The article was specific, and therefore only focused on gay bars. As for bachelorette parties, yes, they are all the rage to have in gay bars. I worked at a gay bar in New Orleans, and we had them all the time. We had a separate space, so we usually sent them up there. Many of the other gay bars did not even allow them. I can also tell you; they are NOT money-makers for the bar. We only made money because they had to pay for the space upstairs and a certain amount of liquor. But the money we made was nowhere near what we could had made had it not been closed off for the private event. The only time we really made money is if the event was on an off night (Monday thru Wednesday, and Sunday night).
The reasons many bars don't like hosting them is outlined well in the article; we can be treated like side-show attractions. I have been to many bars all over the country, mainly in the South, and often, when a "bridal shower/bachelorette party" came in, many people simply left. Of course, this was usually in areas which had at least one other bar nearby, in areas where that wasn't the case, it looked like a segregated club, men on one side, women on the other, with the exception of the few lesbians and bi women hunkering down with the gay men.
Frankly, it is more about them showing respect when they are in OUR spaces.
= new reply since forum marked as read