Being A Straight Go Go Dancer In Gay Nightclubs Can Be Tricky Even Dangerous

Chicagoans is a first-person account from off the beaten track, as told to Anne Ford. This week’s Chicagoan is Ben Krane, go-go dancer.

And then the second question is usually “Is it real?” They think there’s a sock or a prosthetic or who knows what. And then the third question is “Are you gay or straight?” When I say I’m straight, people go, “Oh, and you work in a place like this? You don’t mind when guys touch you?” I tell them, “I’m very comfortable with who I am. I’m here to make money. I’m not here to hook up.” Some of them are like, “No, you’re not straight. You’re messing with us.” And some of them take offense, like, “You don’t have to lie. It’s OK if you’re not into me.” It’s like, “Well, I’m straight. I don’t know what to tell you.”