This is our full interview tape Ruthie Boirie. We usually only release full interviews on our Patreon page, but we feel like everyone deserves to hear the extended Ruthie story! Ruthie is a regular customer at Ginger's and the owner of Ruthie's Neighborhood Barbershop, a Park Slope staple for 26 years. She's also kind of a local celebrity.

You can hear some of her stories in person AND get a great haircut by visiting Ruthie at her barbershop at 66 St Marks Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.  

--

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! 

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

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-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin. 

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Our Webby-honored season 1 finale! When we left on our road trip to visit every lesbian bar in the U.S. last fall, our own neighborhood lesbian bar, Ginger's, sat shuttered. Like all bars and restaurants in New York, Ginger's closed due to the pandemic in March of 2020. In September of 2021, we still had no idea if or when it would ever re-open. But a few weeks after we returned home from our trip, it was announced on Instagram; Ginger's was coming back!

In our final episode of season 1, we're honored to share the stories of two women who are absolutely essential to the Ginger's community. There's Sheila Frayne, who opened Ginger's bar in 2000. She was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in her early 20s. She never for a second doubted Ginger's would re-open after the pandemic. And then there's Ruthie. If you've ever been to Ginger's, you have probably met Ruthie. Or maybe you know her from her barbershop, which sits about a mile north of the bar. She's a bit of a local celebrity...though she might tell you otherwise.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Honda

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Hi Listeners!

A quick update for you all: we know we are overdue for another episode of Cruising and that is because we are working hard on our season 1 finale!! Our season finale will feature our very own 'home' bar, Ginger's, located in Brooklyn. Keep an eye out for this episode to drop sometime in August. And yes, this means we will be coming back for a season 2!! Subscribe and follow along on social media for more updates.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

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Babes of Carytown, or Babe's for short, has been around since 1979. These are the stories of the humans that run it and the humans that call it a home.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Honda

Support the show

Support the show

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lipstick Lounge is Tennessee's only lesbian bar. It was established in 2002 in Nashville. These are the stories of the humans that run is and the humans that call it a home.

Jonda Valentine founded The Lipstick Lounge in 2002 because she missed the community and fellowship that the church once provided her. A few months later, Christa Suppan became co-owner, and has helped to foster a sense of family there for 20 years. Krystal, a performer and bartender, is a member of that family. As are Lynn Hearn and BB McQueen, who have been friends since age 16. They met writing and performing sex ed skits as peer educators with Planned Parenthood, and have been performing ever since. 

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Honda

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My Sisters Room (MSR) is one of the longest running lesbian bars of the south. These are the stories of the humans that run it and the humans that call it a home.

Jen Maguire got her start in the Atlanta queer scene doing drag. And today? She owns My Sister's Room with her wife, Jami Maguire. Jill works security at MSR, and the job has helped her cut down on drinking while still allowing her to be an integral part of the community. Skyler raised funds for his top surgery at MSR--and landed a spot on Queer Eye chronicling his journey. And Madison, a regular at MSR, details the experience of being in Atlanta during the BLM protests following George Floyd's murder, and MSR's support during this time.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Honda

Support the show

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Herz was founded in a Mobile, Alabama in October of 2019 and closed in 2023. It was a Black, queer, woman owned space. These are the stories of the humans that ran it and the humans that called it a home.

From the outside, Herz might be mistaken for a strip club. And that's intentional, according to co-owner Rachel. Rachel owns Herz with her wife, Sheila, who wanted to open a lesbian bar in her retirement. Kyler, a bartender at Herz, moved to Mobile from Birmingham, and immediately got a job at Herz. And Beyonce, who got his nickname from a group of bikers at another bar in town, bartends there as well. 

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

Support the show

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Located in Houston, Pearl Bar is our second stop in Texas. These are the stories of the humans that run it and the humans that call it a home.

Julie Mabry has wanted to open a lesbian bar ever since she visited her first one at 16 years old with her sister, Sarah. Sarah, who struggled through much of her adolescence, felt comfortable for the first time walking into that lesbian bar. And Julie noticed. Today, Julie owns Pearl Bar, and has created a safe haven there for all sorts of people. Like Paige, a single mom who picks up extra shifts with her Pearl Bar family when she needs. And Eve, who was born and raised in Lebanon, and came to the U.S. to live freely and openly. 

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

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Sue Ellen's is one of two lesbian bars in the state of Texas. It's located in Oaklawn, Dallas's gayborhood. These are the stories of the humans that run it and the humans that call it a home.

Kathy Jack, was 18 years old when she started frequenting the Dallas gay bars in the late 1970s. Now the General Manager of Sue Ellen's, Kathy has over 40 years of Dallas's LGBTQ+ history to share. Erica has been coming to Sue Ellen's since 2008, and she now runs a group called Lez Be Friends Dallas, which aims to build community and bring business to the bar. Shelly first started bartending at Sue Ellen's in 1994. And after leaving to pursue a 20 year career in teaching, she now finds herself back behind the bar.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

Support the show

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YBR is the third of Oklahoma's three lesbian bars. Its full name is "Yellow Brick Road Pub" but everyone calls it YBR. These are the stories of the humans that run it and the humans that call it a home.

Kevie didn't know other gay people existed growing up in Checotah, Oklahoma in the 60s and 70s. But by 2000, she had opened her very own lesbian bar in Tulsa: YBR. Since 2000, YBR has been a home and a community to many. There's Amanda, YBR's General Manager; Sarah, former bartender and current therapist; and Erica, longtime YBR regular.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

-For a transcription of this episode, visit www.cruisingpod.com/episodes

-Like our theme song and music? Subscribe to our composer Joey Freeman’s work HERE!

-Cover art by Finley Martin. Like what you see? Check out her work HERE!

-Cruising is reported and produced by Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity. Theme song by Joey Freeman. Cover Art by Finley Martin.

Support the show

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices