Last Ditch Bar, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, faced significant community backlash after announcing it would make masks optional on Saturday nights to help with severe financial struggles. The bar, which had been enforcing a strict KN-95 mask mandate, posted the announcement on 31 August, stating the change was made in response to economic difficulties, including a former owner living in her vehicle and the inability to remain sustainable. The decision prompted swift criticism at a community meeting on 11 September, with virtual attendees raising objections to the policy change.

Comedian Bill Maher commented on the controversy during his HBO show "Real Time," highlighting the bar's financial hardship whilst criticising the intensity and nature of the backlash from critics. Maher pointed to extreme statements reportedly made by opponents, including accusations that patrons were "killing disabled people" and wishes that the venue would be "firebombed." Critics at the community meeting also objected to the presence of a White mediator, demanding acknowledgment of harm. The incident highlighted broader tensions around remaining COVID-era restrictions and diverging views on public health measures.