Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, drew strong online criticism after announcing a one-night shift to a mask-optional policy for a club-style Saturday. The venue had previously required KN-95 masks and said the change was meant to test full-capacity club programming. The announcement prompted pushback from patrons and public figures, and the bar later apologized for the tone of its communication. Newsweek contacted the venue; the story is developing.
Mask-Optional Night at Lesbian Bar in Massachusetts Sparks Widespread Online Backlash
Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, faced intense online criticism after announcing a one-night shift to a mask-optional policy for a Saturday club-style event.
What Happened
Late last month the venue posted on Instagram that it would make a Saturday night "mask-optional" "to try out typical club nights with themes/hosts/DJs/full capacity," The Boston Globe reported. Before the change, the bar had asked patrons to wear a KN-95 mask "or better" for the duration of their visit.
Reaction And Controversy
The announcement drew a flood of responses on social media, including sharply critical comments from patrons and public figures. One Instagram commenter wrote:
"We've decided to show how much we love our immunocompromised divas by sending them to the hospital to make more money."
Another user described their disappointment after planning a rare night out: "Last Ditch, I'm so disappointed in you... dream shattered."
Several elected officials also weighed in on X (formerly Twitter). Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted, "Leftism is a mental disease. If you doubt that, read below." Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut wrote she was assembling a group to visit the "weird lesbian bar in western mass" but later updated followers: "trip cancelled, no one wanted to mask." Texas State Representative Mitch Little added, "There are parts of the country that live in a different reality tunnel than us."
Venue Response
In an Instagram post about accessibility, the bar said, "Accessibility is a pillar of our mission... We strive for solidarity, transparency of risks, and connecting us all in this revolution." After the backlash the venue issued an apology to community members, saying in part:
"We are sorry for our passive and dismissive tone of our change to the norms and schedule impacting the most intersectional of us. We understand everyone faces different intersections and we are always working to consider all needs fully."
Newsweek reached out to Last Ditch by email for comment. The publication also noted its reporters and editors used an internal AI assistant, Martyn, to help produce the original story. The situation remains fluid and may develop as further responses and details emerge.
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