Gay bars roanoke va
LGBTQ+ Visitor Information - Roanoke, VA
Roanoke in Virginia’s Blue Ridge is a vibrant and welcoming society to visitors from all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community.
We encourage you to plan your next metro mountain adventure and explore the incredible variety of outdoor trails & recreation opportunities, diverse arts & cultural scene, singular local flavors, and exciting special events that take place throughout the year.
There are also unusual experiences and opportunities to connect with Roanoke’s local Queer community and study more about the city's history.
"Roanoke is a magical place. When I moved here in 2001, a stranger in a new municipality, I experienced the gift of hospitality from so many people, who welcomed me in my realness and wholeness. I am glad to be part of our City Council who celebrates our rich diverse, multi-cultural and inclusive citizens and landscape. Welcome to Roanoke!" — Joe Cobb, Vice Mayor and Member of Roanoke City Council
The Metropolis of Roanoke earned the highest feasible score of 100 points on the Human Rights Campaign's HRC (2023) Municipal Equity I
Charlottesville doesn’t have a gay bar, but the local Queer community is thriving in less traditional spaces.
With the closure of Club 216 in 2012, Escafé in 2018, and Impulse in 2020, Charlottesville’s Queer nightlife and drag scene has become increasingly transient, with pop-up events at various restaurants and businesses in the area. The fate of Umma’s, a Korean- and Japanese-American restaurant downtown that fast became an unofficial gay bar, is currently up in the air. Owners Anna Gardner and Kelsey Naylor explicitly worked to produce their restaurant a haven for the local LGBTQ people, but the achievable sale of Umma’s after its owners move later this year leaves questions about the future of the space.
The closure of these Queer spaces in Charlottesville mirrors broader national trends, with roughly 50 percent of American lgbtq+ bars closing between 2012 and 2019 according to Greggor Mattson, author of Who Needs Male lover Bars?.
“When I first moved here, we did have those dedicated bar spaces, and so it does impact … how the group functions in the area,” says Jason Elliott, founder of Out and About Charlottesville, a team that hosts LBGTQ-centric social events. “But I
LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces Guide
By Contributor Bonnie Chavez – CEO, Building Beloved Communities
I’ve set up Roanoke to be a welcoming community, and the folks are lovely here.
-Bonnie Chavez
As a transplant from Albuquerque, NM, I had concerns about moving to “The South”. I am a Mexican-American, an out lesbian, and a feminist. Since moving here, I’ve found Roanoke to be a welcoming community, and the folks are pleasant here. I’ve compiled a list of great spaces for our LGBTQIA fam. We love to overhear your feedback, so if you have your possess safe spaces or recommendations, please let us comprehend, and we can attach it to the list! If you ever yearn to chat about what life is like for LGBTQ+ community members or just as someone looking to relocate, I’m elated to chat anytime.
Coffee Shops
RND (Roasters Next Door) in Wasena Neighborhood
Big Gay Brunch Spots
Jack Brown’s is a burger and craft beer haven in the market square of downtown Roanoke
- Well Hung Vineyard – I denote , it’s in the name! Plus, they host regular drag shows. Known for their frose (aka wine slushies).
- Breadcraft – Insta-worthy brunch, only downside: no mimosas – but the food is divine.
- Scrambled – Easy breakf
Walking Tours
The Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project offers three LGBTQ history walking tours in Roanoke, Virginia. In 2016 we launched our first tour, the Downtown Roanoke LGBTQ History Walking Tour. In 2017 we launched our second tour, the Old Southwest Gayborhood Walking Tour. In 2020, we began offering our newest tour, the Salem Avenue Historic District Walking Tour.
Our Roanoke LGBTQ History Walking Tours are free monthly walking tours exploring Roanoke’s queer past.
Tour Options
Downtown Tour
*Online Resources for the Downtown Tour*
Did you know that Downtown Roanoke once featured as many as six gay bars? On our Downtown Tour, you will grasp about the role of downtown businesses, public spaces, and road life in shaping Roanoke’s LGBTQ history. Tour stops may involve Roanoke’s late nineteenth-century red brightness district; places associated with the history of gay rights activism; and sites of conflict between local government, police, and the LGBTQ community.
Old Southwest Tour
*Online Resources for the Old Southwest Tour*
Did you know that Roanoke’s Former Southwest neighborhood is the city’s gayborhood? On our Old Sou