Viral, COVID-Conscious Lesbian Bar Last Ditch Is Closing—With a Possible Next Chapter

Closure leaves options open

Last Ditch said its closure took effect immediately, except for events that had already been booked. The venue described the move as “soft” and invited interested people to join the business as owners or take it over entirely.

In its post, Last Ditch said its organizers had devoted their lives to building care networks, resources and a place for organizing. They said they wanted to pass that work on, but had not found a board or leadership team to manage a transfer to a worker-owned co-op.

Mask policy dispute drew attention

The bar became widely known last month after the Boston Globe reported on conflict over relaxing its KN-95 mask policy. Online critics accused the venue of ableism, and some called for violence.

The dispute escalated through apologies, retractions and public meetings, alongside continued dissatisfaction from commenters. Last Ditch’s leadership team fell apart amid the turmoil.

Details fueled online discussion

The reaction brought attention to the Boston Globe’s reporting and its unusual anecdotes. One detail widely reposted online concerned a Last Ditch owner who had enrolled in clown school. Mashable described the venue as having become internet-famous following the coverage of the masking dispute.