clipped from: www.gay.com Shushan, the only gay and lesbian bar in Jerusalem, decided to close its doors this week after serving for four years as a place where drag queens, Palestinians, and Orthodox Jews intermingled, according to a story in The Times of London.
Gays and lesbians in Jerusalem frequently face disapproval and violence. Last year, the city's gay pride parade was held at a stadium because police feared they could not protect marchers from attacks. The year before, an Orthodox man stabbed three people during a procession on the street.
Now, Shushan's customers are scrambling to find other bars. Some may find themselves in Tel Aviv, which is about sixty miles away and has several popular gay bars and many weekly LGBT club nights. Still, loyal Shushan patrons will feel the loss.