Pop music and cheering filled the air, which smelled of hairspray. A crowd surrounded the center floor, where drag performers worked to steal their attention with their choreographed lip syncing. Friends gathered around the bar, and patrons danced beneath the flashing lights.
This is what a typical Saturday night is like in the University Club.
As Pride Month celebrates LGBTQ+ identity, visibility and history, many Gainesville residents say University Club — affectionately called UC — remains one of the city’s most important spaces for connection, acceptance and community…