The lesbian bar of old may be something of a relic, but it’s one worth resurrecting.
Danielle Spring and Julie Toupin-Spring opened Femme in Worcester’s Canal District a year ago in March 2023. At the time, 21 lesbian bars were operating in the U.S., according to the Lesbian Bar Project, a short film and national fundraising effort.
The couple had visited a lesbian bar in New York City that instantly felt like home, and they wanted to make it a reality in their home city of Worcester. Spring and Toupin-Spring’s Femme is now one of about 30 lesbian bars in the U.S. and the only one in New England, according to the Lesbian Bar Project.
“We took a major risk to open an inclusive space for people who are often overlooked,” they said.
Although it is a lesbian bar, Femme is open to everyone and seeks to be a safe space at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is increasingly under fire locally and nationally. The couple only asks patrons to bring positive vibes. With soft fluorescent pink lighting against moody, dark-paneled walls and serving signature cocktails such as Midnight Love and For the Girls, one could imagine women of any persuasion enjoying Femme, which is what Spring and Spring-Toupin envisioned.
Being the premier lesbian bar in New England has earned Femme ink in national publications. In April, Femme won the Innovative Business Award from Safe Homes, a program from Worcester behavioral health nonprofit Open Sky Community Services designed to support LGBTQ+ youth.
The duo keep Femme lively and welcoming with events almost every day of the week, including with live music, comedy shows, brunches for all ages, and Taylor Swift trivia.
