With Uplift, a New LGBTQ+ Anchor Returns to Ann Arbor at Just the Right Time

New hope arises in a new era

Published: November 8, 2024 | Last Updated: November 8, 2024

Before moving to Ann Arbor for grad school, I worked as an urban planner, where the concept of a “community anchor” was central to my work. In urban planning, a community anchor is more than just a longstanding establishment — it’s a fixture that builds identity, fosters social cohesion and offers a sense of place. Community anchors aren’t just valuable for their stability; they’re essential hubs in times of crisis and change, helping people find resources, share support and recover together.

For me, as a gay and queer person, some of the community anchors I cherished most were gay bars. These weren’t just places to unwind — they were where I found a sense of home, connection and identity. So when I arrived in Ann Arbor and learned that the city’s last bar dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, ⧵aut⧵ Bar, had permanently closed in 2020 during the pandemic, it felt like a real loss. The legendary bar had been one of those community anchors, part of a cluster of buildings on Braun Court that also housed Common Language Bookstore, the Jim Toy Community Center and the gay-owned Trillium Real Estate.

Since then, the community here has shown its resilience, creating new pop-up-style spaces. There were weekly LGBTQ+ socials at Circ Bar and The Bar At 327 Braun Court when I first moved here. Two summers ago, I stumbled upon a summer volleyball pick-up league for gay men, called Volleybro, which has grown significantly in popularity over the last couple of years. This fall, I even began co-hosting a monthly queer social at The Grotto to help fill the gap left by ⧵aut⧵ Bar. These gatherings allowed us to stay connected and visible, but without a permanent physical space, they could only go so far. True community anchors are those you can rely on year-round — a place that’s always open, where LGBTQ+ folks know they’ll be welcomed any night of the week.

This is why the opening of Uplift, Ann Arbor’s newest LGBTQ+ bar, has been met with such excitement. Uplift officially opened its doors on Oct. 30, and from the first night, it was clear that it had the potential to be much more than just another bar. The space was buzzing with energy and connection, with people not only eager to dance and celebrate but also to reconnect and feel part of something. I went back two more nights — the next night for Halloween and again on Nov. 1 for a friend’s birthday. Each time, Uplift felt more like a home base. I watched friends reunite, strangers strike up conversations and folks let loose on the dance floor, all in a space that felt safe, inclusive and joyful.

Uplift’s co-owners and staff seem committed to making this bar a true community anchor. They’re not just interested in the business of a gay bar — they’re building something sustainable and inclusive. One of Uplift's co-founders, Saharsh Hajela, takes the time to ask patrons what kinds of events they’d like to see, how they can better serve the community, and how to ensure everyone feels welcome. This kind of attention to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community is rare, and it reinforces Uplift’s potential to be a reliable, supportive space where people can come together not only for nightlife but for belonging and community support.

Uplift is also opening at a time when LGBTQ+ community anchors are more important than ever. In a world where queer spaces are disappearing and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is on the rise, these places aren’t just nice to have — they’re necessary. Community anchors like Uplift offer more than just a place to dance; they are spaces of resilience and solidarity. For many LGBTQ+ people, especially those in smaller cities, the presence of a dedicated, stable queer space makes a difference in how safe, seen and supported they feel in their own community.

Reflecting on the past year, I’m incredibly grateful for the gatherings and social events that kept us together while we waited for a new community anchor. Co-hosting events at The Grotto showed me the depth of our community’s resilience and adaptability. Now, with Uplift in the picture, I’m considering how my own role as an organizer might evolve. Part of me is ready to step back, knowing that Uplift can offer the steady, reliable presence we’ve been craving. Over the past two weeks since its opening, Uplift has hosted a variety of daily events, including an election watch party, a brat dance party, Halloween festivities, drag brunch, and social hour.

In the end, a community anchor like Uplift is about so much more than nightlife. It’s about a sense of place and belonging, about having somewhere you can return to time and again, knowing it will welcome you with open arms. For Ann Arbor’s LGBTQ+ community, Uplift offers the consistency, connection and care that makes a true anchor — one that holds people together in both ordinary times and times of need.

As I danced on Uplift’s opening night, surrounded by friends and even making new ones, I felt something that had been missing since I arrived here — a sense of home. And that’s what a real community anchor provides: a place where you don’t just have a good time, but where you find belonging, resilience and joy. With Uplift here, I have no doubt that Ann Arbor’s LGBTQ+ community has gained a space where we can feel grounded, supported and, most importantly, at home.