Coffeehouses played a big role in the formation of community space during the radicalization of the gay liberation movement. Like hotlines, it was necessary for folks to have some form of guaranteed safety at a time when it was common for shop owners to reject homosexuals, especially if they walked in with publications in hand. It was also necessary, and a clear political statement, to have reserved space for socializing; it was a reclamation of space. Beginning in 1970, there was a proliferation of gay coffeehouses, some makeshift in a bookstore or someone’s house, others a conversion of what used to be a straight coffeehouse. Others included Seventh Seal and Berkeley Gay Coffeehouse.

Five-Square, four-square was hosted by Gay Lib. This image points out the importance of a coffeehouse as opposed to a bar, where many gays face discrimination based on age, sex, race, and gender. Other common issues were expensive drinks, the health risks of drinking culture, and general “uptightness.” While it is impossible to know the true audience of this ad, it poses itself as open to the entire gay community, regardless of their identity or ability to pay.