The Leather Stallion Saloon

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The Leather Stallion Saloon
The Leather Stallion Saloon
Address Cleveland, Ohio
U.S.
Coordinates 41°30′35.7″N81°40′43.5″W / 41.509917°N 81.678750°W / 41.509917; -81.678750
Type Gay bar
Opened1970

The Leather Stallion Saloon is a gay leather bar in Cleveland, Ohio. Opened in 1970, it is Ohio's longest continuously operating gay bar [1] [2] and the oldest gay bar in Cleveland. [3]

Contents

Description and History

The Leather Stallion, established in January 1970, contains a bar and pool room decorated with "pictures of well-built men in jeans and cowboy hats, but without shirts," as well as a private patio with picnic tables. [1] When it first opened, the Stallion was a private membership club catering to the gay Levi and leather subculture and acting as host bar to motorcycle clubs like the Leather Stallions and the Rangers. [1] Dress code and membership were gradually relaxed over the following decades, with women allowed beginning in the late 1980s. [1] [4]

The Leather Stallion was purchased by current owner Ken Myers in 2014 and now hosts themed nights, community groups and events, and fundraisers throughout the year, in support of both the leather community and the broader LGBTQ+ community. [1] [5] [6] The Stallion is also an event host and sponsor for CLAW (Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend), a leather convention and fundraiser held annually in Cleveland since 2002. [7] [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Habyl, Riley. "Leather Stallion Saloon". Queer Cleveland. CSU Center for Public History + Digital Humanities. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  2. Nosek, John; Stevens, Leon (2 July 2021). "Gay Community 1970s". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  3. Volk, Kristin (June 12, 2016). "In light of the Orlando shooting, Cleveland's oldest gay bar contemplates more security for the RNC" . Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  4. Negron, Sidney (15 April 2022). "Gay Bars in Cleveland". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  5. Cooley, Patrick (March 28, 2017). "Cleveland's gay bars evolve in age of greater tolerance". Cleveland.Com. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  6. Kusnic, Peter (March 3, 2022). "Cleveland's gay bars fought to survive the pandemic. Will patrons return?". The Buckeye Flame. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  7. Habyl, Riley. "Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend". Queer Cleveland. CSU Center for Public History + Digital Humanities. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  8. Heney, Paul J. (May 26, 2022). "Cleveland's Leather Paradise CLAW Returns". Out Traveler. Retrieved 14 September 2025.