Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America

Effing Dykes blogger Burton debuts with a witty cross-country tour of lesbian bars. Eager to reconnect with the queer community after Covid-19 lockdowns, Burton set out in 2021 on a pilgrimage with her trans husband, Davin, to visit the 20 self-identifying lesbian bars (down from 206 in 1987) left in the U.S. (more have since opened). Highlights include Burton’s first visit to a drag show since the onset of the pandemic, at the Back Door in Bloomington, Ind.; singing the queer anthem “Goodbye Earl” with dozens of other patrons at the Lipstick Lounge in Nashville, Tenn.; and competing in dildo races at the Pearl Bar in Houston, Tex. Along the way, Burton makes friends, studies lesbian behavior (“My god do we love a spot where we can lean while we stare at each other without engaging”), and discusses reasons for the closure of “dyke bars,” including gentrification, the pandemic, and the growing acceptance of the queer community in mainstream culture. In response, the remaining nightspots have become more inclusive of other segments of the LGBTQ community and added indoor slides, Instagram-friendly patios, and other attractions. Throughout, Burton’s keen observations and sense of humor are on full display. It adds up to an infectious celebration of the joy and resilience of queer spaces. (June)