Actor Ben Whishaw reveals his favorite New York City gay bar
We delve into the history of Whishaw’s favorite, artsy, NYC gay bar.
Mark
British actor Ben Whishaw recently revealed his favorite New York gay hangout. It’s Julius Bar in Greenwich Village
Whishaw, known for his roles as Q in the Daniel Craig James Bond movies and the Paddington Bear films, among others, was talking to The Guardian to promote his latest project, Peter Hujar’s Day. In the movie, Whishaw plays the late, queer photographer Peter Hujar.
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Directed by Ira Sachs, it’s a film adaptation of a transcript of a phone conversation the photographer had with a friend, Linda Rosenkrantz, in 1974, in which he recalled what he’d done in one day.
Hujar, who died of HIV-related illness in 1987, aged 53, was a New York-based photographer. His work only received limited public recognition while he was alive. Since his passing, he’s been recognized as a major talent in late 20th-century American photography.
Whishaw tells The Guardian he loves being in New York City.
“You feel like there’s a lot of libido,” he said. “There’s an energy that feels sexual – it’s something to do with the climate, that island, the people and the way it’s all laid out.”
He likes attending concerts or hanging out at Julius, the city’s oldest gay bar.
“You can always get a chair at Julius,” he says. “If that existed in London, it would just be rammed the whole time, wouldn’t it?”
What’s the history behind Julius?
Julius’ Bar, located at 159 West 10th Street, is one of New York City’s oldest continuously operating gay bars. The building dates to 1826, and the bar itself has operated since 1864, originally serving as a bohemian gathering spot. It gained the ‘Julius’ name around 1930.
It became a well-known hangout for queer people in the 1950s, although it was not exclusively gay at the time.
Julius’ became pivotal to gay rights history on April 21, 1966, when it hosted the “Sip-In” protest. Members of the Mattachine Society, an early gay rights organization, publicly announced they were gay and requested service.
At the time, New York State Liquor Authority regulations allowed bars to refuse service to “disorderly” patrons, which establishments used to justify discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers.
The men had requested service at two other bars earlier in the day and been served. However, at Julius, when the bartender refused to serve them, covering their glasses with his hand, the moment was captured by photographers. This act of civil disobedience challenged discriminatory policies and helped pave the way for legal changes, occurring three years before the Stonewall Riots.
You can find out more about this historical moment in the video below.
City landmark
The bar survived through decades of change, including the AIDS crisis and neighborhood gentrification.
In 2016, Julius’ was designated a New York City landmark, recognizing its significance to LGBTQ+ history. Today, it continues operating as a welcoming neighborhood bar, maintaining its historical character while serving as a living monument to the early gay rights movement and the courage of activists who fought for equal treatment.
It is almost certain that Peter Hujar would have visited Julius himself. Hujar was known for haunting black and white portraits of iconic figures from NYC’s downtown scene, and Julius has a history of attracting artists and writers. It’s a tradition that continues to today. Besides Whishaw, a recent Instagram photo also shows Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran visiting the venue. Julius also hosted the recent launch party for Lukas Gage’s memoir.
Julius has also been featured in movies. Scenes from the original 1970 movie of The Boys In The Band were shot there, as well as the 2018 film, Can You Ever Forgive Me, starring Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant.
Check out a trailer for Peter Hujar’s Day below.
Related
New York City celebrates the “Gay Harlem Renaissance”
‘The Pansy Craze’ and other moments of Black, queer history remembered.From Central Park to gallery walls: ‘Cruising in the Shadows’ explores NYC’s hidden gay history
Before we had Grindr, we had our eyes. Cruising goes legit in a new art exhibit uncovering historical and contemporary perspectives.
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
