May 21, 2020
COVID-19 Leads to Closure of the Stud, SF's Oldest LGBT Bar
John Ferranini READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The Stud, San Francisco's oldest continuously-operating LGBT club, will be closing its doors permanently, according to a news release from Honey Mahogany, a co-owner of the South of Market establishment.
A news release sent the evening of May 20 states that a drag funeral will take place via Zoom on May 21 at 2 p.m.
In a subsequent email, Mahogany said that a news conference will be held instead on May 21; the drag funeral is set for May 31.
In a phone call with the B.A.R. after this story was initially published, Mahogany said that while the Stud will be closing its 399 Ninth Street location, it hopes to secure a new location and further information will be relayed at Thursday's news conference.
"We do plan on reopening," Mahogany said. "We haven't found a building yet. At some point we will reopen. We will have a press conference tomorrow to talk about it and will have the drag funeral May 31."
While Mahogany did respond to the B.A.R. after this story was published, the original news release was headlined "The Stud, SF's Oldest Gay Bar, To Announce Permanently Closing of Location."
The Zoom news conference will include Mahogany, District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney, gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), drag artist and stud owner Vivianne Forevermore!, and general manager and Stud owner Rachel Ryan. Mahogany is a legislative aide for Haney.
