The Stud, San Francisco’s oldest continuously-operating gay club, will be closing its doors permanently, according to a news release from Honey Mahogany, a co-owner of the South of Market establishment.
“The Stud is the country’s only cooperatively owned LGBT venue and has been in operation for 55 years,” the release states. “Because of a lack of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic bar will be announcing that they are permanently closing their location and will be holding a drag funeral to honor the end of an era of LGBT nightlife.”
The Stud opened in 1966. It almost closed in 2016 after a rent increase but was saved by the co-op of performers, DJs and others.
The co-owner states that a drag funeral will take place via Zoom on May 21 at 2 p.m. (Mahogany also noted that a news conference will be held May 21 at 2 p.m.) 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.
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.
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