Tag Archives: LGBTQ+ community

Dallas

Rainbow Crosswalks in Dallas Shine Again with Pride Month Glow

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In a vivid return to form, Dallas’ famed rainbow crosswalks along Cedar Springs Road are receiving a colorful revival just in time for Pride Month. Once bold symbols of LGBTQ pride and community identity, these crosswalks had lost their luster under years of traffic and time. Now, backed by $45,000 in donations, the city and LGBTQ leaders are restoring their vibrant stripes. This upgrade, both visual and symbolic, marks a fresh chapter in the Oak Lawn district’s cultural streetscape, blending civic design with a splash of spirited celebration.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • What’s Happening: Dallas is restoring its rainbow crosswalks on Cedar Springs Road during Pride Month

  • Where: Oak Lawn neighborhood, a key LGBTQ district in Dallas

  • Why: Original crosswalks installed in 2020 have faded due to weather and traffic

  • Funding: $45,000 raised through private donations and pledges

  • First Phase: Four crosswalks at Cedar Springs & Throckmorton are being redone

  • Future Plans: Remaining crosswalks to be completed based on weather and city schedule

  • Symbolic Purpose: Crosswalks reflect LGBTQ pride, identity, and neighborhood vibrancy

  • City Role: Part of a citywide initiative to brand cultural districts through public art

The well-known rainbow crosswalks that stretch across Cedar Springs Road in Dallas are getting a long-awaited makeover this Pride Month, restoring not only their iconic colors but also the spirit they represent in one of the city’s most historically significant LGBTQ neighborhoods.

Located in the heart of the Oak Lawn area, these vibrant stripes have been more than just a road feature—they’ve been a symbol of visibility, unity, and pride. First unveiled in February 2020, the crosswalks were installed as part of The Crosswalk Project, a privately funded initiative aligned with the City of Dallas’ broader goal to visually define the cultural and business districts that surround its Central Business District (CBD). Each neighborhood in this vision would be marked by distinctively designed crosswalks, and for Oak Lawn, the rainbow stripes became an unmistakable representation of LGBTQ identity.

Over time, however, the symbolism began to fade—quite literally. After standing up to four years of sun, rain, and relentless traffic, the once-vivid rainbow colors dulled significantly. The return to regular city life following the pandemic only accelerated the wear and tear. Residents and frequent visitors to the area began to notice the deterioration and voiced concern about the upkeep of what had become a much-loved neighborhood feature.

The North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, which had worked closely with the city during the crosswalks’ initial development, recognized the need for intervention.

“This will cover the cost to remove the old, busted-up crosswalks, prep the surfaces, and replace them with the new design,”
— Tony Vedda, President, North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

Through community engagement, the Chamber managed to raise $45,000 in donations and pledges—enough to breathe life back into the project and give the crosswalks a second chance to shine.

Vedda confirmed that the first phase of the restoration has already begun, with the crosswalks at Cedar Springs Road and Throckmorton Street being the first to receive the refresh. This intersection holds both symbolic and practical significance, being among the busiest in the area and frequently used by locals and visitors alike.

“The four crosswalks at Cedar Springs and Throckmorton were selected for the initial work because they are the most visible and the most worn,”
— Tony Vedda

Though no fixed schedule has been announced for the remaining six crosswalks, Vedda emphasized that work will continue in phases, coordinated closely with city departments to minimize disruptions. Weather, construction logistics, and traffic patterns will all be factored into the timeline.

“We’ll be working with the city to schedule the remaining crosswalks. The work will depend on their availability and of course, the weather,”
— Tony Vedda

The project, while visual in nature, holds a deeper meaning for the Oak Lawn community. The rainbow crosswalks are more than decorative—they are physical representations of an inclusive culture, a reminder of the community’s journey, and a declaration that LGBTQ voices remain visible in public life.

The City of Dallas has continued to support streetscape improvements in Oak Lawn as part of its urban planning strategy. By including private-public collaborations such as The Crosswalk Project, the city hopes to create spaces that are not only functional but also expressive of the people who live and thrive there.

The chamber’s website described the broader purpose of the initiative:

“The Crosswalk Project is a privately funded component of City of Dallas streetscape improvements underway in the Oak Lawn area. The project was designed to enhance the vibrancy and attractiveness of the area as a part of Dallas’ overall plan to brand and promote the various cultural and business districts/neighborhoods around the Central Business District (CBD) through distinctive design of key crosswalks in each area.”

As the fresh layers of color are painted on and the streets begin to reflect their full rainbow glow once more, the message is clear: Oak Lawn’s pride isn’t fading—it’s being renewed, one stripe at a time.

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Austin’s Lost Legacy: Where Did All the Lesbian Bars Go?

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Austin, ranked as the third most queer-friendly city in the U.S., once held a thriving lesbian nightlife. From disco nights at The Hollywood to romances at Rusty’s, lesbian bars shaped the city’s LGBTQ+ culture. Yet today, not a single one remains. Rising rents, vanishing gayborhoods, and economic challenges slowly wiped them out. In their place, pop-up events and inclusive spaces now try to fill the void. This report explores the quiet fade of lesbian bars in a city once proud to call them its own.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Austin is the third most queer-populated city in the U.S.

  • Once-thriving lesbian bars like The Hollywood, Rusty’s, and Chances no longer exist.

  • Rusty’s, which closed in 2013, was Austin’s last lesbian bar.

  • Economic hurdles, lack of a central “gayborhood,” and changing social patterns led to closures.

  • Pop-up events and inclusive queer spaces now offer alternatives.

Austin, Texas, long regarded as one of the most progressive and queer-friendly cities in the United States, is home to a large and vibrant LGBTQ+ community. In fact, some estimates place it as the third most queer-populated city per capita, trailing only San Francisco and Portland, according to research by the Williams Institute at UCLA. With that kind of population and history, one might expect a city like Austin to be brimming with LGBTQ+ venues of all stripes — including lesbian bars.

But that’s not the case. In fact, Austin doesn’t have a single lesbian bar right now.

That realization prompted local resident Theo Snow to start asking questions.

“I’m curious why there aren’t any dyke bars — lesbian bars,” Snow said. “Because I know they have existed, but they haven’t persisted.”

Their curiosity led to a deeper examination of the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, history, and economic landscape — and it opens up a broader conversation about the evolution of queer spaces in changing times.

A Forgotten Legacy: Lesbian Bars That Once Were

To understand how Austin arrived at this point, one must look back. In the mid-1970s, The Hollywood opened its doors on West Fourth Street, branding itself as “Austin’s only women’s bar.” Early LGBTQ+ publications described the bar as a disco with a rustic, relaxed feel — a place where women could be themselves in a time when society wasn’t as accepting.

In the decades that followed, especially during the 1980s and ’90s, lesbian bars became integral to Austin’s queer scene. Names like ‘Bout Time, Area 52, Chances, and Nexus echoed through the city’s nightlife. They weren’t just watering holes — they were sanctuaries.

Rusty’s, a beloved lesbian bar, stood out not just for its country western flair, but for the relationships it helped nurture. Co-owned by the late Laura Votaw, it became a meeting point for friendships, business, and love.

“Laura lived for connections,” said Votaw’s wife, Ginger Coplen. “She was what you call a connector. There were business deals made in that bar. There were romances started.”

In an era before LGBTQ+ rights became legally protected, such bars weren’t merely entertainment venues — they were lifelines. When the Supreme Court only struck down Texas’ law criminalizing same-sex relationships in 2003, these spaces became even more vital.

“The bars were our church when it was not safe to go to church,” Coplen recalled. “I miss that connection of the community.”

The Closing of Doors: What Went Wrong?

Despite their cultural importance, Austin’s lesbian bars slowly disappeared. The reasons, experts suggest, are many — and not necessarily unique to Austin.

Tina Cannon, president of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that bars and restaurants have some of the highest failure rates in the business world, regardless of clientele. Financial risk, rising rents, and changing liability laws all played a role.

“Restaurants and bars are tough ventures,” Cannon said. “They just are.”

Rusty’s eventually closed in 2013, billing itself at the time as “the last lesbian bar in Austin.” Chances shut down as early as 1994, citing rising taxes and increasing liability risks. In both cases, the closures weren’t due to a lack of patrons — but to a lack of financial sustainability.

The Gayborhood Factor: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Another piece of the puzzle lies in geography. Unlike Dallas or Houston, Austin doesn’t have a defined “gayborhood” — a concentrated area where LGBTQ+ businesses can support each other and thrive. While Fourth Street has maintained a handful of gay bars since the 1990s, it never developed into a full LGBTQ+ district.

“Austin has always been such a dynamic and open city that — I always jokingly say — you could be gay at Chili’s, and it doesn’t matter in Austin,” Cannon said.

But that kind of openness, while socially progressive, may have prevented the formation of a more sustainable, interconnected queer business community. In cities like Dallas, for example, the Oak Lawn gayborhood offers support networks that keep businesses alive, even during difficult times.

“If one bar is struggling, it can get a leg up from one of the others,” said Kathy Jack, owner of Sue Ellen’s, one of the last lesbian bars left in Texas.

A New Era: Queer Spaces Without Labels

Even though brick-and-mortar lesbian bars have faded from the Austin landscape, queer women in the city haven’t lost their sense of community. They’ve simply adapted. Pop-up events, performance spaces, and inclusive venues now fill that social need.

Events like the Austin Dyke March, Carpet Church (organized by artist Beth Schindler), and Neon Rainbows — a queer country music night with dancing and live bands — create temporary but powerful moments of connection.

And there are still venues with strong queer ownership and culture, like Cheer Up Charlies, a bar owned by lesbians that has become a haven for queer people across the spectrum. From all-lesbian drag shows to sapphic dance nights, it maintains the spirit of those older bars, even if it wears a different label.

Recently, the opening of 1972, a women’s sports bar near UT Austin, added another welcoming space to the city’s roster. While not marketed as a lesbian bar, its mission is clear.

“We wanted to support female athletes and watch women’s sports,” said co-owner Debra Hallum. “But we also know in our hearts that organically, it is going to be for a very high population of women and lesbians and our LGBTQ+ community, where they feel safe.”

Looking Forward: What Comes Next for Queer Austin?

So, will Austin ever have a dedicated lesbian bar again? The answer isn’t clear. But what is evident is that the queer community in Austin continues to find ways to gather, celebrate, and thrive — even if it looks different than before.

Spaces may change, signs may come down, and venues may close, but the need for connection, safety, and joy remains constant. Whether through a bar, a march, or a dance floor under the stars, Austin’s lesbian community keeps writing its own story — even without a dedicated bar to call home.

The disappearance of lesbian bars in Austin reflects a deeper shift in the city’s queer landscape—where economic pressure, absence of a central gayborhood, and evolving social spaces have replaced once-vital venues. While lesbian-specific bars no longer stand, the spirit of community persists through inclusive events, pop-up gatherings, and queer-owned spaces. Austin’s LGBTQ+ identity remains strong, but its nightlife tells a quieter, more complex story—one where cultural memory, safety, and belonging continue to seek new ground. The bars may be gone, but the need for connection endures.

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