The Western Massachusetts Communist Party chapter has criticised the Boston Globe's coverage of Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield that announced Saturday mask-optional nights, triggering community backlash from those concerned about disability accessibility. The Communist Party argued the article was not genuinely newsworthy and accused the Globe of amplifying right-wing outrage and division within LGBTQ+ communities during an election cycle.

Last Ditch's announcement prompted fierce criticism on social media, with commenters comparing the policy to a "mass disabling event" and accusing the establishment of endangering immunocompromised people. The situation occurred years after COVID-19 was declared over in 2023, with Greenfield reporting no cases for over two months; the bar, already financially struggling under its anti-exclusion business model, later apologised for the tone of its announcement.