Lesbian Bar Project

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Lesbian Bar Project
Lesbian Bar Project logo.png
Mission statement"To celebrate, support, and preserve the remaining lesbian bars in the United States."
Commercial?No
Type of projectFundraising, awareness campaign, cultural
LocationNew York, New York, U.S.
FounderErica Rose
Elina Street
Key peopleLea DeLaria
The Katz Company
Established28 October 2020 (2020-10-28)
Websitewww.lesbianbarproject.com

The Lesbian Bar Project is a campaign created by Erica Rose and Elina Street to "celebrate, support, and preserve the remaining lesbian bars in the US." The project launched on October 28, 2020 with a PSA video narrated by Lea DeLaria that announced a 30-day fundraising campaign to support what were thought to be the last 15 lesbian bars left in the country, many of which were financially threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] A second phase followed in June 2021 in connection with Pride Month.[2]

History[]

Lesbian bars have been in decline across the United States since the 1980s, with more than two hundred having closed due to demographic changes, the wage gap and other city-specific reasons.[2][3] The Lesbian Bar Project was created by New York City-based filmmakers Elina Street and Erica Rose.[4] In fall 2020 the friends reminisced about one of their last night's out at Brooklyn lesbian bar Ginger's before it shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They decided to create a fundraiser to provide financial support to lesbian bars across the country.[4] They also noted that the number of bars has dwindled, as there were approximately 200 lesbian bars in the United States in the 1980s.[5]

On October 28, 2020, the Project was announced with a YouTube PSA video co-directed by Rose and Street and narrated by Lea DeLaria.[6] The video launched a 30-day fundraising campaign, which featured photographs of the bar interiors and testimonials from the owners.[5] The fundraiser closed on November 26, 2020 and a total of $117,504.50 was raised in that time.[7] By October 2020, they project had raised $260,000.[8]

Virtual events for the project are ongoing, with proceeds going to the Lesbian Bar Project Pool Fund, which are distributed between the 13 participating lesbian bars, as two (Sue Ellen's and Pearl Bar) opted out of receiving funds.[4][6][9] Among these virtual events was a November 2020 episode of the podcast Dyking Out, which featured performances from comedians including Lea Delaria, Sydnee Washington, and Cameron Esposito.[1]

The directors plan to develop a series of documentaries that highlights lesbian bars throughout America, with a longer term goal of international features.[4][6]

Producers[]

The Lesbian Bar Project is produced in collaboration with Jägermeister through its Save the Night campaign.[4] [3]

Featured bars[]

These bars were identified by the Lesbian Bar Project as the last 15 lesbian bars in the United States, although other sources put the number at 21:[2][6]

After the Project was launched, the co-directors named lesbian bars they initially overlooked:[20]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Dyking Out with The Lesbian Bar Project". AfterEllen. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "21 lesbian bars remain in America. Owners share why they must be protected". PBS NewsHour. 2021-06-10. Archived from the original on 2021-06-12. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b Compton, Julie (3 June 2021). "'The Lesbian Bar Project' chronicles the decline of women's queer spaces". NBC News. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Hoeffner, Melissa Kravitz. "America's Lesbian Bars Are Dwindling—This Project Wants to Change That". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  5. ^ a b Romano, Andrea (2020-11-04). "There Are Only 15 Lesbian Bars Left in the U.S. — Here's How You Can Support Them". Travel + Leisure. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  6. ^ a b c d Lichtenstein, Isabelle (2020-10-29). "There Are Only 15 Lesbian Bars Left In America. The Lesbian Bar Project Wants To Save Them". GO Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  7. ^ Wallace, Lindsay Lee (2020-12-23). "The Lesbian Bar Project Raises Over $100,000 to Protect 15 of Our Last Lesbian Bars". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on 2020-12-26. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  8. ^ Lavietes, Matt (2021-10-15). "James Bond walks into a gay bar. But should he?". Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  9. ^ Lichtenstein, Isabelle (2020-11-18). "Join The Lesbian Bar Project For A Virtual Roundtable Hosted By GO's Dayna Troisi". GO Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  10. ^ a b Capps, Kriston (June 25, 2021). "How America's Last Lesbian Bars Survived the Pandemic". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2021-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Perez, Pattrik (2021-06-05). "Nationwide effort looks to preserve lesbian bars, including last remaining one in Colorado". KMGH. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Alfonseca, Kiara (26 June 2021). "The last lesbian bars struggle to survive, advocates say, putting landmarks of queer history in danger". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "How to Support San Diego's Queer Community During Pride Month". Thrillist. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  14. ^ Sprayregen, Molly. "There are only 15 lesbian bars left in the U.S. & they're fighting to stay open in 2021". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  15. ^ "Lesbian Bars Have Dwindled Since 1980. A Nashville Owner Explains Why They're Needed". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  16. ^ Bailey, Brittany (11 June 2021). "Slammers standing strong as one of few lesbian bars left in the country". 10tv.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Sue Ellen's Revival Is a Homecoming for Dallas' Queer Community". D Magazine. 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  18. ^ "Dallas' only lesbian bar Sue Ellen's reopens June 4, after being closed nearly a year". Dallas News. 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  19. ^ Wright, Jeni (3 March 2021). "With closure of Philly's only lesbian bar, we lose another safe space for queer women | Opinion". Inquirer.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  20. ^ Srikanth, Anagha (2020-11-12). "A new campaign is trying to save the last 15 lesbian bars in the country". TheHill. Archived from the original on 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2020-12-27.

External links[]

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