The Silver Platter is a Latinx LGBTQ+ bar in Los Angeles. Can it survive prayer?

The Silver Plater may be a classic Latinx bar for LGBTQ+ people in Los Angeles, but it’s not just a bar; It is a living piece of local history.

Established in 1963, Silver Plate has served as a sanctuary for gay Latinos, transgender Latinas and migrant workers in the Westlake region. There, customers find community and acceptance of who they are.

However, after years of supporting this diverse community, the bar is facing demolition.

On a typical Friday or Saturday night, the bar can expect to have 200 patrons, many of them regulars. They catch up on neighborhood gossip, or sing along to pop, disco and Latin Rock. The owner of Margarita Xatruch is not limited to her customers, but also works as a surrogate mother of sorts.

“Because [many in] This community, they don’t have family here, others [members of] Our Trans community does not have a family that accepts, “said Xatguch’s daughter, Bar, her mother.” It’s a very difficult and sad time, but to share, that you don’t have a sense of acceptance.

“It’s like Hispanic [version of] ‘Cheers’ where everyone knows everyone, but it’s also a welcoming place,” Vasquez added, referring to the American CITCOM.

Last August, Vasquez was going to help his mother in the silver accident as usual, when he saw a letter explaining that the building would be demolished. Later he learned of a landlord who intends to build affordable housing there.

Vasquez was told he would be given an update there later, and in January, his family’s business received an official notice to swear. Although they initially stayed for a day on the 30th, the owner of the land extended their stay until March 1.

Rounin capital groupwho owns the building, did not respond to a request for comment.

Vasquez said the news of layoffs and evictions shocked him and his mother. The bar was a survivor of the civil rights movement; The Olympics in 1984 and La Royars in 1992. The bar also helped patrons that lavender left the show to show the police in 1988.

Silver plate even endured a shutdown during the first 18 months of the 19 pandemic. As well as occasional gaps in crime, followed by mixed snow this summer.

While the owners signed to rent another place in Westlake, they are still looking to the Police Council of the City, the Neighborhood Council to give them permission to use, which needs money up to $ 22,000 to reach 18 months to be approved.

The silver platter has ample support from the community, including from the Los Angeles Conservancy, Latinos for Heritage Conservation, the Neon Art museum, the Translatin @ Coalition at its school, in addition to their loyal supporters.

“[The] The silver platter is the fabric of the community, “said Vasquez.”[Our] the neighborhood is the community of the generation of the generation of the first generation. They basically tell us what trump says: ‘You don’t go to these spaces. If you want to be moved, or if you want to live in this neighborhood, you better get in line like everyone else. ‘”

Lapd Rampart Station SGT. Anthony Kong said the space where Vasquez and his mother tried to transport the silver has been closed for three years and they have had no problems during that time – and no problems with the silver plate.

Vasquez said he hopes to keep some of the features of the silver plate by bringing it to the new buildings. He is working with the neon art museum to bring back the iconic “Silver Platform” that sits just above the building, as it has taken some damage over the years. They hope to move the sign and bar table itself to the new bar.

Rosalie Rodriguez buys a hot dog off a silver plate.

(Jill Connelly / For Los)

The layoffs were recently approved by the City Council. Vasquez said that, although he has the authority to reduce the application fee or public hearing, the city council refused. The hearing loss would have allowed the silver plate to be reopened in its new location in four months, instead of 18 months. Vasquez said he hopes they will redeem themselves by accepting permits to reopen.

“They can literally deny us, they can say, ‘No, we’re not going to let you move,’ and that’s it,” Vasquez said. “That’s the end of an era. That’s the only old Latinx LGBTQ+ Bar in the western region, and it’s done.”

To see the historical legacy of Silver Platters within the Latinx and LGBTQ + communities in Los Angeles, The Latinos in heritage preservationfounded in 2014 to help support Latinx preservation, got involved and called the silver platter one of 13 signs behind Latinx in the country.

“When we lose a very important place, we don’t just lose a brick structure; we lose history, we lose memory,” said Sehila Mota Casper, executive director of Latitage Clorving Conservancy. “We’re losing stories, we’re losing community ownership.”

Mota Casper said that there are many sites across the country that are being demolished, like a silver plate, because the history and value are unknown. In National Register of Historic Placesless than 1% of sites listed have Latino heritage, despite Latinos making up 20% of the American population.

In addition to the silver plate, Latinos in the laundry store collect the treasures Elgin Mexican Cemetery In Texas, where many Latinos immigrated in the early 20th century were buried, but the area is threatened by flooding, and Las barracasA World War II-ERA building where Bracero workers lived as they supported the troops, but is now abandoned, facing disrepair and vandalism.

“If our sites are targeted, if they are not secure, then they will be taken down,” said Tasper Casper. “So your appointment, or the observation of this history and its rejection, creates threats every day.”

Aracely Cruz dances with Angel Garcia on the silver platform.

(Jill Connelly / For Los)

For Cris Davila, a regular patron at the Silver Plater, “that bar is like my home.”

When Davila first came to Phembu silver five years ago, he was immediately welcomed. He was pulled over because he knew he supported the Latinx LGBTQ+ community, and as a Furistant Bisexual from Honduras, he wanted a community. He has no family in the US, but says his family in Honduras did not accept him.

After long work weeks, Davila likes to go to the silver cell to relax, sing and enjoy time with friends. While everyone at the bar is very welcoming, Davida said that it is the owner, xatruch, who makes this place special.

For holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, Xatruch Cools for consumers. Davida said that Xatruch also cooked his ribs for cleaning to cover in the silver farm on his birthday.

“I made many friends, I was welcomed by everyone who went there,” said Davida. “I feel welcome and loved by the people who visit, by the owner and by the staff.”

“As a single person in this country, it makes me really sad that this place will be demolished,” said Davila.

Julio Castillo works his way across the dance floor to the silver farm.

(Jill Connelly / For Los)

Julio Castillo, who has been 10 years old, also enjoys spending the holidays on the silver platform. He especially likes the fiesta xatruch that throws in the bar on nochebuena, as he cooks for everyone. At midnight, they all accepted.

“I’m glad they’re trying to move, but we’re used to being in that business area that we’re here for,” said Castillo.

“It’s very important to keep the bar; it’s where we are at this moment. I wish it wouldn’t be torn down so we could go there.”