Using Cardiff as a case study: Is there a need in the future for gay specific venues as there was in the past?

Abstract

This dissertation examines the changing needs of gay individuals regarding their use of gay venues as socialising tools as a result of increased acceptance of homosexuality within the mainstream and cultural change. The investigation sought to determine whether in the future gay specific venues will become an unnecessary tool in the socialisation of gay individuals and whether the need for them would diminish using Cardiff as a case study. Focus groups consisting of a range of gay individuals ranging from 18 to 55 years of age were conducted to determine the way in which the different generations of homosexuals viewed gay venues and the importance of them to them as individuals. An interview was undertaken with the management of a Cardiff gay nightclub to gain an idea of the changes that gay venues have faced over the years since the fight for gay equality, and a critical analysis of relevant literature surrounding the main themes of the study was carried out. The findings of the research discovered that the younger the gay individual, the less they needed to socialise at a gay venue in the same way that their elders once did. They do not seek them as place of refuge from the mainstream like they originally were used in the past. This dissertation has opened up avenues for further research into the usage of gay venues and the potential future change in their format.