Gay bars in the quad cities illinois

Posted by Christine Hawes Jan 21, In the Quad Cities, the moustached man known as JR Coffey helped being gay, doing drag, and standing up for AIDS become lasting sources of community in the s and s. In Kewanee, the foster parent known mostly as Bill Coffey served up great food at two popular restaurants, and took his kids to a welcoming Methodist church every Sunday.

He was instrumental for the entire community. Much of that time, his partner and eventually husband Eddie Jacoby was by his side. It was a gift that he had. They got to know your families. Decades before drag was appearing at mainstream brunches and public libraries, Coffey championed the art form.

LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to the Quad Cities: Moline & Rock Island, IL

Throughout the s and s, Coffey and Jacoby built a stronghold of cutting-edge entertainment, unity and professionalism, say performers who worked for Jacoby and Coffey. We did big production numbers. They treated us like we were family, and they treated us very good. It was probably my favorite time in my career.

Bill Coffey, left, and Eddie Jacoby at a gay picnic organized by Coffey in the s. It was fun, cheap, you could laugh and cry and forget about your problems. The quality and professionalism the pageants inspired helped many performers learn from each other and eventually excel nationally, Santana says.

Danielle Hunter, for example, went on to become a Miss Continental pageant winner. The late Natasha Richards went on to build a long career on the west coast of Florida. Many others — like Cavalier, Santana, Dena Cass and Dominique Zaire — remain, to this day, celebrated, highlight performers throughout Iowa and Illinois.

He held back tears during a phone interview last week about Coffey. And he was fun. And funny. He put up a rainbow-colored awning for years. He added a restaurant next door called Madison Square, which bustled for five hours daily. He began to offer male strippers along with drag queens, and other entertainment.

The club gained a reputation as a dance spot, drawing young adult women who brought their boyfriends. Bachelorette parties became common, Jacoby said. There was no texting, no cellphones. You met with people, and you went out on dates. Quad-City Times former managing editor Barb Ickes reminisced about the spot insharing that it was where she met her life partner.