The results of last week’s election and the subsequent passing of Proposition “H8” has already drastically changed our community. There is a new group of young activists emerging who are organizing protests, rallies and information sessions. The reason I mention this here is some of these new activists are my fellow barflies.

In the last week, so many bar conversations revolved around Proposition 8. Some of the people engaged in these conversations I never knew paid attention to politics.

At Flicks on Wednesday after the election, people were buzzing about how the community will organize, and on Friday at Rich’s “Dirty Pop!” event, the crowd buzzed about the Saturday rally, which drew more than 8,000 people.

After Saturday’s march, hundreds of people headed to the local bars and restaurants, including Hawthorne’s (which hosted an after party), Urban Mo’s, Hula’s, Flicks and Baja Betty’s. As I drove down University Avenue toward Mo’s it was amazing to see all of the leftover hand-made signs used by marchers propped in front of the bars. At Mo’s people were talking about how empowered they felt by the march and were asking if more events are being planned.

At the end of Saturday’s march, one of the organizers, a young San Diego State University student named Nicole, said, “I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m one of those people you usually see drunk and shaking my booty at the club.” This setback in our civil rights battle, however, prompted her to get involved, and what she and others accomplished inspired so many others to become more active in the community.

This past week, our bars and clubs are, once again, hubs for people to come together and discuss community affairs and how to create change. In our bars and clubs, the movement is organizing organically; through conversations, people are connecting with the community and finding ways to get involved.

History tells us gay bars were the first gathering places or “community centers” for GLBT people. While bars and clubs can’t replace the wonderful services and programs of all the organizations that have popped up since (like The San Diego LGBT Community Center), people again are coming together in the bars to talk about their community – and it’s incredible to see.

People are fired up. As this goes to press, it’s just more than a week since the election and many of us don’t know where things will go from here, but I do know I have seen a change in the community. Keep talking about these critical issues and keep getting involved.

More rallies and marches are planned this weekend. Event organizers will be sending teams out to our bars and clubs to talk up the events and pass out fliers. When you see these people, thank them for their work, ask how you can get involved and help spread the word!

Shifting gears entirely, have you been to a Bear night event? These events, which cater to our bear community and those who love them, have been popping up at bars and clubs all over town. It can be fun to go out and dance and party with all the sexy, beefy men. Brass Rail presents a “Brass Bear” night on the second Friday of each month. Friday, Nov. 14 will be a special military-themed party during the Brass Bear event and will feature a special appearance by COLT man Gage Weston. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.

Have fun out there!