Last Ditch lesbian bar faces closure amid community controversy

The Western Massachusetts lesbian bar Last Ditch is facing a potential closure following an internal community controversy. The dispute arose after the venue lifted its mask requirement for one night a week in an effort to increase business.

Jackie Matellian, the bar’s sole remaining founder, reported during a community meeting that she is struggling to manage the establishment’s $50,000 business loan while working four jobs. The situation has drawn significant media attention, often focusing on the intra-community conflict rather than the economic instability of the venue.

Co-founders of The Lesbian Bar Project noted that while the number of lesbian bars in the United States has risen to approximately 36 since the pandemic, this remains a significant decline from the roughly 200 bars that existed in 1980.