Lincoln LGBTQ plus lounge continues legacy of providing a space for queer community during Thanksgiving

Lincoln LGBTQ plus lounge DAME is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for those in the community who may not have a supportive family to celebrate with.

It is the first year that DAME is hosting an event, but not the first time a Lincoln bar has held something like this.

“I always thought of our predecessor as being the Panic Bar," said DAME’s General Manager Tiff Tate-Bailey. “And the Panic also used to do a Thanksgiving meal for people that didn't have the support of their family as well. And so we want to carry that on, and I just know when I was a young lesbian and I didn't have a place to go, I would go to the panic.”

The Panic bar, a staple of the Lincoln queer community, was forced to close in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DAME opened in October with the goal of being a quieter space for the queer community where they can have a conversation or take someone on a date.

“We are the chosen family, and they are our chosen family as well,” said DAME owner Cassie Tate-Bailey. “And so as the holidays came around, we realized that there's some people who aren't welcome at their traditional family's holiday, or at least they aren't welcome to be themselves there. And we want people to be able to come here and be their true, authentic self, and just enjoy the night with their chosen family.”

According to Cassie, when they announced the Thanksgiving event on their social media there was an outpouring of people wanting to bring food and volunteer. The celebration is Thanksgiving Day at DAME from 6-10 p.m. and is free to attend. Attendees must be 21 or over.