It started with Happy Hour. But it was about so much more.
Launched in 2000, G2H2 Cleveland is a monthly, LGBTQ+ social event on the third Friday of every month. Held during Happy Hour, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ owned venues, it attracts hundreds of gay professionals providing another opportunity to meet, network or just hang out. “Everyone is welcome. No programs, no dues, no charge,” says their mission statement.
“It was a very different time back then for LGBT people and it was a way to get people together, connect with other LGBT folks in a safe space places that were outside of a gay bar or a gay club,” says local organizer Michael Varvaro.
“Unlike other cities, Cleveland didn’t have a gayborhood, and there wasn't a place a centralized place where LGBT folks would go to gather other than the clubs. Essentially it started to give a safe space to people and then expose people to other restaurants and bars that were outside of what they usually would go to.”
Adds co-organizer Alan Hazzard:
“It actually started as a lunch group that would get together and then that evolved into a Happy Hour group from there. It was a great way to get people into new spaces -- just were gay men getting together to socialize.
“It was about the LGBT community getting together in bars and restaurants that were not just gay bars and restaurants and doing that around town and really finding and creating new accepting and safe spaces.”
Though the group started as primarily for gay men, it has evolved into a welcoming evening for all genders and orientations.
“We encourage everybody to come, whether you're straight, gay, male, female, it really doesn't matter. We're happy for everybody to attend and get to know one another,” says Varvaro.
G2H2 has also evolved into a sought-out event for local restaurateurs and bar owners.
“This has shown the community can be an economic driver,” says Hazzard. “You're bringing over 100 attendees for a Happy Hour once a month. What bar or restaurant doesn't want an extra 100 plus people to buy drinks for three hours?”
Adds Varvaro, “Before, we would have to go out and search for places and do a little legwork. Now people are saying ‘come back please because you know, you made my month.’ G2H2 has been a good way to support small businesses within the Cleveland community.
Recent host venues include Studio West 117, 16 Bit Bar+Arcade, Pins Mechanical Co., Wonder Bar and Bright Side.
This month’s Happy Hour will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, June 16 at Gordon Green, featuring a Pride Party in their outdoor courtyard. Venues range from east to west to south sides, never too far from the city center. Monthly updates are shared on their Facebook page.
It’s important that events are always in the main area of a venue, not a private party space.
“One of the unique elements to what we try to put together is bringing people to a space and it's not a private party,” says Hazzard. “The whole point is for everyone to integrate and intermingle with the usual clientele of that establishment.”
In an era of Marriage Equality, in which major corporations celebrate Pride in high-profile ways and Pride parades have become family-friendly events that draw hundreds of thousands is G2H2 necessary?
Varvaro pauses. “You know, being honest, before COVID we were saying, do we really need to do this anymore? Attendance had trickled off a bit, people were not as excited. But then after COVID it felt like people had a sense of wanting to be together and connect back with their own community.”
Says Hazzard: “We shut down for two years, but throughout the pandemic, Michael and I would get a couple messages a month – ‘when are you bringing G2H2 back?’ We knew there was a desire within the community to reengage and for people to come back together.”
And they did. Since relaunching, G2H2 has regularly been drawing 80 -100 attendees per month.
“It’s a is a great opportunity to get out and about and meet some new people,” says Hazzard.
All are welcome.
Is your business interested in hosting a G2H2 event? Organizers are always looking for new spaces and can be reached through their Facebook page.
In honor of Pride Month, Greater Cleveland Partnership is spotlighting local LGBTQ+ businesses, leaders and events throughout June. We’d love your input. Email suggestions to ldemarco@greatercle.com
Read More
Pride in the CLE® | LGBT Community Center (lgbtcleveland.org)
Plexus guide to LGBT and allied business directory: Business and Member Directory Search
Pride Spotlight: Bob Sferra: Café owner, caterer and community activist | by Greater Cleveland Partnership | Medium (needs to be added to greatercle.com)
Pride Spotlight: Plexus serves the community through networking, education and advocacy | by Greater Cleveland Partnership | Medium (needs to be added to greatercle.com)
Pride Spotlight: Tours of Cleveland founder fell in love with city and is spreading the word | by Greater Cleveland Partnership | Medium (needs to be added to greatercle.com)
Plexus guide to LGBT and allied business directory: Business and Member Directory Search
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