Small Town Gay Bar

2006

1h 23m

Documentary

List

100%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The lives of gays in the Deep South are explored in this documentary, which looks at two bars in rural Mississippi that cater to a homosexual clientele. "Rumors" is in all other ways a modest neighborhood hangout; "Crossroads" is an anything-goes establishment. Interviews with regular patrons portray both bars as islands of acceptance in an ocean of prejudice, exemplified by the derision of customers at nearby straight bars and the cutting homophobia of anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps.

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Alonso Duralde

AfterElton.com

While we're used to seeing movies about young men and women leaving their hometowns behind to live their lives openly in a big city, Gay Bar shows us the people who have decided to stay in their hometowns but still stake out the life that they choo

Feb 12, 2010

Full Review

David Rooney

Variety

Ingram illustrates how gay bars function as oases of acceptance and alternative families for his good-humored, enduring subjects.

Jan 31, 2006

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Small Town Gay Bar explores the world of Deep South queer watering holes, focusing on life around two Mississippi bars, Rumors and Crossroads. Pubs like these are pretty much the only gay oasis to be found outside the local MCC Church.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 22, 2013

Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

...not only makes it clear that people can be brave and resourceful in the face of intolerance, they can also throw a great party.

Rated: 86/100

Aug 10, 2007

Full Review

Sally Foster

Film Threat

Inherently moving and excruciatingly truthful, Malcolm Ingram's small town gay bar is the story of real people in a real place, documenting their fight to create a family of love and acceptance in a world that has offered them none.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 30, 2006

Full Review

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Audience Member

The best of the LGBTQ+ community!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A good twenty minute movie to which another hour of extraneous material was added as filler. Good idea, boring execution

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Quite the eye opening look at the gay struggle. I truly think this documentary should be shown in schools as a lesson in tolerance. Homosexuality... I don't get it, but I love that others have the right to.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

beautifully moving look at how gay bars in the south create healthy community

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great glimpse into a world I didn't know anything about

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Quite moving. I tend to forget how unaccepting and homophobic people can be. This film made me pretty angry at points. The soundtrack rocks.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

The lives of gays in the Deep South are explored in this documentary, which looks at two bars in rural Mississippi that cater to a homosexual clientele. "Rumors" is in all other ways a modest neighborhood hangout; "Crossroads" is an anything-goes establishment. Interviews with regular patrons portray both bars as islands of acceptance in an ocean of prejudice, exemplified by the derision of customers at nearby straight bars and the cutting homophobia of anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps.

Director: Malcolm Ingram
Producer: Kevin Smith
Screenwriter: Malcolm Ingram
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Nov 3, 2009
Runtime: 1h 23m