Philadelphia Gay Sports Bar to Close Amid Accusations of Transphobia and Misogyny

Marsha's South Street, a gay sports bar in Philadelphia, is set to close its doors this weekend after facing accusations of transphobia, misogyny, and microaggressions from members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The bar's owner, Chivonn Anderson, announced the closure on Thursday, citing the difficult decision to cease operations after previously stating the need for more women/queer/BIPOC-owned businesses.

"It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to close Marsha’s doors for good. We have loved serving this community, and still believe that more than ever this city needs more women/queer/BIPOC- owned businesses," Anderson wrote in an Instagram post. She invited patrons to visit over the weekend for a final farewell.

Allegations against the bar surfaced in April when Olivia Rhodes, a former Black trans manager and bartender, claimed on Instagram that Marsha's was not a safe space for queer individuals. Rhodes alleged that the bar's general manager made disparaging remarks about nonbinary individuals and suggested hiring more men to increase the bar's "testosterone."

Further claims, including accusations of racism and misogyny, were posted on Reddit by former employees and patrons. One former worker, described as a biracial, bisexual woman, also reported experiencing poor treatment. Another Reddit user, claiming to be an employee, alleged that the head chef misgendered staff and characterized the bar as primarily serving cis white lesbians, with minorities being an infrequent presence.

Anderson had previously attempted to address the concerns, stating in a September Instagram post that the staff had been trained on biased language and microaggressions, and that the bar enforced a zero-tolerance policy against hate and bias. She also mentioned working with restorative justice practitioners.

The bar's impending closure comes as the WNBA Finals are set to begin.