Maybe I'm odd (or just more odd than the rest of us) but I wouldn't necessarily perceive a 'gay' bar (by which I mean a bar that predominantly caters for gay males) as being any safer than a 'straight' bar. In fact, I might be less comfortable there than in a 'straight' bar, simply because in the sort of 'gay' bar to which I refer there will be proportionately fewer women (if any at all)! (I've never really been comfortable in the company of men who have been drinking)
I have been to one particular lesbian bar in London on several occasions and have always felt comfortable there. The door policy is effectively "No men, unless accompanying and vouched for by a woman" (they don't quite insist on men being on a lead and muzzled!) However, their attitude to cross dressing males appears to be "OK, we know that you're really a fella but you're doing your best to look like a woman. So...we'll play along so long as you behave appropriately - no escort required". I can live with that!