Mask Policy Backlash
Massachusetts Lesbian Bar Faces Backlash And Boycott Over Relaxed Mask Rules
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Last Ditch opened in 2025 and changed its Saturday policy on Aug. 31; it continued requiring masks on all other days.
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The venue’s broader operating philosophy includes welcoming people regardless of ability to pay and allowing poor and unhoused people into the space, policies that reportedly contributed to its financial difficulties.
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The policy change was made in consultation with the state’s gay Chamber of Commerce, and an attempted mediation did not resolve the dispute.
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The bar originally had three women at the helm, but only Jackie Matellian remained by the time of the controversy.
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Greenfield had reportedly gone more than two months without a reported COVID-19 case when the Saturday mask requirement was lifted.
Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, made masks optional on Saturday nights starting August 31 to boost sagging revenue and attendance. CBS Austin reported the change drew immediate backlash from disabled and immunocompromised patrons who accused the lesbian bar of abandoning their safety. The venue continued requiring KN95 masks on all other days of the week.
Within days, the bar faced over 400 angry online comments, boycott calls, and threats including a comment wishing the venue would be firebombed. Newsweek reported the controversy sparked a social media uproar. An apology posted on September 2 drew fresh criticism for lacking alt-text for visually impaired users. A mediation session on September 11 failed to resolve the dispute, and attendance declined sharply across all nights, threatening the bar's survival.
A Rare Queer Space Fighting for Survival
Last Ditch opened in 2025 as one of only 36 remaining lesbian bars in the United States, according to the Lesbian Bar Project. The venue operated with anti-capitalist principles: no patron would be turned away for inability to pay, and the space welcomed unhoused people. Co-founder Jackie Matellian revealed she had lived in her truck for six months and worked four jobs to service a $50,000 startup loan. These policies deepened the bar's financial struggles.
Why Masks Came Off Saturday Nights
On August 31, management posted an Instagram announcement to its "immunocompromised disabled divas" that masks would become optional on Saturdays. The decision aimed to attract more customers and improve revenue. The venue consulted with Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce before making the change. RedState reported the move occurred when Greenfield had gone over two months without a single reported COVID-19 case.
Disabled Patrons Condemn the Change as Ableism
Immunocompromised and disabled patrons called the policy shift "eugenicist" and accused the bar of betraying one of their few safe spaces. Patron Noire posted critical comments accusing leadership of "WHITE THEY THEM TEARS" and stating the venue was not "a safe environment nor interested in revolutionary praxis." Over 400 angry comments flooded social media. One extremist commenter wrote: "I hope your venue gets firebombed for robbing my fellow immunocompromised people of their Saturday plans."
Apology Misstep and Failed Mediation Worsen Crisis
On September 2, the bar posted an apology that immediately faced new criticism—the social media image lacked alt-text for visually impaired users. A September 11 mediation session via Zoom deteriorated when attendees accused the licensed therapist mediator of racial bias and questioned her role as a mandatory reporter. No resolution emerged from the meeting. Co-founder Matellian broke down during mediation, saying: "I never really wanted this. I don't think I'm doing a very good job."
Financial Crisis Puts Venue on Brink of Closure
The boycott call and backlash devastated attendance across all nights. By mid-September, the bar owed $3,900 in past-due rent and faced eviction. The controversy exposed the impossible position of a small queer-owned business trying to survive economically while meeting strict health and accessibility standards. Commentators criticized both the policy change and the "circular firing squad" mentality that destroyed a rare lesbian venue.
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