POCO Pop Ups and The Pearl Celebrate Over a Year of Behind the Pink Door and their New Sapphic Wedding Package

By Alisha Proffitt Photos by Tommy Johns

If you’ve wandered by The Pearl of Germantown on a certain Thursday evening and noticed a soft pink glow and a delicious smell drifting from the patio, congrats, you’ve found yourself Behind the Pink Door. This monthly event, created by the minds behind POCO Pop Ups and held in collaboration with The Pearl of Germantown and DJ Slim Thicc, is a sanctuary and a celebration of queer community. 

It all started with a question (or three): “I kept asking myself, ‘Why aren’t there more events like this? What can we do? How can we help?’” said Connie Hartsock, co-founder of POCO Pop Ups. Inspired by their big sisters at Lesbian Tea Dance and as a solution to the absence of lesbian-centered spaces in the city, Connie and her partners stopped waiting for someone else to build it and did it themselves. “POCO was already treating every pop-up like a party, so throwing our own felt like a natural next step,” she said. “It wasn’t about reinventing the wheel; it was about building on the joy we were already creating and giving it a name and a home.” 

That name, Behind the Pink Door, is more than cute branding. It’s a tribute. “The name was inspired by a noodle and tea shop on Dundee in the early 2000s called Pink Door,” Connie shared. “They had this infamous gay night, mostly for women, where queers would pour through their pink door every Thursday. I wasn’t even old enough to get in at the time, but the fairytale lore of that place still lingers. It was iconic. POCO’s branding is already pink, so paying homage to that space felt like a perfect full-circle moment.” 

Like all good fairy tales, this one has a team of heroines behind the scenes. First, there’s Susie Hoyt of The Pearl, a longtime ally and co-conspirator who has turned her bar into a permanent home for the event. “She spent the first year putting up decorations each month,” said POCO Co-founder, Bri Hlava. “Now you can walk into The Pearl and be greeted with festive pink decor and themed cocktails from Behind the Pink Door, reminding everyone that The Pearl is a safe space for our queer friends every day.” 

Then there’s local favorite, DJ Slim Thicc, aka Kayla Meisner. “She is incredibly dedicated to building community in Louisville. In any space she is in, she is glowing with queer black joy and people see that and know that they are welcome anywhere that she is!” Bri said of her friend and co-collaborator. “In the spirit of community, she has also invited guest DJs to join her for our events. For our Pride month event, DJ Slim Thicc will be joined by DJ DNasti, DND, and DJ Ayomi.” 

Of course, you can’t talk about a POCO event without talking about food. Connie Hartsock and Bri Hlava make up two-thirds of POCO Pop Ups alongside Matt Pope. Together, they create and execute the food menus for each event, bringing the same delicious culinary magic that has made POCO a local hit for years. But Matt’s role for Behind the Pink Door is support and allyship. “He often sets up our outdoor ‘kitchen’, makes sure we have what we need for service, and heads out for the night. Matt has always said Poco is ‘female fronted, male supported’ and Behind the Pink Door is no different,” Bri explained. 

“Connie creates and executes the food menus for all of our events,” says Bri, who has bartended at The Pearl on and off for years. You’ll find her where she is most comfortable, shaking it behind the bar with other femme and queer members of the Pearl staff. “Shout out to our brand sponsors, too! We are so lucky to get to work with some excellent brands who share our passion for community and visibility!” she adds. 

“Food is such a core part of queer culture, it’s how we show up for each other, how we create chosen family,” Connie expanded. “Sharing a meal creates instant connection. It turns a room full of strangers into community. At Behind the Pink Door, food isn’t just fuel for the dance floor, it’s part of the joy, the comfort, and the care that makes these spaces feel like home.”

And what’s a bit of fun if you can’t play safely? Creating a genuinely safe space was a top priority from day one. “We worked very closely with Susie at The Pearl to come up with as many steps as possible to make our expectations clear,” said Bri. “We want to set our intentions quickly and make it very clear for all guests what we are doing. We have a donated ‘Pink Door’, a pink curtained vestibule set up at the front door of The Pearl so that anyone walking up or driving by sees that something special is going on.” Their security team (composed of queer, femme professionals and trained members of the women’s rugby team) welcomes everyone with an information sheet and a friendly “Are you here for the event?” 

“Our hope is not to turn anyone away but to give each guest every opportunity to make the decision for themselves if this event is for them,” Bri explains. “When we are talking about the trans and non-binary community, we can’t look at someone and judge them on if they should be welcomed out Behind the Pink Door. I don’t want anyone to feel like they aren’t queer enough, or femme enough, to find their community with us but we also want to do everything in our power to keep this a safe space for our attendees.” 

This clarity of purpose extends to policies shared openly on social media: “This event is meant to create a safe bar space for Lesbians and marginalized genders including women both cis and trans, non-binary, and trans men.” And: “We ask that our cis and straight male friends please join at 11 pm or later and order an ally pin from the bar for $5… the proceeds will be donated to the Lesbian Bar Project.” 

In a time where queer visibility is being challenged nationwide (was it ever not?), Behind the Pink Door stands as an act of joyful defiance. “Queer joy itself is a radical act!” Bri exclaimed. “In a patriarchal society and a political climate that tries to criminalize and invisibilize queer identities, to celebrate and be joyous publicly says that we refuse to feel shame. To love, laugh, kiss, dance, and thrive, especially together, is to say we exist, and we deserve to take up space!” 

The event also works with queer tattoo artists, makers, and small business vendors, offering a lot more than just music and food. “Anyone in the LGBTQ community knows, we have to be our own biggest supporters,” said Connie. “We build the community we want to see, and Behind the Pink Door is no exception. Poco has always been about collaboration, and this event follows that same spirit.”

After more than a year of monthly parties, Bri has seen the impact firsthand. She’s seen many of the same faces come to every event, and each month new faces join in the fun. “I think my favorite interaction, though, was when we had an older couple drive from out of state to attend Behind the Pink Door,” Bri recalled. “They came early, stayed late, introduced themselves, and thanked us for a great night. They saw a post of ours on Instagram and planned a whole trip around it. They said they had never been to anything like it before and that they would happily drive from out of state again. It was such a nice reminder that we aren’t just doing this for local twenty-something’s... we are doing this for people who might have never sat in a bar built for them.” 

And they’re just getting started. “We would love to do more queer markets, brunches, bingo nights, trivia, hopefully host our own events at a future Poco brick and mortar, and we just launched our Pink Door Wedding Package. The possibilities for collaboration are endless, and we truly can’t wait to see where it takes us,” Connie said, excited by the growing interest from other bars and venues who want POCO to bring the party to them. 

So, if you’re looking to dance, eat, connect, get married, or just feel seen, Behind the Pink Door is ready to welcome you with open arms (and maybe a themed cocktail or two). After all, as Bri so perfectly put it: “There is resistance and healing in our neighbors and local businesses saying I see you, I value you, I want you here.” 

Behind the Pink Door Wedding Package 

Book your sapphic wedding party with Behind the Pink Door, the last Thursday of the month! 

Celebrate your love, loudly, proudly and in community. Say “I do” surrounded by sapphic joy, on the dance floor of your favorite night of the month. Our tiny but mighty wedding package offers an intimate, joy-filled ceremony designed especially for queer couples in a space that sees and celebrates you. 

This isn’t just a wedding- it’s a moment in queer history, your history, happening right in the heart of the party. 

Wedding Package Includes 

A Personalized Ceremony: An experienced, LGBTQIA+ affirming officiant will work with you to create a heartfelt ceremony that reflects your love and story! 

Dinner for Two: A candlelit dinner for two with entrees from POCO Pop Ups made with love! 

Popping Bottles: A Bottle of bubbly from our friends at The Pearl to celebrate your union with a sparkle! Traditional bubbles or non-alcoholic available. 

Flowers for Partners: Fresh, thoughtful florals for each partner to wear or carry! 

Your First Dance: DJ Slim Thicc will play a special song, just for you, on the dance floor surrounded by sapphic love and community cheers! 

Ready To Say “I Do”? 

For more information or to set your wedding date email us at hello@poco502.com 

Please allow at least 2 weeks notice before our next event so we can create the perfect setup for your big day. 

We Can’t Wait To Help You Celebrate Your Love!