In a move that directly addresses the financial barriers to queer nightlife, Club Pittsburgh has reduced several of its core entry prices in an effort to make its space more accessible. The decision reflects the Club’s commitment to evolving with the needs of its community and ensuring that economic hardship doesn’t become a barrier to connection, pleasure, and queer joy.
“We definitely have a lot of fun events,” said Jason, Assistant Manager at the Club, during a recent conversation with QBurgh. “But we started to realize that people were having to choose between coming to one party or another, sometimes even having to skip the club entirely for weeks. That’s not what we want. We want people to feel like they can be here regularly, not just once in a while.”
The Club, which operates as a members-only bathhouse primarily serving the gay and queer community, reviewed its pricing structure and made the following changes:
- One-time membership: reduced from $17 to $14
- Gold membership: reduced from $37 to $34
- Locker rental: reduced from $24 to $21
These reductions add up to a $6 decrease in the base cost to walk through the door. And in an additional effort to increase affordability, Club Pittsburgh is offering a $2 discount for patrons who present the Club Pittsburgh mobile app at check-in. That’s up to $8 in savings per visit.
According to Jason, this pricing adjustment went into effect the morning of January 20, even ahead of the originally planned 3 p.m. rollout. “We wanted to make it happen right away. It’s cold, people are budgeting, and this is a small way we can help make access easier,” he added.
The decision was driven by what Jason described as an ongoing issue of community members having to make hard choices between events like Yinzfur and Heaven, both of which draw diverse and overlapping audiences, particularly from Pittsburgh’s trans community. “We were seeing people have to pick one or the other. That’s not the culture we’re trying to build,” he said.
While locker and membership prices have been lowered, room rentals, which are an upgrade, remain at the current rate. Weekly promotional events like “Dad Time,” “Naked Lunch,” and birthday discounts also remain in effect, offering additional ways for patrons to save.
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The app-based discount was originally intended to run through the end of January, but Jason is considering extending. “The app helps people know when it’s busy and lets us offer some extra love to people who are staying connected.”
Club Pittsburgh’s pricing shift reflects the space’s commitment to community. “If people can’t afford groceries, how are they going to afford the bathhouse,” said Jason. In a landscape where gentrification, inflation, and the cost of living continue to rise, this small but meaningful change opens the door wider for queer folks seeking connection, fun, and affirmation.
“We wanted to focus on the minimum cost for someone to get in the building,” Jason said. “Making that $6 cheaper really opens the door for folks again.”
The move also aligns with Club Pittsburgh’s broader vision for evolving into a more inclusive and economically accessible space. With trans-inclusive policies already in place and an expanding lineup of community-focused events, the Club continues to push back against exclusivity.
Club Pittsburgh, located in the Strip District, remains a unique staple in the region’s queer landscape.