Blush & Blu, Colorado’s only lesbian bar, held its final bash on Saturday night after announcing it was closing.
In a farewell statement posted on Sept. 28, owner Jody Bouffard congratulated “every promoter, performer, DJ, drag queen, drag king, comedian, poet, and artist” who contributed to Blush & Blu, calling them the “lifeblood” of the company.
“You’ve filled this space with color, magic, and joy,” she told me.
Michelle Osterday, known by her stage moniker “MadameO,” appeared in multiple burlesque shows at the club. She expressed sadness at the news of its closure.
“They always provided a great atmosphere and sense of ease whenever I performed there,” she told me.
Bouffard also praised customers, explaining that the pub exists because of them.
“As we close this chapter, I hope you carry Blush & Blu in your hearts, in the memories we’ve shared, and in the community we’ve built together,” according to her.
Many supporters, including 38-year-old Denver resident Brittany Bartges, sent comments full of good wishes and anecdotes.
“I have watched our community grow and change in this sacred place,” she said. “Thank you for all the love and work you put into it.”
Bartges participated in the military and stated that she was unable to come out until after her service ended owing to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. She expressed gratitude for the bar because that is where she found “her people.”
“In the military, being with a woman was prohibited. “Blush was an oasis, a place to feel like a normal human,” she told NBC News. “I will genuinely miss knowing this location exists. Even when I couldn’t make it, the world felt better knowing it was there.”
Blush & Blu holds many meaningful memories, according to Bartges. For herself, she remembered first dates and witnessing a drag show with her mother.
“In a lesbian pub, we feel at home. “We can take up as much space as we want,” she explained. “When the bar closes, Denver will just be another city where we only gather in gay bars.”
According to NBC News, there were fewer than 20 lesbian bars across the US in 2020. According to an NBC News report, a “lesbian bar renaissance” happened following the pandemic, resulting in the founding of new businesses in several areas.
Dani’s Queer Bar opened in Boston last month.
The Lesbian Bar Project documents lesbian bars and keeps a list of open companies. According to their assessment, there are approximately 30 lesbian bars still functioning across the country, following the closure of Blush & Blu.
Blush & Blu has received unfavorable attention in recent years due to allegations of inability to appropriately compensate employees, as well as complaints of a hostile work environment.
Three former employees sued Blush and Blu. In 2021, they claim “mistreatment and underpayment of queer and transgender workers.” Court filings show that both the plaintiffs and defendants agreed to dismiss all claims in 2023.
Blush & Blu first launched on Colfax Avenue in downtown Denver in 2012.
