Mississippi may not be known for its progressive politics or its welcoming attitude towards gay people or its willingness to change, but it is still home to many members of the LGBTQ community.
A fascinating article published by the Washington Post takes readers inside WonderLust, a one-year-old gay bar in Jackson that bills itself as the city’s “hottest LGBT nightclub.”
Related: This Mississippi Teen Is A High Schooler By Day And A Drag Queen At Night
Jesse Pandolfo, a 32-year-old lesbian, is the owner the bar, which is located inside a nondescript one-story concrete building on a deserted side street on the north end of town. Originally from Boston, Pandolfo calls living in the delta “kind of a time warp.”
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“You have to live kind of an edited version of your life,” she says.
Which is precisely why WonderLust is so necessary. The bar regularly hosts dance parties, drag shows and karaoke nights, providing an outlet for a community living on the frays of society.
Mississippi state law offers no discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, nor does it address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and lawmakers seem to constantly be looking for ways to further marginalize the gay community.
Related: Federal Judge Rules Mississippi Can Begin Legal Discrimination July 1
WonderLust patron Sham Williams tells the Washington Post that Mississippi is perhaps “the most racist and bigoted state in America,” adding “when I walk out that door I have three strikes against me–I’m black, gay and a woman.”
But despite all that, she has no intentions of leaving.
“Mississippi is home,” she says, “even if it doesn’t always feel like it. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”
It’s a concept those who have never actually visited the state or felt the pull of the land or seen the many good things amongst all the bad will likely understand, but it’s a sentiment shared by many.
“I stay here because I’m from here and I love it,” Rob Hill, who works as the state director for the Human Rights Campaign, says. “I’m 41, and I want the best for this state and I fight for it. I think we’re better than what our legislators have demonstrated.”
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
Ugh. This is a chopped up partial story from a badly written article. Obviously from the pictures it isn’t a tiny bar. Also, the reason it and the other bar that closed JC’s like most bars in Mississippi only serve beer and mixers is due to a state law. You a certain percentage of your sales have to be food to get a license for more than beer, unless you have a nearly impossible to get “resort status”.
Thad
Jackson isn’t considered “in the Delta.” The Delta refers to the northwestern section of the state, between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers.
I don’t know Mississippi well…I’ve only been there twice and never near Jackson. But I understand the desire of the people interviewed to be able to stay where they are familiar. Sometimes it seems we suburban gay people get the same reaction…the “left behind,” the “not good enough.” I appreciate the efforts made to insure EVERY gay person EVERYWHERE can live as they wish where they wish in safety and without discrimination.
ridgelineranger
My job brought me to N.E. Mississippi more than 20 years ago. I have lived as an out gay man the entire time. I can count on one hand the number of times that I was disrespected based on my sexuality, and I did not let it pass without addressing the issue. What the article said about living in a time warp is true, but it has improved over the years. Many local churches are welcoming people from all walks of life. Our newspaper featured an article about the marriage of a local same sex couple, and did so in a positive manner. We have many friends, both straight and gay, and we enjoy a very active, all inclusive, social life. My partner and do plan to move from Mississippi in a few years when we retire, but only because we want to live closer to family in the southwest U.S.
GayEGO
Well Mississippi definitely isn’t Massachusetts, but like Idaho, it has it’s places for us to go. My lifetime partner of 54 years, married 12 years, held a my family reunion in Boise Idaho at a hotel. I introduced my partner and a friend I went to grade school with in Boise, and his partner. I made a humorous comment that we were doing just fine in Massachusetts and were not hung on a fence post like Mathew Shepard was next door in Wyoming, people laughed as I intended. We have made a lot of progress and must continue to educate people that we live like they do and are not a threat to them.
Jesse
Hi this is Jesse, the bar’s owner. Thank you for reading the article, I just found out this one existed! And just to let you know @idonothavetoagreewithyou we do serve liquor. Lots of it actually! It was a long road to obtain a liquor license but I stuck with it and Mississippi now has a gay club with a FULL bar!!! Come check us out!