Last night, supporters of the Hershee Bar donned their now familiar “I Am Hershee Bar” t-shirts addressed the Norfolk City Council their opposition to the pending purchase by the city of the property in the Five Points neighborhood where the bar has operated for over 35 years.
Several supporters of the Hershee Bar signed up to speak about the importance of the bar and LGBTQ spaces in their lives. In the video linked above, fast forward to the 17:42 minute mark to watch and listen to remarks of watch remarks of support for the Hershee Bar.
Dr. Cathleen Rhodes, Professor at Old Dominion University and Director of the Tidewater Queer History Project is among the last to speak and eloquently describes for the Council why spaces such as the Hershee Bar remain vital, safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. Dr. Rhode’s remarks begin at the 39:33 minute mark in the video link provided above.
Supporters of the Hershee Bar are committed to save the bar and/or pressure the City of Norfolk to assist the bar’s owner to relocate the establishment. The building where the Hershee Bar sits is slated to be demolished as part of a redevelopment plan of the Five Points neighborhood in Norfolk. Currently, the bar is scheduled to close at the end of October 2018.
