LIFESTYLE

OUT & ABOUT WORCESTER’S MB LOUNGE SEEKS NEW VOICE

GIULIANO D’ORAZIO

Worcester’s one and only MB Lounge at 40 Grafton Street, began life as the Male Box on Main Street in 1971. It’s lived on at the Grafton Street location since 1998, and current owner Marco Guinette took over in 2006. I sat down with Marco and new manager Keith Bellerose to discuss their visions for 2020 and beyond, as well as addressing some of the struggles between the bar’s reputation and today’s LGBTQ+ community — specifically as it relates to queer and trans identities and people of color.

When new LGBTQ+ people come to Worcester, most instantly recognize the over- sized rainbow flag visible from Interstate 290. The flag, which flies proudly above MB Lounge, serves as a beacon. What’s found inside, however, may not always live up to their needs or expectations. MB Lounge has traditionally been a gay men’s bar. For someone who is queer, trans, non-binary or a queer person of color, a bar built on catering mostly to white, cisgendered, gay men might not always feel like a welcoming space.

I asked Guinette about the bar’s reputation. He acknowledged that a lot of it might come from his own attitudes. He describes himself as “old-school”, a bit of a “hardass — I probably don’t smile a lot.” However, he acknowledges that the community is evolving and he wants the bar to do a better job of welcoming all identities that fall under the rainbow flag. “Slowly, people are changing.” Marco prides himself in running a very safe bar, where, even on the busiest nights of the year, there is no violence. He also has desires to expand the bar into a larger space when the current lease ends; somewhere with a bigger dance floor, and enough room for a stage and backstage for drag and other performances.

Today, more than ever, we’re seeing visibility and openness for LGBTQ+ identities that fall outside the male/female, gay/lesbian binaries. Being the only official gay bar in the area, many of us would like to see MB Lounge fill that role by serving as a truly queer bar — for the whole community. Some nights do draw a more diverse, younger crowd, notably Wednesday Karaoke and the Pride/Stonewall block par- ties. Nights like this can bring folks in the door, but it’s not what makes one feel at home; that feeling of belonging has to come from the top down, providing an inclusive and affirming space to form a community. New manager Keith Bellerose is stepping on board with goals not only focused on the bar’s growth, but also in being more inclusive and welcoming to all members of the queer community.

When I interviewed Keith, he said his goal as manager is to “be more welcoming, making sure everybody feels like they’re welcome here.” He wants to implement a variety of recurring programming and enhance the bar’s social media presence. The bar will start Throwback Thursday (Feb 20, 6-8 PM) events, featuring music from varying decades and liquor reps offering drink specials. He also wants input from community members. He wants to have a dialogue about what people’s frus- trations with the MB have been and how to change them.

I believe difficult conversations and diversity and inclusion training could really benefit the situation so that everyone wins. The good news is, Keith seems genuine- ly eager to have such conversations. I think the queer community in Worcester de- serves to have a bar that represents us, feels like home and is inclusvie to all identi- ties. This moment in history for the city’s oldest gay bar could be our opportunity to get involved in a dialogue that could help shape its future into one we’re proud of.