There’s some serious tension brewing at this bar. A lesbian bar in Massachusetts has found itself in quite a conflict after its owners decided to end a mask mandate—just one night a week—leading to an unexpected backlash and calls for a boycott from the local queer community.
On August 31, Greenfield’s Last Ditch Bar removed mask requirements for Saturday nights, hoping to attract more patrons. However, that move turned out to be quite the disaster as it ignited outrage among locals.
Some individuals referred to the decision as akin to a “mass disabling event” or even a “eugenicist” attack, triggering threats and hostile responses online. One commenter expressed their anger with a particularly fiery remark, suggesting that the venue deserved to be firebombed for allegedly endangering immunocompromised individuals just for an extra profit.
Another commenter stated, “People like you kill disabled people in the name of your own leisure and convenience,” while yet another accused the bar of complicity in a “mass disabling event.” It’s hard to believe all this fuss was ignited by making masks optional just one night a week.
Although Last Ditch has retained its mask requirement on other days, the bar saw a significant drop in patrons on what used to be bustling Saturday nights as folks chose to boycott the establishment.
Even before this controversy, the bar was struggling with its business model, which included rules aimed at supporting people with financial difficulties, stating that “nobody will be barred from entry due to lack of funds,” and “poor and unhoused people are welcome.”
The mask mandate arose from a commitment to ensure that disabled patrons felt safe at the venue. Yet, it’s a bit perplexing how customers were supposed to enjoy drinks while wearing masks.
With one owner, who identifies as a drag performer, and another who’s currently in clown school, the trio of owners began falling behind on their bills and couldn’t afford salaries. Consequently, they made the decision to lift the mask requirement on Saturdays in hopes of boosting their revenue, as reported.
“It is with love we inform our immunocompromised disabled divas we will be opening Saturday nights as mask optional,” the bar stated in a now-controversial Instagram post that seemed to set off the firestorm.
Initially, management tried to apologize for what they considered a tone-deaf announcement, saying “We are sorry for our passive and dismissive tone…” which ended up backfiring as they neglected to provide written descriptions in their post for visually impaired followers.
This omission was also criticized, as some felt it indicated a lack of genuine care for disability issues. Desperate to mitigate the situation, Last Ditch attempted to address the mounting backlash during a community meeting. But the meeting quickly devolved as attendees expressed their outrage via Zoom, drowning out the in-person discussions.
During the chaos, a therapist attending in person suggested more inclusion, which was met with a barrage of critical comments accusing the staff of being dismissive and unsafe due to the circumstances.
Eventually, one of the remaining owners, after the others had left, became emotional while explaining how she ended up managing the bar and the pressures of the financial responsibilities, including a significant business loan. “I never really wanted this,” she lamented, admitting her struggles with keeping the bar afloat.
Critics, however, were unmoved by her tears. Comments pointed towards a perceived self-centeredness in her response, accusing her of deflecting attention from the real issues at hand.
Since that meeting, conditions haven’t improved. The owner has fallen behind on her rent with the landlord demanding a steep payment soon. Saturday nights, despite potential attractions like drink deals and DJs, have seen little improvement in attendance. During one particularly slow night, a bartender joked that perhaps a Lady Gaga-themed party could draw some people in. However, even that suggestion was met with a dismissive comment about Gaga’s controversial status.
