LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:
In 1980, there were around 200 lesbian bars in the United States. Now only 21 remain. That s according to The Lesbian Bar Project, a campaign working to document the significance and resilience of these spaces. The Lipstick Lounge in Nashville is one of those bars that remains, and we re joined now by owner Christa Suppan. Welcome to the program.
CHRISTA SUPPAN: Hello. Thank you.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about The Lipstick Lounge. When did you open it, and why is it an important space?
SUPPAN: Well, we opened it - my business partner and I, Jonda Valentine - September 4 of 2002. We opened up the space with not just ourselves in mind - obviously, for being a lesbian-friendly bar because when you walk in, you know that the owners are lesbian. But at the same token, just, you know, building a bridge in our community where people who don t feel like they fit into any certain space can just feel welcome in our space.
Pandemic exacerbated lesbian bar closures. Today, there are only 15 left in the country. yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.