“The Lesbian Bar Chronicles” – a book by Rachel Karp on the history and future of sapphic spaces in the US
Journalist Rachel Karp's research explores the past, present, and revival of lesbian bars across the United States.
In late May 2026, Beacon Press published the book “The Lesbian Bar Chronicles: The Living History and Hopeful Future of America’s Dyke Dives and Sapphic Spaces” in English. It was written by Rachel Karp – an American writer, producer, and co-creator of the documentary podcast Cruising.
The publication serves as a study of the history and current state of lesbian bars in the US. In the 1980s, there were about 200 such establishments operating in the country, but by 2020 their number had dwindled to a few dozen, leading the media to declare the disappearance of sapphic spaces. To document their fate, Karp embarked on a cross-country road trip with her wife and friend. Drawing on more than a hundred hours of interviews with owners, staff, and regulars, the author describes the history of the surviving venues and discovers that the industry is experiencing a resurgence.
The book discusses both historical spots, such as the Prohibition-era tearoom founded by Eve Adams or the Chicana bar Redz in Los Angeles, and modern projects. Among the latter are the nation’s first women’s sports bar, The Sports Bra, in Portland, and a new generation of inclusive venues. Karp emphasizes that contemporary lesbian bars have become more open to transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Amid political pressure on the LGBT community, these spaces continue to serve not just as places of leisure, but as vital centers of solidarity, political self-organization, and the preservation of LGBT history.
