Hello, San Antonio. Did you miss us? The community updates are back, and this first one covers a lot of ground: where queer San Antonio actually happens, two landmark nightclubs going temporarily dark, a new name on the Strip and your last chance to weigh in on what the Pride Cultural Heritage District should look like.
Queer San Antonio, by the numbers
It started with a simple question: where is queer San Antonio?
To answer it, we went through every event posted to SATX.gay over the past 25 months — June 2024 through this June. Every drag show, support group, book club, kickball league, worship service and vigil we could verify.
The result: an estimated 7,497 events across 506 unique venues in 57 ZIP codes. The full breakdown draws on our own event archive plus U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission data is not included in this version of the report.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll bring you more from that report — including which areas of the city have the fewest LGBTQ+ events, and what that map says about who gets a gayborhood and who doesn’t.
Can’t wait? Read the full report.
Bonham Exchange and Club 727 go dark — for now
Two of San Antonio’s best-known LGBTQ+ nightclubs go quiet this weekend. Temporarily, at least.
The Bonham Exchange and Club 727 must close Saturday, Aug. 1, after missing the city’s deadline to install required automatic fire sprinkler systems, a requirement the city first adopted in 2018. The Bonham asked the city for a six-month extension, and the city said no, KSAT reported.
The city says it will fast-track the paperwork once the systems go in. The Bonham estimates the work will take several months.
We will continue to follow this.
Update: The Bonham Exchange released a statement on the closure, and it wants one thing heard clearly, “The Bonham Exchange is here to stay.”
In the statement, issued by The Happy Foundation, the club confirms it closed at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, while a new fire-suppression system is installed throughout the building. The club says it has been working with the city on the project since February, but “the final timeline moved faster than we had hoped” — an acknowledgment of the short notice for patrons and staff.
The statement also says financing for the project is secured and that it will cover more than sprinklers while the doors are closed: Improvements to the sound system, refinishing of the ballroom’s original wood floors and other upgrades throughout the venue.
The work is expected to take about four to five months, with a reopening later this year at full capacity. Reservations for private bookings will open soon, and the club says it is planning “a grand reopening celebration worthy of this landmark.” Progress updates will post at @bonhamexchange on all social accounts.
The full statement:
This one might make you a little green
In more shakeup for the gay bars, Let’s Be Honest is no more. The venue is now called Envy.
Same spot on the Strip, same energy — Envy still hosts drag shows and events throughout the week. For bookings and the week’s lineup, find them online by searching ENVY SATX.
Last call: The Pride District’s artwork
The Pride Cultural Heritage District along North Main is getting official artwork, and the city wants to know what you want on those walls.
The public survey closes at 5 p.m. July 31. It takes about five minutes. And if you’d rather say it in person, District 1 and the Arts Commission are hosting a community input session from 5:30 to 7 p.m. that evening at Ay Que Chula, 1503 N. Main Ave. From there, artists will be invited to submit proposals that respond to what the community asked for.
Take the Pride District artwork survey here.
The weather check
Continued heat — with a brief return of rain. Highs stay in the upper 90s all week, near 99 Friday into Monday, and the heat index tops out around 108 Saturday. Our one real rain chance is the weekend: about a 15% chance Saturday, up to 30% Sunday — then we dry back out. And we could use it: nearly 40% of the area is still abnormally dry or in moderate drought, per this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor.
Bottom line: stay hydrated, check on your neighbors — and never drive into high water.
Remember to submit your events, and catch us next time.