Queer women of all backgrounds have also experienced that hostility.
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In 2019, a trans woman was refused entry to JR’s - and shoved by a security guard - because the gender on her license hadn’t been changed to “female.” More broadly, trans women in Dallas have expressed fears about police harassment and a general feeling of hostility toward them in the neighborhood from bar workers and patrons. That feeling of exclusion has persisted for years. Other than the Resource Center, we really don’t have a lot of spaces for us to go and enjoy ourselves without being discriminated against.”
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But having places in general for trans people to celebrate who they are, or maybe just even a night that’s dedicated to trans and nonbinary people to celebrate who they are, so they have a safe place, is very much needed.
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“I know the Mining Company tries to be a little bit more inclusive, with having the trans flags fly at their establishment and things of that nature. “I definitely think that the Strip has lost its way over the years,” De La Rosa says. Krista De La Rosa, a Black trans activist based in Dallas, says that more of the neighborhood bars need to actively stand with queer and trans women and nonbinary people, by hosting events and shows by and for members of those communities. There’s no conclusive answer as to why lesbian bars in the United States are dwindling, but some believe the trend may be tied to the fact that “women, trans people, and nonbinary folks tend to have less ‘leisure dollars’ due to pay inequity and discrimination.” The Village Station (now Station 4) opened 10 years prior to Sue Ellen’s, before briefly closing and returning in 1987. Since January 1989, Sue Ellen’s has been one of only a few lesbian bars in the region, and in June 2021 began welcoming customers back inside after a 15-month hiatus. Currently, there are only 15 lesbian bars open throughout the United States, one of which is Dallas’s own Sue Ellen’s. While one can never truly know another person’s sexuality or gender identity until they disclose it, there are very few spaces that are specifically designated for women within the LGBTQ community. Although many members of the LGBTQ community are eager to return to the places where they feel the most comfortable, some in Dallas say they still haven’t found a space where they really fit in.įor years, queer men have debated whether or not straight women should be allowed to party in their spaces.
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While iconic establishments like JR’s Bar & Grill, Woody’s, and Cedar Springs Tap House have remained open since last summer, some of the larger gathering spots, like Station 4 or Sue Ellen’s, have only recently reopened. Now, the Strip is finally coming back to life. Often described simply as “the Strip,” the bars that line Cedar Springs sat empty for the vast majority of the past year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tucked into Dallas between Highland Park and Uptown, the area has been the center of queer life in Dallas for decades. For the past year, the local LGBTQ community has looked forward to the reopening of the city’s favorite dance floors and watering holes in Oak Lawn.