This gay leather bar is selling poppers-to-go and queer face masks to keep afloat during the coronavirus pandemic
Artist Allen Ryde’s face masks come in various LGBT-themed patterns. (The Baltimore Eagle)
A gay leather bar in Baltimore, Maryland, has found new ways to keep the business afloat after shutting its doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Maryland is currently under strict stay at home orders, meaning that residents can only leave their homes for essential work or urgent medical care, and to get food or medicine, which has left many businesses struggling.
While many restaurants and bars are offering food and drink to-go, the Baltimore Eagle, a gay leather bar, has come up with its own take away options.
The bar has been offering online orders and curb-side pickup for many popular items, including poppers, leather harnesses, lube, sex toys, cigars, books, kilts, and hankies.
To recreate the ultimate leather bar experience at home, patrons can even collect cocktail kits, sparkling wine, and flavoured rum and vodka.
As well as providing customers all they need to stay home and have fun, the bar is also helping them stay safe when they have to leave the house.
It has started producing face masks, created by artist Allen Ryde and “handmade with love and care”, in patterns including “Hiker, Cowboy, Pawz, Pup, Outloud, Bones and Leashed”.
According to LGBTQ Nation, the Baltimore Eagle staff suggested: “Combat this pandemic by letting a cowboy, lumberjack, or camp counsellor sit on your face.”
“During this quarantine, the online store is keeping us going, ” they added.
The Baltimore leather bar is not the only place where LGBT-themed masks have been making a difference to the community.
A gay couple in Poland have been distributing rainbow face masks in the country’s “LGBT-free” zones, to fight both homophobia and the coronavirus.
Jakub and David decided that in the face of discrimination they would spread kindness and positivity during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a YouTube video about their project, the couple said: “Basic protection measures are lacking, and masks have become scarce products. That is why we made our masks and we will give them out to people.”
