Boa performed in a gay club

Text by Alexander Cheves. Over its lifespan, The Saint was considered the best disco in the world. The men I interviewed said it would never be replaced—that nothing like it could exist again. They were all survivors of the AIDS era. They told me about the men they once danced with, men they lost.

From those interviews, I learned that AIDS, its destruction of gay life, and its brutal social backlash forced the great club to close after only eight seasons. Sadly, the project went nowhere. Other gigs came. I moved on. But I wish something had come of it, because these stories form a chapter of gay history which few voices are left to tell.

It was not deserved. Poul and I cried on the phone. The Saint was a destination—a pilgrimage for gay men across the world. It was known for its wild parties, the most famous of which was the Black Party. When the disco closed, an organization called The Saint at Large was formed to continue them.

At first, it worked—but over the years, the parties stopped.

The 10 best gay bars in Balneario Camboriu

Except for one. This past March was the fourth year of gay life without the Black Party. If you are straight, you likely do not know what the Black Party was. Its delights were mostly kept secret. As cell phones became ubiquitous, and everyone had a camera in their pocket, you had to check them at the door.

It was, at its simplest, a bacchanal: two days of dancing and sex somewhere in New York City. Locations changed—it moved from warehouse to warehouse; from the Roseland Ballroom for 24 years, before it closed to venues across all five boroughs—but its thrills stayed the same. Unlike most dance parties, the Black Party had the spirit of an immersive art exhibit—like a huge haunted house, with world-famous DJs acting as guides for attendees, often numbered in the thousands.

They took a musical journey that ended with a glorious morning set, comprised mostly of disco. At that point, the lights got brighter. Everyone lifted their hands. People cheered.