For more than 20 years, Ginger’s Bar has been a cornerstone of Brooklyn’s queer nightlife, offering not just drinks, but belonging. Founded on St Patrick’s Day in 2000 by Sheila Frayne, Ginger’s was imagined as a queer Irish pub rooted in openness, warmth and community values that continue to define it today.

“Sheila had a very clear idea of what a queer pub should represent,” explains the bar’s current co-owner, Brendan. “That ethos of being ‘all about the vibe’ has never changed. We’ve welcomed generations of queer people through our doors, and that sense of continuity is incredibly important.”

Hospitality runs deep in Ginger’s DNA. When the current co-owner came on board four years ago, the goal was clear: preserve Ginger’s status as Brooklyn’s oldest operating queer space and its iconic lesbian bar identity, while guiding it into a post-COVID future. That balance has helped Ginger’s weather challenges that have forced many lesbian and queer bars to close.

Resilience, Brendan says, comes from community ownership. “Our customers aren’t just patrons, they shape the bar. From NY Liberty watch parties to Dyke Drag, Dyke Mic, karaoke and trivia, every event is organised by someone from the lesbian or queer community. People feel part of something bigger, and that’s powerful.”

That community focus has been especially vital during difficult times. Throughout the pandemic and amid rising anti-LGBTQ legislation, Ginger’s has hosted food drives, markets for queer crafters, debate watch parties and fundraisers, including collaborations with activist groups supporting families in Gaza. “The diversity of our events casts a wide net,” he says, “and brings together people who care deeply about each other and the world around them.”

Operating a space centred on queer women, non-binary people and sapphic culture is a responsibility Brendan takes seriously. “As a cis gay man, I’m honoured to be a steward of Ginger’s. The real credit belongs to the team; they’re the reason the bar thrives.”

Asked about his proudest moment, his answer is immediate: reopening in October 2020 after an 18-month pandemic closure. “People didn’t know if we’d survive. Seeing their faces light up when we reopened, that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

For over two decades, one small Irish bar has served Brooklyn’s lesbian community. Ginger’s remains proof that queer spaces endure when they are built with love, trust and collective care.