A chapter of the Communist Party in Massachusetts has criticized The Boston Globe for its reporting on a lesbian bar in Greenfield that has been criticized for lifting its mask mandate for one night a week.
The Western Massachusetts CPUSA posted a statement on social media calling for solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, which has been facing backlash over the bar's decision to make Saturdays mask-optional. The statement accused the Globe of using the story to court the outrage of the "national extreme right" and claimed that the article was not newsworthy.
The statement also criticized the Globe for its previous reporting on issues related to the LGBTQ+ community, including an article that said violence against transgender people is "going down" despite claims from activists that it is on the rise. The Western Massachusetts CPUSA rejected the use of conflicts among LGBTQ+ people and organizations as a tool of division by the extreme right.
The Boston Globe responded to the criticism in a statement, saying that the newspaper is locally owned and that its newsroom makes editorial decisions independently, guided by a commitment to fair and accurate reporting.
The controversy surrounding Last Ditch, the lesbian bar in Greenfield, began when it announced that it would be making Saturdays mask-optional. The decision sparked a backlash from the community, with some accusing the bar of ableism and calling for a boycott. The bar has since apologized for its decision and has issued a call for donations and support, saying that operating a venue is expensive and that every dollar received can be reinvested in the business.
The bar's decision to lift its mask mandate for one night a week has been criticized by some as a "mass disabling event" that puts disabled people at risk. The backlash has been intense, with some commenters wishing violence against the establishment and accusing the bar's owners of being complicit in a "eugenicist" attack.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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