A Massachusetts lesbian bar in Greenfield faced community backlash after lifting its mask mandate for one night a week, with critics accusing owners of ableism and threatening boycotts. The decision sparked heated online debates, financial struggles, and accessibility controversies.
The Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, ignited a firestorm after removing its mask requirement on Saturdays to boost business, drawing accusations of ableism and threats of violence from some patrons. The move, intended to alleviate financial strain, backfired as critics condemned it as a mass disabling event
and a “eugenicist” policy, according to The Boston Globe.
Backlash and Accusations of Ableism
The bar’s August announcement to make masks optional on Saturdays drew sharp criticism, with some users comparing the policy to a mass disabling event
and accusing the owners of endangering immunocompromised patrons. One commenter wrote, I hope your venue gets firebombed for robbing my fellow immunocompromised people of their Saturday plans just to scrape extra revenue from ablists [sic],
according to The Boston Globe. Another user stated, People like you kill disabled people in the name of your own leisure and convenience.
The controversy intensified after the bar’s Instagram post failed to include “alt text,” a written description of images for visually impaired users, which critics called a failure of disability inclusion. This is not an accessible post,
one person commented. The bar later apologized, writing, We are sorry for our passive and dismissive tone of our change to the norms and schedule impacting the most intersectional of us,
but the backlash persisted.
The decision to lift masks on Saturdays came amid financial struggles. Last Ditch, which opened in 2025, had already been operating under a model that included rules like Nobody will be barred from entry due to lack of funds
and Poor and unhoused people are welcome in the space.
The bar’s remaining owner, Jackie Matellian, revealed she had been living in a truck for six months, working four jobs, and carrying a $50,000 business loan, according to The Boston Globe.
Financial Struggles and Community Tensions
Last Ditch’s financial woes began as the bar’s unusual business model—designed to be inclusive—proved unsustainable. The mask mandate, initially implemented to protect immunocompromised patrons, was lifted in August to increase Saturday attendance, which had been dwindling. It is with love we inform our immunocompromised disabled divas we will be opening Saturday nights as mask optional,
the bar wrote in its announcement, which critics called dismissive.
The backlash escalated during a September 11 community meeting, where attendees accused the bar’s mediator—a white therapist—of centering the feelings of a majority white and white adjacent staff.
One participant said, A lot of people are calling for an acknowledgment of harm and I’m hearing a WHITE therapist … center[ing] the feelings of a majority white and white adjacent staff.
The meeting devolved into chaos, with some attendees claiming the therapist could force them into mental hospitals against their will.
Matellian, the bar’s last remaining owner, broke down during the meeting, explaining she had been left responsible for the $50,000 loan and had been living in her truck to keep the business afloat. It was not my passion project,
she said, crying through her mask. The bar’s other two owners had stepped back months earlier, one enrolled in clown school and the other a drag performer using it/its pronouns.
Accessibility Controversies and Unanswered Questions
The bar’s accessibility policies became a focal point of the dispute. While the mask mandate was meant to protect immunocompromised patrons, critics argued it excluded others. One user asked, Does COVlD not disable people on Saturday nights?
The bar’s decision to lift masks on Saturdays, despite Greenfield having no reported COVID cases in months, drew further scrutiny.
The incident raises questions about how small businesses balance inclusivity with financial survival. Last Ditch’s situation highlights the tension between accessibility measures and operational viability, particularly for queer spaces navigating post-pandemic expectations. As the bar faces potential boycotts and ongoing community scrutiny, its future remains uncertain.
For now, the bar’s fate hinges on whether it can reconcile its mission with the demands of a divided community. As one critic wrote, Just say you’re being complicit in a mass disabling event and get it over with.
The debate over what constitutes accessibility—and who gets to define it—continues to shape the conversation around Last Ditch’s next steps.