Pearl Bar Explained

Pearl Bar is a lesbian-specific LGBTQ+ bar located on Washington Avenue between the Heights and Montrose neighbourhoods of Houston, Texas.^{[1] [2] [3]} It is the only lesbian bar in Houston, one of only two in the state of Texas, and fewer than 25 in the United States.^{[4] [5]} It is known for hosting a variety of events including female-specific DJs, crawfish boils, dildo races and drag performers.

History

Pearl Bar was launched in 2013 by Julie Mabry, a lesbian event promoter and local entrepreneur who understood the need for spaces that specifically cater to women within the LGBTQ+ community.^[6]

In 2020 Pearl Bar was one of ten LGBTQ+ businesses across the United States to receive a preservation grant from national non-profit the Human Rights Campaign and Showtime, intended to assist with preserving the venue as a cultural landmark.

In 2022 Pearl Bar was featured in a dedicated episode of the Lesbian Bar Project, a campaign and documentary series created by Erica Rose and Elina Street, exploring and celebrating the remaining lesbian bars in the United States.^{[7] [8]}

In 2023 owner Mabry noted that Pearl Bar had been denied business insurance for the first time due to hosting drag shows, which she attributed predominantly to Texas' proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

See also

• List of lesbian bars

Notes and References

1. Web site: McKenzie . Zachary . 2023-03-02 . Mother of Pearl – OutSmart Magazine . 2023-06-20 . www.outsmartmagazine.com . en-US . 2023-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310230831/https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2023/03/mother-of-pearl/ . live .
2. Web site: Dellinger . Hannah . 2020-09-15 . Pearl Bar gets preservation grant during pandemic . 2023-06-20 . Houston Chronicle . en-US . 2020-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082210/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Pearl-Bar-gets-preservation-grant-during-pandemic-15569523.php . live .
3. Web site: Byrd . Sam . Putting The L In LGBT: Julie Mabry's Pearl Bar Is A True Gem . 2023-06-20 . Houston Press . en . 2023-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620120353/https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/get-to-know-the-struggle-and-success-behind-houstons-only-lesbian-bar-11578099 . live .
4. Web site: Grieder . Erica . 2023-05-10 . Owner of Houston lesbian bar says anti-drag efforts threaten to close Pearl club . 2023-06-20 . Houston Chronicle . en-US . 2023-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609105848/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/drag-shows-pearl-bar-backlash-18091546.php . live .
5. Web site: Burghardt . Aubrey . 2019-08-23 . Last Woman Standing: Where Have All The Lesbian Bars Gone? And Are They Coming Back? . 2023-06-20 . Spectrum South – The Voice of the Queer South . en-US . 2023-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620145836/https://www.spectrumsouth.com/last-woman-standing-lesbian-bars/ . live .
6. Web site: 2021-06-27 . Why Pearl Houston is the perfect place to celebrate Pride . 2023-06-20 . ABC7 New York . en . 2023-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620120353/https://abc7ny.com/pearl-bar-julie-mabry-houston-lesbian/10817008/ . live .
7. Web site: 2022-10-18 . 'The Lesbian Bar Project' Is an Important, Inspiring Series That Could Have Used Less SponCon . 2023-06-20 . Jezebel . en . 2022-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221202232621/https://jezebel.com/the-lesbian-bar-project-is-an-important-inspiring-seri-1849655537 . live .
8. Web site: Strangeways . Michael . “The Lesbian Bar Project” Returns With New Episodes On Roku Plus A Bus Tour . 2023-06-20 . Seattle Gay Scene . en-US . 2023-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620121701/https://seattlegayscene.com/2022/10/the-lesbian-bar-project-returns-with-new-episodes-on-roku-plus-a-bus-tour/ . live .