Why lesbian and gay scene so separated?

[Jialin]

Hi. Just curious why there is so much separation between the gay community and the lesbian community? I know there is some spaces/times when there is intermingling but from what I've read it's very separated - lesbian hang outs, gay hang outs, and activism that is also separate. Any insight into why exactly?

[John]

There is no reason for a combined gay/lesbian scene...they each provide for a different clientele with different needs and requirements.

Heteros go to hetero bars, gays go to gay bars, lesbians go to lesbian bars...everyone is happy and does their own thing, and no one gets offended.

It was the same back home, and there is nothing strange about this also happening here in Taiwan.

[Battery9]

just because we're gay doesn't mean that we are the same sex. Hetero men and women don't hang out all the time. I, for once, don't like gay bars because I don't like the music that much.

[darienpeak]

Hi. Just curious why there is so much separation between the gay community and the lesbian community?

Not sure where this "rule" developed -- though sexual orientation to the same gender is a pretty superficial characteristic to have in common -- but there are some exceptions to the rule. The (surprisingly large) bar at Buddies in bad times theatre in Toronto was about 50/50 gay/lesbian in the late '90s; it was a very mellow and welcoming place to go at a time when elsewhere club drug use was a major part of the scene. There was a small risk of accidentally hitting on someone of the wrong gender, but people were friendly there. One of the few bars in which I would feel very comfortable talking to a total stranger. I wish there were less separation between the communities, if this sort of atmosphere in a bar were the result.

Battery9, do you think taboo, etc. would be welcoming to unescorted gay guys? And Battery9, is the term nanren po considered offensive among lesbians? Are lesbians tongzhi or are only gay men tongzhi?

[Deuce Dropper]

Fag hags probably annoy lesbians.

[jidanni]

It's not so separated:
http://www.hotline.org.tw/