What does Gay Nightlife mean to you?

Slutty. Crazy. Chaotic. Debauched. Drunken. Ridiculous.

There are many adjectives used by many people when it comes to describing how they view gay nightlife. I hear them all the time, considering how I work in the industry.

It seems almost fashionable to bemoan the state of nightlife. Either it's too crazy, or it's not crazy enough. Either it's filthy and shameful, or a shadow of its former self, scraped squeaky clean by mayors and senators. It's either far too ridiculous, or boring and stodgy. The complete opposing radical sides of the spectrum of complaint.

But me? I love nightlife. (shocker).

But not just because I work it. Because I've loved nightlife since I first wandered into it.

I see nightlife as a magical place (this is not an exaggeration). By day we toil at our jobs, dressed responsibly and professionally or in our company's mandated clown costumes. We walk the streets and do our chores and complete tasks and act like people are supposed to.

But when we cross the threshold of a club or bar, and the sun is on the other side of the planet, we get to let loose. Whether this means painting your face and bathing in sparkles, or simply forgoing your collared shirt for a tee and tight jeans, it's what we do.

We get to drink and dance and let ourselves go. We get to embrace our carnal desires to dance (whether on the dance floor, or in bed with someone).

Music blasts so loud that you can't really have a conversation. That's fine. We're here to be physical. To get sweaty and serious. Conversations can come later when the burning sun returns to the sky. But by night we dance and drink, hug and cheek-kiss. We get insulted by drag queens and we tip the go-go boys (or say they can't dance and we could do better).

I liken it to the island for lost boys in Pinocchio. Except we're not actually lost. And it isn't run by a fat bear of a man with a 'stache who turns its visitors into donkeys. (Though we probably do our fair share of acting like an ass if we've imbibed enough Patron).

From a young age I loved the club. The darkness. The shooting lights. The painful bass. The possibility of meeting the love of your life, or the love of your next four hours. Ending up in a place where you all have one common goal: to have fun. Regardless of our unique definitions of what fun is.

This is nightlife to me. It is imperative. We need it to continue on with our daylives. A dangerous siren, sure. Some people get too caught up in it. The drugs. The booze. The sex. But these are addictive behaviors that no doubt plague our day lives too. Nightlife isn't to blame. A problem child will find trouble wherever they go.

Nightlive just leaves itself naked and spread before you. It says: take from me what you want. I am here for you. Nightlive jobbers work overtime so that you can have your own variety of fun. Scheduling the performers. Picking the themes. Choosing the drink specials. Hiring the talent. All of it to make sure you can forget your troubles (hopefully) and leave them to deal with the next day.

I love the nightlife... I love to boogie (sorry, couldn't leave that hanging there).

Because, no matter what type of nightlife you pick: a raging dance club, or a smokey lounge, or a sweaty sex party (and there are so so so many options) it is your treat to you. For dealing with the sun and your job and your family and friends and love interests. It lets you turn off your brain and embrace your Bacchanalian side.

It spit-shines the world and gives you a few cocktails to swig, adds flavor to your doldroms and makes the day following that much more tolerable (once the hangover wears off).

Daylife is something we need to live. Nightlife is a privilege we are blessed to have.

- Justin Luke