Last Ditch Efforts: How Identity Politics Leaves Us Empty-Handed

Written by Taliah Quow, Digital Editor, BA Linguistics and Japanese.

A rural, Western Massachusetts COVID-conscious lesbian bar eased its mask restrictions for one night a week. The online responses went far beyond criticism: the bar received accusations of contributing to eugenics. As outlandish as the policy change may seem, it raises real questions about access and safety. Can a community space meet the needs of people with intersecting identities? Should we have to accept imperfect access?

For those who haven’t heard about the buzz following the Boston Globe’s 22 September article, a lesbian bar, Last Ditch, has come under fire for introducing one night a week when patrons don't have to abide by a strict mask mandate.

On 31 August, Last Ditch announced that Saturdays would be ‘mask-optional,’ sparking an online explosion. A later apology was released, but instead of quieting bemoaners, it caused people far and wide to comment that Last Ditch was ‘complicit in a mass disabling event’ and that the venue should be ‘firebombed’ for this decision. 

As you may imagine, a bar enforcing a full-time mask mandate may not seem enticing to most. As such, Last Ditch has seen dwindling profitability. During an online meeting, the only remaining owner, Jackie Matellian, explains that the bar was not their dream, is in $50,000 of debt, and that they are working four other jobs just to make ends meet. Instead of giving an empathetic response, the online community accuses Matellian of centering the narrative with ‘white they/them tears.’

"What benefit would we all receive if trying is punished as failure?"

Whilst humorous as an online discourse, the response does bring to light how identity politics can spiral one issue into several. Interestingly, most people following the story have been able to acknowledge that the responses that Jackie has received are completely unorthodox. It brings an expectation that if someone wants to create a space for intersecting marginalised groups, they must do so without fault. So, how have an intense minority been able to sway the tides to this extent?

Last Ditch is not perfect. For a bar that deems itself to be COVID-conscious, there are some prevalent accessibility issues at hand. However, they cannot realistically address all conflicting concerns. Will having a mask mandate cause issues for people who rely on lip reading for communication? Absolutely. There simply cannot be a space that meets the needs of both of these groups simultaneously. 

That does not make Last Ditch the enemy. If anything, this controversy should encourage us to build these community spaces, humanly. What benefit would we all receive if trying is punished as failure? If we want spaces that serve intersecting communities, we have to allow them to learn, adapt, and exist imperfectly.