As neon lights flicker back to life, Kent’s only 18+ LGBTQ+ bar, Moonbase, gears up for its grand reopening on Thursday. The bar will celebrate with a vibrant weekend of events: cosmic karaoke on Thursday, a dance party DJed by Joe Engelhart on Friday and a drag show on Saturday, which will feature local performer Danyel Vasquez.
After its initial opening in February 2024, Moonbase, located at 166 Currie Hall Parkway, operated briefly before closing for renovations this summer.
Upon recognizing a gap in the local culture, Dave Haasz and Joe Engelhart created Moonbase to serve as a space for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those under 21.
“We want to have an 18+, all-inclusive, safe space for anyone who wants to have a good time,” said Engelhart, who also serves as the bar’s general manager. “For some people, this could be their first time being surrounded by gay people.”
Engelhart emphasized that the importance of inclusive spaces like Moonbase cannot be overstated. Sophomore fashion merchandising major Caitlyn O’Brien echoed that sentiment.
“I think it’s important for younger queers to have spaces like [Moonbase] so they can be themselves more freely and safely,” O’Brien said. “Out in the world, queer people just have to guess if other people are queer, so a space that’s just for us would be a nice break from that.”
According to Engelhart, safety is a top priority at Moonbase. The bar has established measures such as a no-backpack policy, a commitment to not over-serve and comprehensive staff training to ensure a safe environment for everyone at Moonbase.
“It can be dangerous for people in the community to be themselves in public,” O’Brien said. “So to have the age be 18+ opens up a safe space for people.”
Additionally, Engelhart has implemented a strict policy for addressing inappropriate behavior, including immediate action against any forms of harassment or discrimination.
Engelhart stressed that Moonbase’s goal is to create an environment in which all of its patrons feel safe and respected.
“There’s still that [prejudice] of ‘gay is wrong,’ but those comments never come in the door,” Engelhart said. “As soon as I hear the f-[slur] … if it was derogatory, bye. Get out of my bar.”
This fall, Moonbase will feature numerous local drag artists, including more performances by Danyel Vasquez. The Halloween party will showcase a costume contest with a cash prize, and the bar will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a festive bash.
Looking beyond the upcoming events, Moonbase plans to continue supporting local artists and expanding its impact in the community. Engelhart envisions Moonbase not just as a venue, but as a cornerstone of local LGBTQ+ life and culture.
“We can provide a safe space for people,” he said. “We are long-term, we are there for you guys and we are here to stay.”
Grace Claxon is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
