Cheers, queers! Right now, the Lesbian Bar Project, a campaign dedicated to preserving and celebrating these spaces, lists just 34 lesbian bars across the country. That number is about to tick up thanks to the impending debut of Last Ditch, a new lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Hoping to open in April, Last Ditch will take over the space formerly occupied by LGBTQ performing arts venue 10 Forward. The bar is the brainchild of Asa Rosario, Jackie Matellian, and Sage Perripo, who finalized their purchase of the space after 10 Forward closed last year. After an initial setback, the city’s Board of License Commissioners unanimously voted this month to approve the transfer of liquor and entertainment licenses, bringing the dream one step closer to reality.
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“We are a queer bar. Specifically, we are a lesbian bar, and we are absolutely open to all members of the community who are respectful of the space and understand that queer community is really at the center of our mission,” Rosario shared with the local paper, the Greenfield Recorder. “We just want to encourage people to come have fun, be kind, and build community with each other.”
The owners had originally planned to celebrate their grand opening on New Year’s Eve last year but on December 10th they hit a legal snag in transferring the state liquor license from 10 Forward. “Though we are disappointed by this news it will give us plenty of time to further develop our programming and create a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy,” the Last Ditch Instagram account posted the next day. “We are so excited to see you in April if you’ll join us and so deeply sorry to get everyone’s hopes up for a winter of lesbian bar shenanigans.”
If all goes according to plan, Last Ditch will become the first lesbian bar in western Massachusetts, filling a major gap in the region’s queer nightlife scene. The nearest queer, women-focused venue is Femme Bar in Worcester, an inconvenient 90-minute trek from Greenfield. Last year Boston celebrated its first lesbian bar to open in decades—Dani’s Queer Bar—but that’s an even longer journey for folks living in Western Mass.
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“Historically, there used to be so many more lesbian bars throughout the country,” Rosario said. “There are more and more opening, thankfully, every day, but as it stands, we would be the first in western Massachusetts, and that is a huge deal.”
Beyond serving drinks, Last Ditch aims to be a vibrant cultural hub, hosting live music, drag performances, theater productions, poetry readings, open mic nights, and comedy shows. The owners see the bar as not just a watering hole but a gathering place for a community that has long been in need of a dedicated space.