Dani’s Queer Bar, Boston’s first lesbian bar in decades, opened last month as part of a trend of new lesbian bars opening across the country. Founded by Thais Rocha, the venue aims to be a space for Sapphic, trans, and non-binary community members. Rocha’s journey to opening the bar began with hosting parties for queer women in the city and receiving a grant from Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion.
The lack of dedicated lesbian bars in Boston for years left a gap in the community, with only about 16 left in the U.S. in 2020, down from a high of 200 in the 1980s. Factors behind this decline include gentrification, misogyny in small-business loans, and the gender pay gap. However, there has been a resurgence in new lesbian spaces opening since 2020.
Stevie Dickie, who attended the grand opening of Dani’s with her girlfriend, expressed the importance of having a space specifically catering to queer women and trans and nonbinary individuals. The bar was welcomed by the LGBTQ community in Boston, providing a permanent space for gatherings and inclusivity.
Kristen Porter, a leader in Boston’s lesbian community, praised Dani’s Queer Bar for being a visible and inclusive space for LGBTQ patrons to gather, highlighting the progress made in creating permanent spaces for Sapphic gatherings. The opening of Dani’s represents a step forward in creating more spaces for queer individuals in the city.
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