Gay bar and nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Axis Nightclub is a gay bar and nightclub in The Short North , Columbus, Ohio .
Nina West performing in her annual Halloween show at Axis, 2018
The multi-level dance club[ 1] has hosted drag acts and competitions ("So You Think You Can Drag?"),[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] including Miss Gay Heart of America[ 5] and performances by RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Alaska Thunderfuck , Asia O'Hara ,[ 6] BenDeLaCreme , Bianca Del Rio , Sasha Velour , Shangela , and Yuhua Hamasaki ,[ 7] [ 8] among others.[ 9] Local drag queen Nina West hosts the show "Heels of Horror" annually,[ 10] [ 11] as well as drag competitions.[ 12]
Rajesh Lahoti is an owner of the bar.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15]
Axis has been described at Columbus' most popular gay bar. In 2001, the bar's general manager estimated that 20 to 25 percent of clientele were Ohio State University students.[ 16] In 2014, Axis' fifth annual "Night of 100 Drag Queens" reportedly broke the record for the largest drag show, with 55 participants, who performed to "It's Raining Men ".[ 17] Also in 2014, Axis hosted the inaugural Shooting Star Awards, and won the award for Best Nightclub.[ 18] The nightclub hosted Miss Gay USofA at Large in 2016.[ 19]
Shawnie Kelley, author of Insiders' Guide to Columbus, Ohio (2003), said the bar "is becoming a staple of Columbus nightlife for gay and straight, men and women alike".[ 20]
^ "Cleveland's gay bars evolve in age of greater tolerance" . Cleveland.com . 28 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ Wagner, Mike. "Gay-rights advocate Nina West has long used drag-queen act to raise money for charities" . Dispatch.com . Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ "Photos: Weekends events for Columbus and central Ohio, September 21–23" . Dispatchc.om . Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ Thompson, Erica. "Community feature: Local to compete in Miss Gay America pageant" . Columbusalive.com . Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ "Annual Miss Gay Heart of America Pageant Hits Axis This Weekend" . Columbusunderground.com . 4 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ "White Party with Asia O'Hara of RPDR 10" . Columbusunderground.com . 22 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ "BAR BATTLE: Axis VS Union Café" . 1870 Mag . 2018-06-04. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09 .
^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 Contestant to Perform at Axis" . Columbusunderground.com . 2 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ "Three cheers for Columbus" . IN Magazine . 2014-06-20. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09 .
^ "Review: Heels of Horror combines pop culture, Halloween" . Thelatern.com . 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ "Mega Weekend Fall 2016 – Vol. 5" . Columbusunderground.com . 20 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018 .
^ Harriman, Katie (25 February 2012). "King trumps queens in Axis drag search" . The Lantern . Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-14 .
^ "The Fallen Kings of the Short North" . Columbus Monthly . Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09 .
^ "C Magazine / columbusmag.com" . columbusmag.com . Archived from the original on 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2018-12-09 .
^ Lahoti, Rajesh. "A statement from Union/Axis founder Rajesh Lahoti" . Columbus Alive . Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-09 .
^ Gehrig, Mike (23 April 2001). "Columbus dance clubs attract world's top DJs" . The Lantern . Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-14 .
^ Allen, Timothy (2014-07-30). "Columbus Nightclub Breaks Record For World's Largest Drag Show" . www.queerty.com . Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-14 .
^ Allen, Timothy (2014-07-29). "Award Winners and Exclusive Photos from the First Ever Shooting Star Awards" . www.queerty.com . Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-14 .
^ Burk, Scott (2016-11-01). "Miss Gay USofA at Large 2016 Recap" . USofA Pageants LLC . Archived from the original on 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2018-12-14 .
^ Kelley, Shawnie (July 1, 2008). Insiders' Guide to Columbus, Ohio . Rowman & Littlefield. p. 104. ISBN 9781461746881 . Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2018 .
39°58′41.0″N 83°0′16.1″W / 39.978056°N 83.004472°W / 39.978056; -83.004472