Mona’s Club 440: San Francisco’s First Lesbian Bar

Mona’s Club 440 was San Francisco’s first lesbian bar and most likely first in the USA. In 1934 Mona Sargent originally opened the bar on Union Street as a Bohemian hangout for artists and writers. By the time the nightclub moved to 440 Broadway in 1939, Mona’s had become a mecca for lesbians, transgenders and male impersonators. One of the most loved performers was Gladys Bentley, sometimes called “The Brown Bomber” who often created raunchy lyrics to well known songs and flirted with all the women in the audience. Along with Bentley’s growing popularity also came financial success, and she eventually married her female lover from New Jersey… read more >