Long before the rainbow crosswalks and brunch crowds, Washington D.C. had The Hung Jury Pub — a tough, lively, deeply loved lesbian bar that opened in the 1970s and quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s queer women’s community. With its wood-paneled walls, packed dance floor, and no-nonsense vibe, the Hung Jury was the place where women came to flirt, argue, shoot pool, fall in love, break up, make up, and find chosen family in a city that didn’t always make space for them.
It wasn’t fancy — it was real. The kind of bar where regulars knew your name, bartenders had your back, and a good night meant losing track of time and gaining a few new friends. Through the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s the Hung Jury held its ground during political storms, cultural shifts, and the constant challenge of being a queer women’s bar in America.
