We were very disappointed to visit CO2, Canterbury’s first real gay bar, yesterday evening and find a “To Let” notice on the building and only one other customer in the bar, for the length of our stay.  Only the usual warm welcome and friendly conversation from Scott the barman made us stay for more than one drink.
 
At Pride in Canterbury, we had great hopes for CO2, but we knew that attracting custom would be far from easy. Yet sadly, as far as we are aware very little effort has been made to promote the bar.

It’s opening aroused much hostility from local residents, but apart from publicity about this, we have seen nothing advertising CO2 in either the local or the gay press.  We  had presumed that a major effort would be made to attract customers over Christmas and the New Year, yet, there were minimal Christmas decorations in the bar and no posters advertising activities and entertainments over the festive season.
 
Tragically, it seems that an important opportunity for the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community to grow has been wasted and without doubt, the bar’s owners and managers must take some of the blame. But we have to return to our basic message and we make no apologies for repeating it.  Because of fear and lack of self-esteem, there are many closeted Lesbians and Gay men in Canterbury, and the City Council makes little effort to open the doors and set them free. 

The Council has frequently ignored our request to send out a clear message that they believe it is OK  for the LGBT community to be “Out and Proud” in the City and that it welcomes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender  people, both as visitors, and as new residents to Canterbury.
 
Until they do this, businesses and ventures that strive to serve and help build up the LGBT community will find it difficult to succeed. The City’s many homophobes must think Christmas has already arrived.