The old gang at Maud’s - in the center holding the camera is Rikki Streicher, who owned the bar, and also later owned Amelias. Back in the day, when there were 7-8 lesbian bars in San Francisco open every day. Photo by Deborah Trapini.

The landmark “Maud’s Reunion! - 20th Anniversary of Maud’s Closing” event will take place on June 27. This is an official 2009 SF Pride event. It was timed to coincide with the 2009 San Francisco Pride parade and celebration - 20 years after the famous dyke bar, Maud’s, closed in 1989. The event will also honor and remember the late Rikki Streicher, as well as Maud’s 23-year (1966-1989) history and impact on the lesbian culture and politics of LGBT San Francisco. In the famous documentary film, Last Call at Maud’s, featuring Streicher, one will recall the memories of the women interviewed about the classic lesbian hangout and their accompanying personal photographs of their younger selves and lovers. 

The event will be held on June 27, noon to 6 p.m. at Finnegan’s Wake, which is the location of the old Maud’s, on 937 Cole Street & Carl Street in the Haight. 

The organizers give a special thanks to Finnegan’s Wake owner Tom, the staff, and customers for welcoming the lesbian community to their bar for this very special reunion. 

The Maud’s Reunion Committee consists of well known women such as Mandy Carter, Susan Fahey, Jewelle Gomez, Diane Sabin, Mary Sager, Joann Shirley, Jean Sompayrac, and Mary Starvus. They ask if anyone has memories and/or photos to share, they can email: . Carter says they will be creating a list of everyone who has contacted them, letting them know who can’t join them for the Maud’s Reunion. “We’re going to post the list at the reunion so that we can say that you all were ‘with us’ - even though not in person,” says Carter. She says she received an email from someone whose friend told her she really wanted to be at Maud’s anniversary, but she didn’t make it. She died last month. “I’ll be there in her memory,” the friend wrote. Carter replied to her, “We’re putting together a special ‘Sisters Gone But Not Forgotten’ tribute for those who called Maud’s home who have passed.”

The Reunion Committee is asking folks who are attending to also bring some of their souvenirs from the auction that was held at Maud’s before it closed. 

Afraid you’ll miss the 17th annual San Francisco Dyke March? Fear not, because the Committee timed the Maud’s Reunion to end at 6 p.m. so that folks could get over to the 7 p.m. Dyke March Kick-Off at Dolores Park at 18th & Dolores Streets. For further information, browse thedykemarch.org website. 

“I went to [the former location of] Maud’s last year for the first time since it closed in 1989, and was stunned to see that it is exactly the same place it was when it was Maud’s,” says Carter. “It even still has the original Maud’s phone number.” She adds, “The key changes [were] the addition of three big TV’s, tables in the backyard, a CD juke box, and they removed the cover of the window in the entry way of the bar. Remarkable!”