone from Friday Night Karaoke and Drink and Drown to our famous Sunday Social Drag Shows and everything in between!
They adore their service industry patrons and honor them with a 24hr service industry shift drink, and also have regular daily liquid specials to meet every schedule! Just Us Lounge has been serving entertaining, family, and fellowship to Mississippi's gay community and its friends and families for over 20 years, and we look forward to doing the similar for the next 20 years to come!
