In the aftermath of the Stonewall Riots, a Columbus neighborhood watering hole transitions from a go-go bar to a safe-haven for five generations of lesbians. Travel back in time with the lesbians who made it happen in this heartwarming, inspirational, and culturally historic documentary. Free Beer Tomorrow is a documentary film that tells the story of Jack’s/ Summit Station, Ohio’s longest running lesbian owned and operated bar. With interviews from Peter Brown-a classically trained musician turned bar owner- to pioneering LGBTQ+ lawyer and legal scholar, Rhonda R. Rivera, and former patrons running the gamut of tap dancers, professional women’s football players, feminist activists, bartenders and drag kings, the film explores lesbian culture in an era where bars were one of the few safe-havens from an oppressive and homophobic world. Directed by long time co-conspirators, Julia M. Applegate and LuSter P. Singleton, Free Beer Tomorrow captures and preserves decades oft-overlooked lesbian herstory. Applegate and Singleton were long-time patrons of the bar. Singleton beginning in 1977 and Applegate beginning in 1993.

This project is rooted in the disciplines of History and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Generally speaking, the history of the LGBTQ+ community is not well documented. Homophobia, transphobia and stigma are responsible for the absence of robust documentation of contributions made by LGBTQ+ individuals. The work associated with this project will address the void of historical documentation LGBTQ+ history in general and of lesbian history in particular, specifically focusing on the history of lesbian bar culture in central Ohio.

As a discipline History is often just that, 'His' 'Story.' Far too often documented and celebrated history has focused on the accomplishments of white, able-bodied, socio-economically secure, heterosexual, cisgender male people. The filmmakers see this project as an opportunity to expand and support the collection of herstory centered on the achievements and culture of lesbian, queer, bisexual, trans and gender non-conforming, multiracial, poor, and working-class people. The herstory of this community is at grave risk of being lost, thereby perpetuating myopic historical narratives. Our filmmaking approach centers around the critique, deconstruction and dismantling of patriarchal, misogynist, racist, classist, abelist institutions and structures. Deploying an intersectional and social justice approach, this project will serve as an active effort to redress oversights in the celebration and documentation of LGBTQ+ history.