‘You Guys Never Left Me’ : Cher Thanks LGBTQ Community For Longtime Support During ‘Ups and Downs in My Career’

The music legend joined Ricky Martin, Jean Smart and Saweetie at a party for the new owner of iconic West Hollywood gay bar The Abbey

Cher’s ties to the LGBTQ community go back even further than you might think.

“The first gay guys I ever met, I was 9 years old,” she said Thursday night at West Hollywood’s The Abbey, at a celebration for the bar’s new owner, Tristan Schukraft. “I walked into my house and there were these two guys there and they started talking to my mom and mom’s best friend. I was thinking, ‘Where have they been hiding these guys?’ I’m 9, but I thought, ‘Wait a minute… why aren’t the other guys as funny as these guys?’ It really was love at first sight.”

Cher went on to thank the queer community for its longtime support. “One thing I have to say that is serious, that is from the heart, is that I’ve had really ups and downs in my career – I mean, really! – and you guys never left me,” she said. “So thank you.”

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The “Believe” singer entered The Abbey performing her 2002 single, “Song for the Lonely.”

Among those also at the red carpet event – of -

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ficially billed as “The Abbey Relaunch Party” hosted by Law Roach – were Ricky Martin, Jean Smart, Saweetie, Zoe Lister-Jones, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Karamo Brown, Lance Bass and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars Bianco Del Rio, Courtney Act, Kerri Colby, Manila Luzon and Bruno Alcantara.

Schukraft, an entrepreneur and hotelier, bought The Abbey and its adjoining bar The Chapel from founder and longtime owner David Cooley.

The Abbey has “become the world’s most iconic gay bar,” Schukraft said, adding, “I’m really honored I have the privilege of taking over.”

The festivities on Thursday night also included a performance by Saweetie and a pop-up offering scoops of Cher’s gelato line, Cherlato.

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