shout out Lost Womyn’s Space
For years, the lesbian bar as we know it has been going quietly and gently into that good night. She’s watched from the sidelines with an unfortunate font choice and if nothing else thought-provoking color scheme as trends have gone the way of shared spaces, monthly girl parties and queer nights. Left in her wake is a rich, century-long history of queer women carving out spaces for themselves, as well as a language of sorts. Perhaps you’ve heard of Lesbian Bar Name.
Its makeup is simple yet distinctive. Usually, there’s a confectionary/mystical/utopian/othering component, words reminiscent of a Microsoft Office Powerpoint transitional title, references to cats/girls/plumage/fire, mentions of the mouth area, reinterpretations of the way some words incorporate “x”s and “z”s, homages to act of lounging, or is straight up just an older woman’s name.
Let’s honor the lesbian bar and Lesbian Bar Name here today with lesbian bar names of the past ranked by Lesbian Bar Name.
55. Crescent Tavern (Seattle, Washington)
54. Third Dimension (Manila, Philippines)
53. The Flame (San Diego, California)
52. Charlene’s (New Orleans, Louisiana)
51. Tiger Lounge (New Orleans, Louisiana)
50. Fairy Tale (Athens, Greece)
49. Kicked Back (Amarillo, Texas)
48. Outskirts (Toledo, Ohio)
47. Ruby Red’s (Sydney, Australia)
46. Chances Bar (Houston, Texas)
45. Cloud Nine Lounge (Davie, Florida)
44. Connections (Omaha, Nebraska)
43. Gateways Club (London, England)
42. Escape (Madrid, Spain)
41. Chrome Cat (Lansing, Michigan)
40. Gaby & Mo’s (Austin, Texas)
39. Attitude’s (St. Louis, Missouri)
38. Cat’s (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
37. Never Never Land (Shreveport, Louisiana)
36. Lava Bar (Boston, Massachusetts)
35. Sugar Shack (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
34. Colette’s (Tucson, Arizona)
33. Chez Moune (Collette’s cat btw) (Paris, France)
32. Candy Bar (London, England)
31. Pandora’s Box (New York City, New York)
30. Prism (Alberta, Canada)
29. Peg’s Place (San Francisco, California)
28. Lace on the Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
27. Billie Jean’s (Kansas City, Missouri)
26. Sports Page (Atlanta, GA)
25. Visions (Durham, North Carolina)
24. The Hideaway (St. Petersburg, Florida)
23. Our Hideaway (Chicopee, Massachusetts)
22. Cherry Pie Nightclub (Miami, Florida)
21. Fannies (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
20. Exhale (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
19. The Fish Bowl (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
18. Club Pink (Detroit, Michigan)
17. Cowgirl’s Oasis (Fort Worth, Texas)
16. Zgirl Club (formerly Misty’s) (Phoenix, Arizona)
15. Eden (Denver, Colorado)
14. Eden Lounge (Dallas, Texas)
13. Pi Bar (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
12. Paradise Club (Los Angeles, California)
11. Sisters Nightclub (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
10. Sisters Bar (Portland, Maine)
9. Herizon (Binghamton, New York)
8. ChiQ Bar (Petersburg, Florida)
7. Chixx (Omaha, Nebraska)
6. Girlsroom (New York City)
5. Girlbar (Chicago, Illonois)
4. Lipstick24 (Austin, Texas)
3. Meow Mix (New York City, New York)
2. Kitty Kat Klub (St. Louis, Missouri)
1. Lick Club (Vancouver, British Columbia)