Travis McCarty mixes a drink at the Club XS in January 2012. The club, which was open to the LGBT community, closed that summer. McCarty has since helped arrange gay nights at Lux Night Lounge in North York.
North York had a nightclub open to the gay community for about seven years. Then, after a lengthy battle with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Club XS closed in August 2012. After that, some people in the local LGBT community drove to clubs in Harrisburg or Baltimore, Travis McCarty said. It’s not that other bars were unwelcoming, but some people prefer a night out where they know it was OK to be out, he added.
In early September 2012, McCarty, who used to bartend at Club XS, got a call from Steve Perko Jr., who owns Lux Night Lounge, 1327 N. Duke St., York. He invited McCarty to host a gay night at Lux as a trial.
“He really liked the people it was bringing to his establishment,” McCarty said. “The atmosphere had a level of friendliness, class and dignity.”
Later that month, Lux started to host weekly gay nights, which grew a following. So, a few weeks ago, Perko decided that every night at Lux will be gay night. The revamped venue will debut July 25 – right before the Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. Read the rest of the article.
About Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania
The event is slated for July 27 in Riverfront Park, Front Street, Harrisburg. It will feature live entertainment, speaker, vendors and a family zone. Entertainment is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. The festival promotes awareness for and showcases organizations available to the LGBT and Straight Ally community, provides a safe environment for people to celebrate their diversity and supports economic growth by drawing people to the region. For details, visit www.centralpapridefestival.com.
