Paresis Hall

Paresis Hall, located at 392 Bowery in Manhattan, was a notable brothel and gay bar in the 1890s, owned by gangster James T. Ellison. It served as a meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for 'inverts' and androgynes, who often referred to it simply as 'the Hall.' The establishment featured a bar room and a beer garden on the ground floor, with private rooms above for encounters. It also housed the Cercle Hermaphroditos, an early transgender advocacy group that addressed social justice issues. Despite facing police raids and public protests, Paresis Hall remained active until at least 1899, making it a significant site in the history of LGBTQ+ culture in New York City.