The bartender lists a number of gay bars in New York that are owned by straight people - many of which I frequent - but since I can’t confirm these claims, I won’t list them here. “There is a long history in this city of straight people giving space to gay and queer people because they weren’t judgemental, and because they realized we were loyal patrons.” “It’s important for people to remember that,” he says. He is also explicit about what The Cock is not.

It is a bar for gay and queer men - and that “absolutely includes trans men.” It is not friendly to a crowd of bachelorettes. He also stresses that, unlike many bars in the city that might be intimidating to those without chiseled bodies and six-pack abs, The Cock welcomes everyone. “I want seventy regular guys who get it.” “I don’t want three traditionally attractive men who gawk and judge,” he says. I went to The Cock in the process of writing this article intending to do some reporting, but not much reporting happened.