New LGBTQ2 bar in Halifax sees outpouring of support

Halifax’s last dedicated queer bar closed its doors permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a void in the community until June of this year.

A new queer bar, Rumours Cabaret, opened on Lower Water Street in downtown Halifax almost two months ago.

For owners Gerry McCowan and Jose Chiu, the last few weeks have been nothing less than magical.

“People come here from different communities, and get to be themselves,” McCowen says. “And last week alone we, on Saturday, just to give you some numbers, we had 375 guests over 10 p.m. and we did over $30,000 in sales.”

Halifax’s last dedicated queer bar closed its doors permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a void in the community until June of this year.

Friends of the owners and Rumours regulars, Andrew Russell and Jeff Collins, say they met at a gay bar years ago.

“And those places ceased to exist for quite a long time here in the city…” Collins says.

“I guess young people now are meeting at regular bars, but it’s nice to have a place that you can come to that you know that at least probably the person you hit on is going to be interested in you,” he laughs.

For the couple, Rumours is so much more than a place for the community to get together and have fun — it’s a much-needed safe space, especially considering the recent attacks against queer people in the city.