Jun 20, 2024 - History

How SF's first lesbian bar paved the way for LGBTQ+ nightlife across the U.S.

Shawna Chen

Photo of a signed photo of Gladys Bentley posing in a tuxedo and top hat — Gladys Bentley helped make Mona's a thriving lesbian bar in the 1930s. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

When Mona's opened in North Beach in 1936, owners and married couple Mona and Jimmie Sargeant imagined it as a bohemian space for writers and artists. But as their business grew, so did the club's dynamics.

Why it matters: It became the first openly lesbian club in San Francisco and paved the way for more lesbian clubs to flourish both in the Bay and across the U.S.

How it happened: The couple began hiring singing waitresses, some of whom dressed as men, and styled the bar as an impersonation cabaret with drag performances by lesbians and genderfluid people.

Gladys Bentley, a blues singer and entertainer, became one of Mona's most popular acts with her cross-dressing performances in a tuxedo and top hat.
Marketing itself to the local LGBTQ community rather than to tourists, Mona's moved to 440 Broadway St. after a surge in patrons and was renamed Mona's 440 Club.

Its tagline: "Where girls will be boys," per the Historical Marker Database.

Mona's became Ann's 440 Club in the early 1950s when the Sargeants sold it to Ann Dee. It continued its entertainment and helped "bring sapphic culture to mainstream city nightlife," according to KQED.

Yes, but: Despite its rich LGBTQ+ history, San Francisco now has only a few establishments that cater to members of the lesbian and queer community.

Some local residents are trying to fill that void.

Go deeper: "The Last American Gay Bar" docuseries to debut in Des Moines

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How SF's first lesbian bar paved the way for LGBTQ+ nightlife across the U.S.

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