Pride Guide, 1988
Have you been out to one of the gay bars in New Jersey lately — perhaps last weekend or last month? Did you have an evening of enjoyment, dancing and talking with your friend? You think it has always been this way? Well, guess again.
More than 20 years ago, The Den went to court and helped to change the course of history for the gay community in New Jersey. On Nov. 6, 1967, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control was not justified in suspending or revoking liquor licenses because “apparent homosexuals” were permitted to congregate at the bar. The ABC’s regulations stated that a bar was a public nuisance if it permitted “apparent homosexuals” to congregate. This was automatically labeled “offensive to common decency and public morals.”
Three bars had been threatened with suspension or loss of their licenses after an ABC hearing on the issue. The bars took their case to the courts, and eventually to the state Supreme Court. One of these bars was Manny’s Den in New Brunswick, now known as The Den.
At the ABC hearing for The Den, one of the state agents testified that the bar was full of “what appeared to be homosexuals, also commonly known as fags and fruits.” He further testified that these “apparent homosexuals or fags and fruits” immediately attracted his attention because of the odd and different clothes they wore. He stated that they wore things such as tight jeans, turtleneck sweaters, gaily printed shirts, very casual wear, sneakers, moccasins and boots. He added that some wore sandals and a few wore shirts and ties. He continued that some of these “fruits” were drinking tall drinks through straws, and even bought drinks for each other. This, of course, helped him to determine that these customers were indeed, “apparent homosexuals.”
The owner of The Den (father of the present owner and grandfather of the present manager) testified that as long as people behaved properly and there were no fights, he had the right to serve them.
On Aug. 1 of this year, The Den will move to larger quarters at 700 Hamilton St. in Somerset — just two miles from the present location. The new location will house a large bar, a dance floor with DJ, and a game room. There will also be a good-sized, carpeted non-smoking lounge with couches and a décor suited to intimate conversation. One welcome addition will be a new restaurant, badly needed in this area. The location has ample, safe parking facilities and a patio is planned for next year.
— David
Revised November 28, 2003