Artiom Photo // ShutterstockFar from making their last calls, LGBTQ+ bars evolve to imagine a new worldGreggor Mattson put about 10,000 miles on his car during his long, winding pilgrimage to 300 LGBTQ+ bars across 39 states. Men’s kink bars, bars specifically catering to queer people of color, and old-school gay men’s bars closed at higher rates than other bars, according to Mattson. A complicated mix of economic and social forces is to blame for the disappearance of many LGBTQ+ bars. Meanwhile, coastal cities with large LGBTQ+ populations and bigger tourism economies can maintain their LGBTQ+ bars, even as gentrification drives out locals. According to Mattson, queer bars overall are trending toward being increasingly welcoming to all genders, as well as to heterosexual patrons.