For the sixth time, supporters of Norfolk’s Hershee Bar attended the September 25 City Council meeting to express their support for the bar and protest the sale of the property where the bar is located and its pending closure.
Two persons spoke on behalf of the Hershee Bar. The first to speak was Norfolk native Bree Hawk, currently a resident of Wilson, NC. Norfolk locals may remember Hawk as ‘Bree the Lesbian’ during her more than 16 years as a DJ for 96x WROX radio. Appealing to the Council, Hawk asked,
“I want you to imagine, go back to your childhood, the safest place you could imagine being – maybe your grandparent’s house, maybe your best friend’s house – wherever, but you feel safe no matter what. It’s a place you can go, always feel safe and be yourself. That’s the Hershee Bar to our community. It’s not just a bar.”
Hawk also spoke about how younger generations are losing bars and other safe spaces and how one-off LGBTQ theme events at bars and clubs are not adequate. Norfolk resident Tommy Edwards also spoke about how the Hershee Bar was important in his life and the life of his older sister, who is a lesbian.
Both comments may be viewed starting at the 1:01:41 mark on the video embeded below.
The next Norfolk City Council formal meeting will take place on October 9 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers on the 11th floor of City Hall. If you are interested in addressing the City Council, you must register with the City Clerk at least ten minutes prior to the session and keep your comments limited to under three minutes.
Additional coverage of the Hershee Bar can be found below.
Owners of Hershee Bar Property Speak at Norfolk City Council Meeting
Hershee Bar Supporters Appear Before Norfolk City Council For Third Time
