Story perspectives

Last Ditch Bar Drops KN-95 Rule After Backlash

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 3:06 AM UTC · How we work

Left

Ableist Policy Backlash

Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, announced Saturday nights would be mask-optional, ending its KN-95 rule.
Critics condemned the policy as ableist, warning it endangers immunocompromised patrons and decrying the Instagram caption’s tone toward “immunocompromised disabled divas” and missing alt-text.
Owner Jackie Matellian, proprietor, owes a $50,000 loan, lives in a car and works.
A community meeting on 11 September, held via Zoom, ended without resolution, showing strain.

Right

Owner Financial Hardship

Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, announced mask-optional Saturdays, ending its previous KN-95 requirement.
The owners removed the mask rule to boost revenue as the venue faced severe financial strain.
Patrons organized a boycott in response to the mask-optional policy.
Owner Jackie Matellian lived in a truck for six months while repaying a $50,000 loan.

Blindspot

Critics said the mask-optional policy was ableist and could endanger immunocompromised patrons, noting the bar’s Instagram post addressed “immunocompromised disabled divas” without alt-text.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

Massachusetts first required masks on May 1 2020, with the order taking effect May 6 and prompting protests on May 4. The state later eased mandates in April 2021 and allocated $1 million grants to pandemic-relief groups. Decades-old health-policy debates resurfaced when Greenfield’s Last Ditch Bar dropped its KN-95 rule, sparking a boycott that echoes early pandemic disputes over safety and accessibility.

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Ableist Policy Backlash

Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, announced Saturday nights would be mask-optional, ending its KN-95 rule.
Critics condemned the policy as ableist, warning it endangers immunocompromised patrons and decrying the Instagram caption’s tone toward “immunocompromised disabled divas” and missing alt-text.
Owner Jackie Matellian, proprietor, owes a $50,000 loan, lives in a car and works.
A community meeting on 11 September, held via Zoom, ended without resolution, showing strain.

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