April 26 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
In 1980 there were over two hundred lesbian bars in the United States. In 2023, only 25 remain. Summit Station, located at 2210 Summit Street in Columbus was Ohio’s longest-running lesbian bar, serving as the soul of the lesbian community in Central Ohio and beyond from 1980-2008.
For nearly 40 years the bar served as a safe space for queer women to gather. Summit Station functioned as a home away from home for thousands of women over the years, serving as a space for first dates, fundraisers, drag king and dyke queen performances, musical and comedy events, dart and billiards leagues, softball and football teams and so much more.
Many of the patrons who frequented the bar reside in Columbus and surrounding communities. The stories of their experiences at the bar run the gamut from inspiring, hilarious, historical and political to deeply personal.
On Wednesday, April 26th former patrons of the bar will gather at WOSU Public Media’s Ross Community Studio to share stories about the bar and the role it played in the lesbian, queer and trans community across the decades. The storytelling event will be emceed by LuSter Singleton. Immediately following the event a panel discussion with current bar owners and patrons of remaining queer bars will take place.
A historical marker will be placed permanently in front of the space that held Summit Station as part of the Ohio Historical Markers program administered by the Ohio History Connection. The marker will be dedicated on June 10th, 2023.