Safe Spaces: A Trans Survival Guide to Dallas

If you Google "Dallas trans," some of the first results you'll find come from horrifically bigoted websites designed to fearmonger about the "dangers" of children’s literature focusing on gender fluidity. You might also see news pieces about Texas politicians such as Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton or Gov. Greg Abbott spewing transphobic rhetoric.

More urgently, on his first day of office, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the government to define sex as only "male" or "female." This will halt gender-affirming care for prisoners. As The Associated Press reported, "experts including the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association hold that gender is a spectrum, not a binary structure consisting only of males and females."

Violence toward transgender and non-binary people continues; at least 32 were killed in 2024. According to a study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violence in the form of assault and rape. The study also states that violence toward transgender and non-binary people has doubled in the past four years.

There are fantastic online resources out there for Dallas trans folks, but they sit side by side with lots of filth reaffirming ingrained transphobia.

Imagine being a deeply closeted trans person in Dallas today trying to find information or resources to explore who you are, but instead you're assaulted by a wave of transphobic jokes and news pieces. Such a deluge of nastiness could prevent anyone from further embracing their identity.

Those brutal parts of reality shouldn’t be ignored. But they aren’t the only ways trans existence manifests in Dallas. There are ways for trans people to survive and find joy deep in the heart of Texas. In Dallas, there are several places (clubs, restaurants, thrift stores and other establishments) that welcome trans individuals. Just knowing that these places exist can be a balm for the souls of trans folks in Dallas.

The obvious place for those looking for trans solace in Dallas is Oak Lawn, best known as the "gayborhood." This is where you'll find lesbian bar Sue Ellen’s or gay bars Station 4 or The Hidden Door. Sue Ellen’s, especially, is famed for its support for queer identities of all kinds. On any given night, you’re bound to find trans individuals of all gender identities dancing the night away to the music of Chappell Roan and other artists. Restaurants either around the corner or just across the street from these clubs (such as Hunky’s) are similarly welcoming.

One word of warning, though, to trans attendees: ironically, heterosexual visitors or folks “othering” you can be especially discernible in these queer-friendly spaces. “Othering,” or intrusions from straight, cisgender people toward those who are trans might be expected when strolling into, say, a Whataburger. But as a trans woman, I have experienced some moments of weird “othering” from cis folks in these environments.

The noisiness of these places also may not be ideal for neurodivergent trans people; your sensitivity to loud noises won’t vanish just because you’re surrounded by lesbians.

“Unfortunately, despite the fact that I love the distinctly lesbian atmosphere that you can’t get anywhere else in Dallas, Sue Ellen’s can be very overstimulating for neurodivergent people like me, sometimes to the point of unbearability,” says one trans Dallasite who asked to remain anonymous.

This is not to diminish Sue Ellen’s, spaces in Oak Lawn or the gloriously welcoming culture they have fostered. It’s just a reminder that bigotry can seep into any location. When considering whether the gayborhood or any other place on this list can be a go-to safe space for yourself, consider your unique personality traits and vulnerabilities.

Those caveats aside, the gayborhood is rich with history and can be an extraordinary social experience for those who have been in the closet too long. If loud music and dancing are your passion, these gayborhood fixtures are a must-visit for trans people, especially for their communal solidarity.

There are other places where trans Dallas residents thrive. If you’re prepared to spend some moolah, the Commons Club has exciting drag brunches the first and third Sunday of every month. Each show is calendar-themed, such as a winter show in January.

In the Bishop Arts District, LadyLove Lounge & Sound has become a hub for trans socialization. In fact, the Bishop Arts area as a whole is jam-packed with exciting, trans-safe places.

Among those locations is The Wild Detectives, a bookstore whose everyday ambiance is inviting to the trans community. The outfit’s business owners are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive atmosphere everyone can enjoy.

“Every city needs spaces reflecting society's true identity. Censorship and prejudice harm individuals and hold back progress,” says Wild Detectives founder Javier García del Moral. “We should remind ourselves that small-minded people can inflict great pain, but they always lose in the long run.”

Trans-safe locations in Dallas also include unexpected hole-in-the-wall spots such as Italian eatery Two Guys from Italy. From the outside, this cozy Italian joint might not seem like the ideal place for trans folks looking to grab a bite to eat. But the staff, cozy ambiance and welcoming clientele make it a haven for trans diners looking to score Italian food in Dallas.

“I felt welcome as soon as [I] stepped inside. Both the food and the service were top-notch,” Mickey Dolphin says about the establishment.

For Joseph Marquez, who runs Two Guys from Italy with his brother, Lee, the restaurant is inviting to the trans community as an inevitable byproduct of both the restaurant’s ethos and his parents' teachings.

“Our staff makes great food — everyone should be able to come in here, have a good night, have a good rest of the night, starting things with good food,” Marquez says. "My mom and dad taught us to treat everybody with respect, if they want to have a good plate of food, they should be able to come in and do that."

Adhering to basic tenets of kindness and acceptance has allowed Two Guys from Italy to expose Dallas citizens of all stripes to its cuisine.

Marquez notes that Two Guys from Italy hasn't had explicit connections to Dallas’ LGBTQIA+ community. Learning that it’s inclusive to trans folks might be a surprise to some. Other Dallas eateries, though, have long been open about supporting trans individuals.

In 2016, Muriel Street, owner of Liberty Burger, put her foot down against the proposed "bathroom bill" legislation that would've discriminated against trans patrons.

"The idea of the government getting involved in bathroom policy is mind-boggling," Street told the Observer at the time. "It hasn't been an issue, and now they seem to be making it one. ... We have never had an issue, and in my experience, transgender individuals just want to pee in peace. If someone were to ever be harassed, we would deal with the situation on a case-by-case basis. We stand against harassment of any kind and promote decency and respect for all."

Street uttered these words a few days before Donald Trump was elected president the first time. In little over eight years, transphobic rhetoric has become even more sweeping and common in political discourse. Street’s early support for the trans community makes Liberty Burger an easy choice for Dallas trans folks seeking out some tasty beef.

Other inviting — and delicious — Dallas staples are Enchilada’s on Greenville Avenue and ice cream joint Pure Milk and Honey on East Mockingbird Lane.

Two Texas landmarks, Half-Price Books on East Northwest Highway and The Texas Theatre, are also incredibly welcoming locations for trans folks. The latter space hosts monthly screening programs such as CineWilde, geared toward queer folks, as well as trans-oriented events such as special screenings of The People’s Joker. Like The Wild Detectives, the gargantuan Half-Price Books is a literary-oriented spot that provides a calming contrast to the city's hustle and bustle.

Whether offering an inclusive space for pizza or bristling against a proposed bathroom bill, these business owners emphasize a culture of “respect” and “kindness” among their staff.

People just want to feel included and accepted. Businesses like bookstores, restaurants and art spaces can help convey those feelings. Ideally, these locations help provide bonding spots for people from all walks of life in a community.

Communicating that sense of unity is especially important when it comes to trans Dallasites forced to deal with constant challenges to their very existence, such as health insurance obstacles and normalized hate speech — even, and especially, among public servants.

Walking into a record store or shopping for clothes at a thrift store shouldn't add to the chaos of living. These locations offer some hope and respite for the Dallas trans community, like a lush oasis in a searing transphobic desert. Trans people can inhabit all kinds of spaces, and the wildly varying businesses in Dallas vividly reflect this truth, whether Google knows it or not.

Inclusive Spaces

Not every corner of Dallas is entirely inviting to trans people. Even the locations listed below aren’t guaranteed to be inviting every day. However, these are the more famously welcoming and inclusive spaces in the area that can make doing ordinary everyday tasks in Dallas just a little easier for trans souls.

LadyLove Lounge & Sound

310 W. Seventh St.
If you're looking for an inclusive nightclub spot beyond Oak Lawn, check out LadyLove Lounge and Sound, a recently added club in Bishop Arts. The club, which regularly hosts nights with sounds curated by DJ Sober, has become famous for its inclusivity, delicious food and excellent music. Plus, for trans readers interested in women, LadyLove Lounge has developed a fabulous reputation for being an optimal place to meet other LGBTQIA+ ladies in Dallas.

Chimlanh Coffee Shop

1902 Botham Jean Blvd.
Opened in early 2019, Chimlanh Coffee Shop is one of Dallas' first Vietnamese coffee shops. That was already enough of a tremendous achievement, but Chimlanh has also just become a go-to place for trans people of all gender identities to chill. Many non-Starbucks coffee shops in Dallas offer relaxing spots for LGBTQIA+ individuals to socialize, but Chimlanh has garnered an especially solid reputation in this department thanks to its inviting atmosphere and kind work staff. That’s what trans folks want — not a red carpet rolled out, but simply a place to sip beverages and chat with friends.

Liberty Burger

5211 Forest Lane
In late 2016, Liberty Burger owner Muriel Street was one of several local Dallas business owners to sign a letter protesting proposed “bathroom bill” legislation in Texas that would target trans people. As noted at the time, the scarcity of food-based business owners standing up against the bill made her signing the letter all the more impressive. Being an early proponent for trans rights, not to mention delivering consistently delicious food, makes Liberty Burger an easy pick for trans folks looking to grab some tasty Texas beef.

Commons Club

1445 Turtle Creek Blvd.
If you're savoring a taste of the ritzy Dallas life, head over to the Commons Club, on the first floor of the Virgin Hotel on Turtle Creek Boulevard. The Commons Club is a welcoming spot full of acclaimed food and glitzy décor to dazzle the eyes. If you and your trans pals want to experience the Commons Club when it’s infused with some real gay energy, check out the exciting drag brunches the first and third Sunday of every month. Each show is calendar-themed, such as a winter show in January. These aren't cheap to attend, but that comes part and parcel with the Commons Club vibe. If you want to be surrounded by a high-end ambiance and lots of gay people, well, fellow Dallas trans comrades, prepare to block out a Sunday night.

Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards

April 22–27, Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Duncanville, 800 N. Main St., Duncanville
The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, an organization based in Carrollton, holds an annual conference, the Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards, typically in April. Year-round, this group provides plenty of great resources and does tremendous work for the larger trans community. The annual event is noteworthy for the many unique and essential voices it highlights in Dallas. On its website, the coalition describes the event as "a distinct 5-day educational and empowerment program event, home to nearly 500 plus trans and gender non-conforming individuals … [focusing] on advancing Black trans equality.” Systemically ingrained transphobia is all about making trans folks feel like aberrations in society. That makes grand congregations of trans lives like this annual conference all the more important, particularly given how much violence occurs against Black trans individuals. This part of the trans community should be defined by more than statistics related to hate crimes, and this annual Dallas event provides an opportunity to do just that.

The Wild Detectives

314 W. Eighth St.
Bookstores like The Wild Detectives are often a reliable spot for some LGBTQIA+ security. What makes The Wild Detectives so extra special for trans folks is its monthly event Poetry on the Patio. Held on the second Wednesday of each month, this event hosts authors, often openly queer artists such as Caroline Earleywine, reading deeply affecting poetry before the microphone gets turned over to the public. In the second half of Poetry on the Patio, audience members, including trans voices, can volunteer to come up and read any sort of poetry, including pieces they've written themselves. This is a fantastic opportunity for socialization and for hearing, in a public setting, the endless ways trans perspectives manifest. And who doesn’t like being surrounded by books? All these wonderful elements are combined into a place whose very mission statement is to make The Wild Detectives a go-to spot for comfort.

Nasher Sculpture Center

2001 Flora St.
With its collection of sculptures, the Nasher Sculpture Center isn't just a place to observe beautiful works of artistic expression. It's also a safe place for trans folks to see art reflecting their community. As noted on the Nasher's official website, there's been a significant increase in the number of works from queer artists (among other marginalized groups) added to the Nasher in recent years. Among those are Nicole Eisenman's Sketch for a Fountain collection, which presents sculpted beings devoid of concrete gender that anyone can see themselves in. Absorb the museum's beautiful space while examining sculptures that also reaffirm trans realities.

Two Guys From Italy

11637 Webb Chapel Road
Once you walk through the front door of Two Guys From Italy, it’s immediately clear this place is special. Italian food staples like pizza, rolls, calzones and other dishes are served in an ambiance that strikes a nice balance between cozy and claustrophobic. The decorations lining the walls and ceiling are similarly deft in juggling a welcoming sense of atmosphere without irritating your eyeballs with excess. On top of that, the dishes are carried out by servers all too happy to reaffirm people’s gender identity while the restaurant is devoid of gawking passersby that can make trans patrons feel uncomfortable. From top to bottom, Two Guys From Italy is a winner.

Nu Transgender Movement

Another helpful trans-based organization located in Dallas is Nu Transgender Movement, which, as stated on its website, "focuses on name changes and gender corrections, explicitly serves the marginalized BIPOC transgender and nonbinary communities." This organization also frequently hosts larger events in Dallas focused on the trans community, such as the Lost Faces: Trans Day of Remembrance Exhibition & Vigil held in November. Founded by Dallas resident Shannon Walker, this is yet another place trans Dallasites can turn to for resources and solidarity.

Pure Milk and Honey

5321 E. Mockingbird Lane
Who doesn't love ice cream? The soft serve shop Pure Milk and Honey is an especially yummy way of consuming this treat in Dallas. If you want something a bit more unique in flavors and taste then what you’d get from Braum’s or Baskin-Robbins, Pure Milk and Honey is the way to go. Plus, this particular location is near several other trans-friendly locales in Mockingbird Square.

Thrift City

1750 E. Belt Line Road, Suite 300, Richardson
Trans ladies love two things: clothes that reaffirm their gender identity and not having to comb through the nightmare labyrinth that is women’s clothes sizes. Oh, and not spending the GDP of a small country on clothes is also appreciated. There are many great thrift stores in DFW, but Thrift City in Richardson is the best for trans gals scouring out clothes. It's the rare local thrift store to have a plus-size clothes section that’s incredibly easy to navigate, right down to the clothes being neatly organized by color. Best of all, you can get clothes that reinforce you without busting your bank account.

The Texas Theatre

231 Jefferson Blvd.
If you’re a trans devotee to cinema in Dallas, it’s an unfortunate reality that you’re often the only trans or queer person in the room or onscreen. Even independent theaters are bound to house folks adorned in Confederate flag shirts or giving trans patrons that uncomfortable side-eye. The more specialty-oriented Texas Theatre, though, should be any Dallas trans person’s go-to spot for movie-watching. For one thing, the monthly LGBTQIA+ movie series CineWilde brings all kinds of gay cinema and queer audience members to this location. The Texas Theatre has previously hosted super trans-friendly events like screenings of The People's Joker, making trans people feel right at home.

Enchilada's

7050 Greenville Ave.
Sure, the Gayborhood in Oak Lawn has lots of great food to consume in eateries catering directly to queer folks, but sometimes you just can’t make it to that neighborhood (or find an open table). If you’re trans and looking for an especially yummy Dallas-based display of the sort of Tex-Mex cuisine Texas is famous for, look no further than Enchilada's on Greenville Avenue. This destination has endured in Dallas for decades for a reason. The queso is to die for, and the fresh ingredients in dishes like the quesadillas are scrumptious. Enchilada's also has an incredibly welcoming environment devoid of misgendering servers or Peeping-Tom-like spectators. Everyone deserves tasty Tex-Mex in their lives, and Enchilada’s is an especially great spot to grab it.

Crossroads

1924 Greenville Ave.
Deep in the bowels of Reddit is testimony from a trans North Texas resident that Crossroads in Lower Greenville has a good track record for welcoming trans customers. For younger trans folks just coming into their identity, this kind of secure destination can be vital. After all, you could use some clothes to reaffirm your identity without shattering your meager finances in the process. Best of all, Crossroads is part of a larger potentially enthralling community. A handful of other internet posts indicate that a significant portion of Lower Greenville is more trans-inclusive than one might expect. While not a utopia necessarily, Crossroads can get the job done for some affordable shopping.

Majestic Theater

1925 Elm St.
Sit down and prepare for a shock: The world of plays, stage musicals and theater ... is a little bit gay. While a few enduring havens for LGBTQIA+ souls manifest in many areas in Dallas, an especially intimate and enjoyable place for trans people to experience live performances in peace is the Majestic Theater. A staple of the Dallas stage scene, the Majestic Theater hosts a wide variety of shows brought to life by deeply talented artists performing concerts, comedy and dance shows. The Majestic is a top-notch place for trans folks to submerge themselves in the glories of theater and support the local arts community — an unbeatable double-whammy.

The Trove

320 W. Seventh St.
Another go-to place to see drag brunches, The Trove is a bar located in Bishop Arts with an acclaimed, dazzling atmosphere that's highly welcoming to queer and trans consumers. C'mon, the Dallas Sites listing for this place boasts about "gemstone-themed cocktails"; how much gayer can you get? Even if there isn't a drag brunch attracting lots of queers to protect trans patrons, trans folks can rest assured that The Trove has a good track record with inclusive and pleasing service.

Deep Ellum Wine Walk

2647 Main St.
Here’s one surprising entry onto the list coming courtesy of an experienced event attendee who had a pleasant gender-reaffirming experience on the Deep Ellum Wine Walk. Held once a month, this event allows you to bond with other people, explore various nooks and crannies of the glorious Deep Ellum neighborhood and, of course, guzzle some wine. This wine walk is occasionally themed to big events like Christmas, lending a special quality to your sight-seeing. Plus, as a wine walk, this is a great way to meet other people you might not have the chance to chat with otherwise. Though it costs money to attend, this could be a prime place for trans folks to socialize in a safe environment.

Half-Price Books

5803 E. Northwest Highway
A typical bookstore (or any Half-Price Books location) would be ideal for trans folks to decompress, socialize and surround themselves with literature. This specific Half-Price Books location is the company’s flagship store and the biggest Half-Price Books in North America. This sprawling store gives shoppers plenty of different kinds of art to explore and some real space from the rest of the world. If you need a break from the Dallas noise, this popular Half-Price Books location has enough breathing room to ensure you’ll get that, even on the store’s busiest days. With Pride pins running rampant on store employees' lanyards, you’re bound to feel right at home.

The Normal Anomaly Initiative

1910 Pacific Ave., Suite 17213
After starting in Houston, The Normal Anomaly Initiative now has a satellite office in Dallas. Described as "Houston’s premiere Black LGBTQ+ organization," the organization has several important advocacy and service programs that can be helpful for Dallas' trans residents (plus other local queer folks) just trying to make it from one day to the next.

Resource Center Community Center

5750 Cedar Springs Road
Another mighty welcome place for trans residents to reach out for ordinary everyday emergencies and resources is the Resource Center Community Center. Along with its essential services helping all folks with HIV/AIDS-related services, the organization's main site proclaims that the Resource Center also provides "gender-affirming services include assessments, HRT, mental health counseling, clearance letters, social networks and group gatherings." Whether you're looking for information on how to procure hormone replacement therapy or opportunities to meet other Dallas trans people, this is a vital place to keep in mind.

House of Rebirth

Black trans women are the targets of most transphobic hate crimes. This alarming statistic makes the existence of House of Rebirth all the more important. According to the organization's website, House of Rebirth is dedicated to ensuring "culturally competent community, housing, case management, HIV prevention and life-saving resources to hundreds of Black Trans Women.” House of Rebirth also hosts various social functions that provide opportunities for BIPOC Dallas trans folks to mingle and get to know one another. Whether you need opportunities to meet other local trans people or have more urgent needs, House of Rebirth is an important destination to keep in mind.