From the outside, the building’s windowless white walls may project a sterile feel to visitors who may not be aware of the vibrant community inside that this building has supported for more than four decades.
The Albuquerque Social Club opened in 1983 initially under the name The Heights, stemming from the gay liberation movement when riots and arrests were prevalent and guy clubs were being closed across the country. In its early years, it was one of the few places gay men and women felt safe to socialize in the city. After several name changes, the club, now referred to as The Soch, is the oldest gay bar in Albuquerque and perhaps the longest operated LGBTQ club in the Southwest.
Richard Williams and Robert Sachs are board members of the nonprofit located in the Nob Hill neighborhood. Looking for funding sources during a Google search, the two came to The Loan Fund after the global pandemic continued to severely impact the organization and forced it to close briefly until the community held fundraisers to save the operation.
With one full-time employee who is the general manager and 11 part-time workers, the 2,000-plus-member Soch operates a bar and is home to several community events, including drag shows and different DJs on Friday nights.
“The Loan Fund has come through with major support that has allowed us to get caught up in areas that we would have otherwise struggled with,” Williams said, adding that leadership has plans to continue overhauling operations to become financially self-sufficient.
With a $25,000 loan, The Soch leadership has also allocated the funding to staff salaries, begin bathroom remodeling, and start new programming. The club has created a new LGBTQ athletic league, Hot Jocks, which is a safe space for all queer athletes and generates revenue for the club. The club is partnering with a local business to bring new beverages and has plans for additional programming during the day when the club is not in use.
For many, including Sachs, who grew up in Albuquerque and has been a member for more than a decade, The Soch is like a sanctuary.
“It’s really important, especially for a city the size of Albuquerque,” he said. “It’s really important for people to have a place to go to feel safe and to meet other people in the community, and for the last 40 years, the social club has been that. I hope that continues to be the place for future generations of queer people who live here.”
Find the club at abqsocial.org.