One day before New York City entered Phase 1 of reopening, hoards of people were photographed outside Atlas Social Club, a popular bar in the Hell’s Kitchen gayborhood of the city. Evidently, they just couldn’t wait to get their drink on.
In the photo, taken Sunday, the people can be seen drinking, hugging, and socializing without wearing masks or making any sort of efforts to socially distance. (New York City entered Phase 1 of reopening on Monday.)
Related: Gay circuit party in Miami now linked to coronavirus cluster
Stephen James Markley shared the photo on Facebook, along with the caption: “It’s called a mask gays … They ain’t asking you to wear a condom. Slap in the face to all healthcare workers and defiance of law. Reason why you won’t progress to Phase 2 right here.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
It's called a mask gays … They ain't asking you to wear a condom ?????Slap in the face to all healthcare workers and defiance of law. Reason why you won't progress to Phase 2 right here.
Posted by Stephen James Markley on Sunday, June 7, 2020
Meanwhile, Matthew Neff shared a video of the incident, along with the caption: “What the f*ck is wrong with these people in Hells Kitchen? This stupidity happened on 9th avenue today. Was the end of the pandemic announced? Did the vaccine arrive and I didn’t get the iPhone alert?”
“Many of us (including myself) don’t get to go back to work until Phase 4 of reopening,” he continued. “If we let people act this carelessly without repercussions we aren’t going to go back to work for a long long long time.”
What the fuck is wrong with these people in Hells Kitchen? This stupidity happened on 9th avenue today. Was the end of the pandemic announced? Did the vaccine arrive and I didn’t get the iPhone alert? Governor Andrew Cuomo’s mask order says that anyone who is out in public New York and is unable to maintain social distance must wear a mask or a face covering over their mouth and nose. I dont see masks. I even see people meeting and shaking hands.Many of us (including myself) don’t get to go back to work until Phase 4 of reopening. If we let people act this carelessly without repercussions we aren’t going to go back to work for a long long long time.
Posted by Matthew Neff on Sunday, June 7, 2020
Many Facebook commenters expressed dismay over the photo.
“I don’t usually like to cast stones because I make mistakes in life too but this bullsh*t needed to be called out,” one person wrote.
“I’ve been to or walked by that intersection 3 times in the last month and it is EXACTLY what you see in this photo. I felt like the only person in a mask,” said another.
“Why have I been sitting alone in my apartment for three months, only seeing a friend or two like once a week out in the park, if these guys are just going to blow it in the end?” a third person asked.
Meanwhile, over on Twitter, people seem equally as outraged.
What a nice day for Atlas Social Club, arguably HK’s worst gay bar ? https://t.co/OA9BjlkaT9
— Michael King ??? (@HeyMichaelKing) June 8, 2020
glad i don't live in hells kitchen this week ?
— Xander De Luca (@AlexanderDeLuca) June 9, 2020
Atlas Social Club and Posh are the busiest they’ve ever been
— Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) June 9, 2020
HK homo tracker for today—
Why can’t we be responsible ladies?There will be an NYT article soon about NYC returning to Phase 0 because of a surge. And the cause will be traced back to Atlas Social Club pic.twitter.com/VavZL7HbDt
— Silver Springs (@rorosThots) June 8, 2020
Explain to me why gays are still drinking on the streets outside of bars in Hell’s Kitchen past curfew but peaceful protestors were arrested at the exact same time last night?
— DMG (@DomenicMarzilli) June 7, 2020
The New York Times reports that, while new infections in the city have fallen to about 500 a day, “the virus remains a threat.” City and state officials have ramped up testing and are now employing contact tracers to try and better manage the spread of coronavirus.
Packing into bars for Sunday Funday certainly doesn’t make their jobs any easier.
Related: Nurse who contracted COVID-19 at Winter Party shares shocking before & after photos
wikidBSTN
You would think that a community that has battled HIV/AIDS fro 40 years would know better. Then again – by those photos – it looks like most of them are too young to have witnessed the devastation of the 1980’s and 90’s. Still, they should know better and they should care about becoming transmitters to others, especially living in NYC.
Vince
A good reason why AIDS devastated the community. They’re a good reminder of that. Never let a silly disease get in the way of a good time.
balttymore
Covid is nothing like AIDS….AIDS was a usually quick death sentence in the 80’s and 90’s….Covid has over an 90 percent survival rate….Unless you are over 70 or have pre existing medical issues…Of course with anything there will always be outlier cases of young, healthy people dying..
Den
Clearly you were not around in the 80s/90s or not paying much attention. Or simply neither bright nor prudent.
Incubation period for HIV was 5 to 10 years so it spreasd widely in the population long before it began to show up. It also continued to spread before people even realized it was a viral infection. And for many once symptoms began to appear it was a slow and agonizing death.
Though mortality begins to rise considerably after 60 years of age for Covid, and it can kill younger people or permanently damage organs. And folks with integrity, and the smarts to understand what no-symptomatic transmission means care more about infecting those around them than they do for a quick round of sport sex.
svustabler
I am a younger gay — only 30 — and I agree with you. The younger generation has all but forgotten about the AIDS epidemic while popping PreP like Skittles. I just want to ask, “How many older, gay males or gay males over 60 at all do you think? Oh, not many? Because they’re all dead.”
balttymore
The WHO has just said that The “asymptomatic spread of Corona virus is very rare”….And stop with the name calling…I’ve buried 2 boyfriend’s due to AIDS….Once you heard you had HIV it was a death sentence…Once you hear Covid, it’s a bit different….I’m not saying head to the bathhouse, but unwad your panties
Consider This
…”The WHO said the asymptomatic spread of Corona virus is very rare” – yea, on MONDAY.
On TUESDAY, they very quickly reversed their SERIOUS error. The asymptomatic spread of Corona virus is actually quite common.
Don’t find this out the hard way.
Vince
svustabler
If they’re “popping PreP like skittles” then clearly they haven’t forgotten about AIDS>
Wicked Dickie
It’s the same here in Dallas. The gay bars were packed. Very few, if any masks in sight. My friends and I stayed away, thanks.
WSnyder
Dumb. And an example of why the LGBTQ+ Community can be it’s own worst enemy sometimes.
This past weekend I went out for the first time for lunch with 2 friends. We wore masks to the restaurant, waited outside the lobby until there was no line. We wore our masks to the table and kept them on until the waiter took our orders and showed up with our drinks. Only then did we take the masks off. I brought some foaming hand sanitizer and used it 3-4 times during our stay. When we finished the meal, masks on, we departed. It was GREAT to get out, to socialize. [And frankly I was exhausted of cooking and getting food deliveries, but that won’t be stopping anytime soon]. I know there are risks even now, but after taking SENSIBLE precautions and behaving responsibly, you can minimize the risks. That photo up top? I’d send a copy to every of their mothers and then let momma bear chew them out for behaving little privileged, irresponsible brats.
MISTERJETT
that’s just dumb. do they think they’re immune?
Brian
Serious question. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a similar story over the past few months. Every time it’s a bunch of handwringing about how the virus is going to spike and cases are going to go through the roof. However, I’ve never seen a single follow-up story about that actually happening anywhere. And every time I see a story about a particularly notable number of new cases, it’s always accompanied by the caveat of either including results from a backlog of cases or a marked increase in testing numbers. And there is NEVER any significant increase in deaths.
So my question is, exactly how many times do we have to see this not happen before we start to believe that it’s not going to happen? Why are we still acting like we are at the beginning of this and have no idea how the virus is working and who it is affecting?
pym_sd
Then you should watch the news … Brian please stop pretending or suggesting the virus isn’t real… the whole i know the truth and all the experts are wrong never pay off !!
Den
Look at the most recent analytics in the New York Times and you will see the spikes in a number of states that resulted from people rushing out for the Memorial Day weekend, and to places that have more recently reopened.
Take a look at the clusters traced to circuit parties, church services and other large indoor gatherings. Spikes are not linear. They start slowly, and they are starting.
Miles
The Trump Hotel in my NYC neighborhood has had a large NYC police force protecting it and maintaining boundaries with protestors. The large majority do not wear masks and commonly gather in groups to chat. This is more confounding to me than this particular news story.
boymikefl
You get what’s coming to ya.
ScottOnEarth
How unusual…self-centered, hedonistic gay men putting a instant gratification ahead of long-lasting consequences.
docmaker
No comments here “expressing dismay” at the misspelling of “hoards” (hordes, btw) in a headline that’s remained up for 5+ hours? C’mon, where are my copy editing gays?
TonyPSP
I have noticed so many spelling errors online. I don’t think people proof read what they write anymore. Could be related to discontinuing cursive writing in schools.
Den
People rely on spell and grammar checking software which would not differentiate between homonyms or homophones.
I would be surprised if Queerty has actual live spell checkers and grammar checkers.
Proofreading is increasingly rare, even in more reputable media outlets.
TonyPSP
It’s not only gay people. In Ohio I have seen the same thing for several weeks at straight bars. There was a line out the door and half way around the block. Zero masks and no social distancing.
winemaker
Sad and outraged to see this blatant disregard of safety measures when out in public.. That being said, well isn’t that special? These selfish entitled fools are going to ruin everything for the people of New York and make the last almost 3 months of ‘sheltering at home’ nothing but a huge waste of time. And just where were the police to break up this huge gathering? Imagine if the liberals get their way of defunding the police forces, i shudder to think S**T like this will be more and more common. But the American people are getting wiser and wiser about these anti American buffoons. If I lived in New York I’d be outraged at these idiotic fools. Isn’t this just one more reason for the non gay community to look at us as a bunch of irresponsible and selfish hedonists? Hope these inconsiderate and pretentious idiots are satisfied with their brief fun and don’t suffer for their efforts. It seems their attitude of ‘screw everyone and everything else as long as i have my fun and pleasure F**C the long term consequences’. is in full force and view here. Unbelievable!
justgeo
Too young to have lived too arrogant to believe Bye Bye girls.
Tyrone Johnston
Somehow, they will find a way to blame someone else for their getting COVID-19. Just wait and watch.
Thad
Know what? I HATE masks. (Clutch your pearls.) Can’t breathe with one on. And I remember early in this pandemic when we were told they really weren’t very useful.
But I’m still sheltering in place, rarely going out. Having to wear a mask keeps me home.
Thom59
Bars will open in New Orleans on Saturday. I won’t be surprised if the same thing happens here.