The oldest gay club in New Jersey is struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Club Feathers in River Edge was scheduled to reopen this month, but had to change course when Gov. Phil Murphy postponed the resumption of indoor dining.

Owner Paul Binetto says that while there is an outdoor seating area at the club, it is not enough to keep the business open. He says that if the club was to close, it would have a major impact on the LGBTQ community.

“This is the only place in North Jersey where they have been able to go to be safe, to be protected, to be themselves,” Binetto says. “A lot of the younger generation has come out of the closet, have brought their parents here for the first time to tell them they are gay or lesbian. In a world of turmoil, they can walk into Feathers and know that they are safe and amongst their own.”

A GoFundMe set up for donations has raised over $32,000.