'All These Gay Men With No Shirts On...' - with Van Hechter

Lost Spaces: Memories from Gay Bars, Lesbian Clubs, and LGBTQ+ Parties

I love the kind of people that can go through a whole bunch of bullying, a whole bunch of othering, a whole bunch of shit in their life and still come out the other end and be like 'this is who I am, take it or leave it, I'm not changing for anyone'...

And those are exactly the vibes that this week's guest, singer/songwriter Van Hechter, was putting down when we got together to talk about his lost space, KOX, which was in Montreal, Canada, and which he started going to whilst he was still in high school.

Takeaways

• The KOX nightclub in Montreal was a significant place for the queer community in the 1990s. KOX provided a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for people to express their true selves.
• Van Hechter reflects on his time in the closet and his relationships with both men and women.
• The catacombs at KOX offered a different vibe, attracting closeted men and providing a sense of secrecy and understanding.
• Van's experiences at KOX have influenced his current work as a performer, as he aims to recreate the feeling of acceptance and self-expression he found at the club.
• There was a fear of AIDS during that time
• Van Hechter had a conflicted relationship with his father after coming out, but eventually found forgiveness and acceptance.

• Self-acceptance and embracing one's uniqueness are important for personal growth and happiness.

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