Dani’s Queer Bar recently opened in Boston, marking the city’s first lesbian bar in decades. The bar was founded by Thais Rocha, who had been hosting queer women parties in the city before deciding to open a brick-and-mortar venue. With the help of a grant from the mayor’s office, the bar finally opened in September after facing some delays.
The opening of Dani’s has been welcomed by the LGBTQ community in Boston, providing a much-needed space for queer women, trans, and nonbinary individuals. Many attendees, such as Stevie Dickie and her girlfriend, expressed how important it is to have a dedicated space for their community, as male-centric spaces have dominated the scene for years.
Before Dani’s, Boston had been lacking a lesbian bar for at least two decades, with a significant decline in lesbian bars across the country since the 1980s. Factors contributing to this decline include gentrification, misogyny in business loans, and the gender pay gap. However, there has been a recent resurgence in Sapphic spaces opening up since 2020, providing an important haven for queer women.
Renee Gannon, who visited Dani’s with their girlfriend, highlighted the relief of having a permanent space for LGBTQ individuals to gather, noting the importance of having a dedicated space rather than relying on pop-up events. Kristen Porter, a leader in Boston’s lesbian community, praised Dani’s for openly including “Queer” in its name and providing an inclusive space for a new generation of LGBTQ patrons. Overall, Dani’s Queer Bar represents a significant step forward in providing a welcoming and inclusive space for the LGBTQ community in Boston.
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