In a largely male-dominated society, and in a city that houses a wealth of LGBT bars that draw predominately male crowds, Sisters Nightclub was, for 17 years, a haven for women to not only be themselves, but to see themselves in others. But, the tradition that is Sisters is no more, as owners, citing financial reasons, closed the business Monday.
Some were blindsided by the news, while others said thinning crowds in recent years predicted the club’s demise. Foreseen or not, Sisters’ closure has left the lesbian community asking what went wrong, and what happens now.
Women’s bars have long struggled in the city of Philadelphia, although Sisters outlasted all others by several years. The economic downturn of the past several years, the rapidly changing attitudes of mainstream Americans — and mainstream nightlife — to LGBTs and the rise in popularity of traveling women’s parties could have all helped put Sisters on the path to closure. Some have also questioned if the club’s owners allowed the venue to stay updated and modern enough to keep the crowds coming, despite these other factors.
With the doors of Sisters locked for good, examining these questions will do no good for the business. But they could be important to consider for whoever plans to take up Sisters’ torch — and someone needs to.
Philadelphia is the nation’s fifth-largest city. We have been named by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the nation’s most LGBT-friendly municipalities. Our city is one of the pioneers in the LGBT-tourism market. We host a wealth of conferences each year that draw innumerable LGBT visitors. We have a sea of rainbow street signs welcoming residents and guests to our Gayborhood. But we do not have a lesbian bar? That is unconscionable.
Yes, women are welcome at all bars in the city — gay and straight. And integration and cooperation is a valuable thing. However, that doesn’t negate the sense of solidarity and pride that comes from having your own place to belong. Some people find that in extracurriculars with people of similar interests. Others align themselves with groups representing a particular racial or ethnic background. And still others are proud to simply define themselves as belonging to the LGBT community. For a multitude of women, Sisters was about having a place meant just for them, where they could be themselves among women who, despite their differences, knew what the intersection of being a woman and being a member of the LGBT community looks and feels like.
This week, social media was rife with stories of the club and what it meant to both regulars and the occasional visitor who stopped in for the infamous Thursday night drink-ticket special. Patrons of all generations came forward with tales of growing up, falling down, new loves, ubiquitous old loves, dancing and drinks, heartbreak and humor. Each story was different but each was told with a sense of ownership; Sisters clients were proud to have found their community within the Catwoman-clad walls of the Chancellor Street venue.
Those 17 years are now over, but that doesn’t mean the sisterhood that was created at Sisters needs to end. It’s time for Philadelphia’s women to carry forward what the business represented.