The Last LGBTQIA+ Black Club In NYC

My name is Calvin Clark.

"I am standing for ten days.
I am not eating for ten days.
I have taken a vow of silence for ten days and a vow to stand for ten days. On Valentine's Day, I will be standing for 24hrs. Please join me for 1 min, 1 hour, or more on Valentine's Day, as I stand to SAVE CLUB LANGSTON."


I AM A STAND

I am a stand for us loving ourselves completely as children of the Creator.

I am a stand for us embracing who we are as LGBTQAI+
without shame or apologies.

I am a stand for us being loved and supported
by family, friends, and community.

I am a stand that Club Langston is a place where all people
joyously celebrate and embrace our uniqueness
with respect, dignity, and love.

I am a stand for us seeing ourselves
as an integral part of the beautiful mosaic of humanity.

I am a stand for us knowing deep in our hearts and souls:
WE BELONG, WE BELONG, WE BELONG.

My silence speaks loudly for those who live quietly in shame.

Calvin Clark


NOTE: Club Langston has been a staple in the Brooklyn community for over 18 years. Now one of the last black LGBTQAI+ clubs in New York City and one of few in the country, it is a place where people can come to experience connection, inclusion, and belonging. In addition to raising funds to keep Club Langston open, this campaign is also intended to bring awareness to issues faced by LGBTQAI+ people of color.

What patrons say about Club Langston:

"I have had so many good memories in this spot.
I hope to have many more."

"I donated to this cause because I believe in the movement, the people,
the music, the culture
and the positive vibes and change it brings."

"Langston is iconic."

"I want to be a good ally and help my friends keep a safe space
where they can be themselves."

"LANGSTONS IS A STAPLE IN THE COMMUNITY and has been for years. It is a place for people to go after a long week to be themselves, be in a safe zone, socialize, and turn up with No Judgements. I'm pulling for Club Langston.


My Name is Calvin Clark, co-owner of The Moore Bar and Lounge, which was affectionately nicknamed  Club Langston in homage to the famous writer, Langston Hughes" who was rumored to be gay". In 2001, my business partner and I opened Club Langston in the beautiful Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York with the goal of creating a safe space where members of LGBTQIA+, especially of color, could freely enjoy themselves. Over the past 18 years, we’ve evolved to become a space where EVERYONE could enjoy a drink, leaving their worries on the dance floor. Our patrons became our family, and our neighborhood, a cherished community. Unfortunately, like many other businesses owned by people of color in this community, we’ve recently been forced to close our doors.

HOW DID WE GO FROM A THRIVING BEACON FOR INCLUSIVITY IN BROOKLYN TO AN EMPTY BUILDING?
The short answer is the rapid transition of Bed-Stuy. More specifically, additionally, taxes, rent, and violation and other costs increased significantly over an extremely short timeframe, a risk to most small business. That said, we refuse to go quietly into the night! INCLUSION and PERSEVERANCE are the hallmarks of our community. 

WE ARE DETERMINED TO REOPEN AND REMAIN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME TO FEEL NOT ONLY SAFE AND FREE, BUT ALSO CELEBRATED. 

We actually embrace this opportunity to upgrade our location and increase what we are able to offer our community, and we invite you to join us in overcoming this challenge by becoming a donor. If each person contributes at least 20,40,100 or more toward our goal of $73,000 we can solidify our continued presence as a haven for those who are often underserved and overlooked by other nightlife locations, especially in Brooklyn. Your donation will help us do the following:

Complete necessary repairs to bring our space up to code
Resolve any outstanding violations and tax issues. 
Upgrade our equipment, sound system and sound proofing materials. 
Create a new, amazing upstairs lounge
Give our exterior entrance a much-needed makeover. 


We are confident that we’ll be able to reach these goals and reopen soon, and we hope you’ll help us spread the word, not only verbally, but also through twitter, instagram and facebook. Thank you for joining us on our quest to thrive