Wildfires Force Closure of LA Lesbian Bar, Community Rallies to Support Remaining Space

The Devastating Impact of Wildfires on Los Angeles' Lesbian Bars

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have had a devastating impact on the city's lesbian community, leading to the permanent closure of one of its two lesbian bars, The Ruby Fruit. The bar, which opened in February 2023, announced its closure on social media, citing the financial impact of the wildfires as the reason.

The owners of The Ruby Fruit, Emily Bielagus and Mara Herbkersman, expressed their grief and shock over the situation, stating that running their small business was no longer sustainable. They also acknowledged the support from other lesbian bar owners across the United States and promised to share more information about potential future plans and ways to help.

In the meantime, the community has rallied around Honey's at Star Love, the city's other lesbian bar. Pearl Bar, a lesbian bar in Houston, created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Honey's and its staff, recognizing the potential long-term impact of the wildfires on the bar's business.

Julie Mabry, the owner of Pearl Bar, shared her own experiences with natural disasters and the financial challenges they posed for her business. She emphasized the importance of supporting Honey's to ensure the survival of lesbian spaces in the face of these challenges.

The closure of The Ruby Fruit highlights the ongoing decline of lesbian bars nationwide. With only about 20 remaining in 2020, the loss of any bar is a significant blow to the community. The opening of The Ruby Fruit and Honey's in 2023 had brought hope for a resurgence of these vital spaces, but the wildfires have unfortunately reversed this trend.

Erica Rose and Elina Street, co-founders of the Lesbian Bar Project, emphasized the cultural significance of lesbian bars and the devastating impact their loss has on the community's identity and sense of belonging. They called for continued support and collaboration to find solutions and create more spaces for the lesbian community to thrive.