Across the country, LGBTQ+ bars are shuttering under economic pressure. Rising costs and declining foot traffic have hit queer spaces especially hard. In New York City, Club Lambda closed after five years serving Black LGBTQ+ patrons. In San Francisco, Ginger’s ended a 47-year run, citing weak customer support. Denver’s Denver Sweet and Milwaukee’s This Is It! also shut down. Owners point to labor costs, construction damage, safety concerns, and post-COVID hardship. While some venues turned to GoFundMe or community aid, many could not recover, marking a difficult year for queer gathering spaces nationwide.
