Anyone have a idea for bars/restaurants/districts with a strong LGBT scene? Not looking for anything kinky, just somewhere where I can be myself and connect like-minded individuals.
03-15-2015, 09:53 AM
Location: Roanoke, VA
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Not sure abut Lynchburg, but if you are willing to drive you can check out the park on Salem Ave in downtown roanoke. Also each year there is a self-acceptance in the park festival in roanoke that is entering it's 26th year in 2015. Nice luck!
03-15-2015, 04:10 PM
Location: TN/NC
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Lynchburg is the seat of Falwell's Liberty University. The area is very conservative. I can't imagine them being very welcome of the LGBT community.
03-15-2015, 05:46 PM
Location
LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces Guide
By Contributor Bonnie Chavez – CEO, Building Beloved Communities
I’ve start Roanoke to be a welcoming collective, 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 queer woman, and a feminist. Since moving here, I’ve found Roanoke to be a welcoming community, and the folks are lovely here. I’ve compiled a list of great spaces for our LGBTQIA fam. We cherish to hear your feedback, so if you have your own safe spaces or recommendations, please let us realize, and we can add it to the list! If you ever yearn to chat about what life is like for Gay community members or just as someone looking to move, I’m happy 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 mean, it’s in the name! Plus, they host regular drag shows. Acknowledged for their frose (aka wine slushies).
Breadcraft – Insta-worthy brunch, only downside: no mimosas – but the food is divine.
Scrambled – Easy breakf
LGBTQ+ Visitor Information - Roanoke, VA
Roanoke in Virginia’s Azure Ridge is a vibrant and welcoming community to visitors from all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community.
We encourage you to intend your next metro mountain adventure and explore the incredible variety of outdoor trails & recreation opportunities, diverse arts & cultural scene, distinct local flavors, and thrilling special events that seize place throughout the year.
There are also unique experiences and opportunities to link with Roanoke’s local Diverse community and learn more about the city's history.
"Roanoke is a magical place. When I moved here in 2001, a stranger in a new town, I experienced the token of hospitality from so many people, who welcomed me in my authenticity and wholeness. I am happy 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 City of Roanoke earned the extreme possible score of 100 points on the Human Rights Campaign's HRC (2023) Municipal Equity I
On a Friday night in September 2000, a former Marine who had drifted into Roanoke walked down Salem Avenue and into a gay bar, where he ordered a beer and then proceeded to open fire.
He killed Danny Overstreet, 43, and injured six others. Ronald Lgbtq+ later claimed he targeted the bar after a lifetime spent being jeered for his surname. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is now serving four life sentences.
The shooting galvanized Roanoke and triggered an outpouring of support that in retrospect looks like a key moment in changing attitudes toward LGBTQ individuals. The Backstreet Cafe reopened its doors just a week after the shooting, and then remained open for another 17 years. It finally closed at the end of 2016, only to reopen a not many weeks later as the Front Row, a sports bar with punk and metal shows at night.
In truth, Backstreet had long since ceased to be a gay bar. A variety of factors, from social media and hookup apps to a rapid shift in societal attitudes to become more accepting to the LGBTQ community, has caused a sharp decline in male lover bars across the country, and Backstreet was no exception.
Another long-running gay nightspot located three b