A Look at the History of Female Nightlife Activists in the Village

Our neighborhoods have long thrived on an electric, eclectic energy that fuels creativity, rebellion, and cultural ferment. Amid the many powerful forces shaping the area’s nightlife history, women are among the pivotal yet often overlooked figures — transforming not only the local scene but the wider social and political landscape. These women were not just patrons of bars and nightclubs; they were pioneers of movements, advocates for equality, and shapers of the city’s nightlife culture. The story of female nightlife activists in the Village is one of resilience, community, and the fight for inclusivity.

The Early Years

By the early 20th century, Greenwich Village was already known as a gathering place for intellectuals, artists, and progressive thinkers. Women were prominent among them, but their roles in nightlife and activism were often overshadowed by their male counterparts. However, the roots of female participation in the Village’s cultural evolution were planted during this time.

During the Jazz Age of the 1920s, women began to step into new social roles. The flapper represented a break from traditional norms, and many women in the Village found a space for self-expression and activism in the nightlife scene. Pioneer female jazz and blues singers like Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith performed at local clubs, challenging racial and gender barriers while redefining the art form. Though these women were often seen as performers, their influence stretched far beyond the stage — they represented the burgeoning power of women to define their own spaces and control their own narratives.

Eve Adams was a rebel. Born Chawa Zloczewer to a Jewish family in Poland, Adams emigrated to the United States in 1912. She took a new name, befriended anarchists, sold radical publications, and ran a lesbian and gay-friendly speakeasy in Greenwich Village.

In 1925, she opened “Eve’s Hangout” at 129 MacDougal Street, a mecca for bohemian New Yorkers. The place was a haven for lesbians and migrants, working-class people, and intellectuals. It became a popular club, especially for artists like Berenice Abbott. Eve organized concerts, readings, and meetings where it was acceptable to talk about love between women, political matters, and liberal ideas. Consequently, she became a notable figure in the Village.

Then, in 1925, Adams risked all to write and publish a book titled Lesbian Love. In a repressive era, when American women had just gained the right to vote, Adams’ association with notorious anarchists caught the attention of the young J. Edgar Hoover and the U.S. Bureau of Investigation, leading to her surveillance, arrest, and ultimate deportation into the Nazis’ reign of terror, where, tragically, she was sent to Auschwitz and killed.

The 1960s and 1970s: The Birth of Radical Feminism and LGBTQ+ Activism

The Village’s history of activism would reach new heights in the 1960s and 1970s, when the neighborhood became the epicenter for both the feminist and LGBTQ+ movements.

A prominent and influential figure in the movement was Audre Lorde, a poet and activist who often spoke out on issues related to race, sexuality, and feminism. From 1951 to 1959, 86 University Place housed ‘The Bagatelle,’ a popular lesbian bar, on the ground floor. Two noted lesbian writers, Audre Lorde and Ann Bannon, have spoken and written extensively about their time at the Bagatelle and how it shaped their experience in the lesbian community throughout the pre-Stonewall era. Audra Lorde’s works inspired countless individuals to challenge societal expectations, and she was a powerful voice in the feminist and civil rights movements of the time. Her legacy would ripple throughout the Village, influencing both the LGBTQ+ and feminist communities.

The Stonewall Riots of 1969 marked a pivotal moment for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, but women were crucial figures in the fight for equality during this era. Though much of the historical focus has been on male leaders of the movement, several women played indispensable roles behind the scenes and on the frontlines.

One of the most iconic women associated with the Stonewall Riots was Sylvia Rivera, a Puerto Rican and Venezuelan trans woman who became a leading voice for transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Alongside her close friend Marsha P. Johnson, she co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided support and advocacy for homeless transgender people in New York City. Their activism, particularly within the nightlife scene, helped redefine the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, and activism.

The 1980s and 1990s: The Rise of the Club Kid Movement and Women’s Empowerment

By the 1980s, New York City’s nightlife scene had transformed into an avant-garde cultural mecca. The iconic Club Kid movement, led by figures like RuPaul and Michael Alig, brought new attention to queer culture and nightlife at places like the Pyramid Club. While the spotlight often shone on flamboyant men and drag queens, women were also making waves in the nightlife scene, both in terms of their roles as performers and as activists.

One standout figure from this era was Susanne Bartsch, a Swiss-born fashion icon and nightlife promoter who became one of the most powerful women in New York’s club scene. She was known for creating spaces throughout downtown where avant-garde fashion, performance art, and LGBTQ+ expression could flourish. Bartsch’s clubs were a haven for individuals of all backgrounds, and her influence extended beyond just parties—she used her platforms to challenge mainstream notions of gender and sexuality.

During this period, the rise of the AIDS epidemic also prompted many women in the Village to become involved in activism. The Lesbian Avengers, originally based in Greenwich Village. were founded in 1992 as a grassroots activist organization focused on advocating for lesbian rights and visibility. Their work was part of a larger movement of lesbian feminist activism in the 1990s, and they organized various high-profile actions and events to raise awareness about issues affecting the lesbian community, often from the heart of Greenwich Village, which was known as a hub for LGBTQ+ culture and activism. They mobilized women to raise awareness, demand action, and advocate for the marginalized. These women were often out in the streets, on picket lines, and in the clubs, using the nightlife as a platform for activism, pushing for better healthcare, resources, and a more inclusive society.

The 2000s and Beyond: A New Era of Intersectional Activism

As the 21st century progressed, the role of women in the Village’s nightlife scene continued to evolve. The intersection of race, gender, sexuality, and class became a critical part of activism in the area, and women were at the forefront of addressing these issues within the context of nightlife. The 2000s saw the rise of feminist collectives and events that used the power of the party to address everything from reproductive rights to queer visibility.

One such figure is Ladyfag, a nightlife promoter, and performance artist who has helped create inclusive spaces for queer women and gender-nonconforming individuals in the nightlife scene of the East Village. Ladyfag’s events have become iconic for their celebration of gender fluidity, LGBTQ+ expression, and intersectional activism. Her events continue to be platforms for political action, where music, performance, and activism intersect in meaningful ways.

The legacy of female nightlife activists in the Village is a testament to the power of community, rebellion, and inclusivity. From the Jazz Age flappers to the radical feminist pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s, and the contemporary LGBTQ+ and feminist leaders of today, women have played an indispensable role in shaping the nightlife culture of Greenwich Village. Through activism, art, and sheer determination, they have carved out spaces where marginalized voices can be heard, and where social, political, and cultural change can be incubated. The history of these women continues to inspire new generations to use nightlife as a platform for both celebration and activism.