Jalisco, DTLA's Gay Latinx Bar, Crowdfunds to "Stay Alive"

This article initially appeared on Advocate.com, read the original here.

The New Jalisco Bar has launched a crowdfunding campaign in order to stay afloat during the pandemic.

A GoFundMe created by co-owners Rosa and Sergio Hernandez said the LGBTQ+ watering hole in Los Angeles "is struggling to stay alive" due to unpaid business and rent obligations.

"Like countless small businesses, The New Jalisco Bar is struggling to stay alive during this ongoing pandemic," the married couple wrote. "Our doors have been closed since March 2020 and we have not been able to obtain financial relief to support our business expenses or rent commitments. Unfortunately, we now owe our landlord 10 months of rent with interest. This debt puts us at risk of closing down permanently.

"We are reaching out to our clients, supporters, and friends to please consider donating to our cause. Your contributions will help save a community space that has served as a safe haven for generations of Angelenos in our city."

The New Jalisco Bar was taken over by the Hernandez family in the '90s. The venue has been a long-standing gathering place for the Latinx LGBTQ+ community in downtown Los Angeles.

Jalisco is far from the only gay bar in Los Angeles to experience financial hardship. A slew of queer establishments has closed in West Hollywood due to rent issues. Redline and Precinct, queer bars located just a few blocks from Jalisco, have also both launched crowdfunding campaigns to stay afloat.

As of the time of this article's publication, Jalisco had raised $44,790 of an $80,000 goal. Support its campaign at GoFundMe.