Queer bars in Western Massachusetts are disappearing. Two in the region have shut down in recent years. Now Last Ditch, a small LGBTQ+ bar and art space in Greenfield, is struggling to stay open. Governor Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Legislature can help by creating clean air grants for small venues, so places like this can protect their most vulnerable guests without going broke.

Since opening in 2025, Last Ditch has required KN95 masks so immunocompromised and disabled queer people could safely enjoy a night out. But over time, fewer customers came through the door and money got tight. When the owners announced masks would be optional on Saturday nights, the post drew hundreds of comments, many calling the change ableist. Others pointed out that a small business needs paying customers to survive. The fight went viral, and strangers online piled on with mockery.

Small venue owners should not have to choose between keeping people safe and paying the rent. Cleaner air can ease that choice. Better ventilation and high-grade air filters can reduce germs in the air for everyone in the room, masked or not. For a basement bar on a tight budget, that equipment is often out of reach.

A state grant program for small bars, music venues, and community spaces would help cover the cost of these upgrades. It would also help protect queer spaces in a part of the state where they matter deeply. Nearby Hampshire County has the highest share of lesbian couple households in the nation, according to the 2020 census.

Everyone deserves a place to belong. Sign the petition to urge Governor Healey and state lawmakers to fund clean air grants before another queer space closes for good.