Meeting trans in Cleveland may take some trial and error because there aren’t as many trans-centric spaces.
The number of trans support groups is also limited which makes things all the more difficult.
Fortunately, there are several queer focused spots in the city where you can potentially find trans individuals.
Aside from that, it’s also possible to meet TGs through dating sites and online communities.
So join us as we help you explore the most effective ways to find transgender men and women in Cleveland.
Table of Contents
List of TG Friendly Venues in Cleveland
1. Bars and Clubs
Cleveland has a decent selection of night venues, but the thing is, most of them attract a gay crowd.
Nonetheless, there are some bars and clubs also popular among trans folks, so let’s talk about those.
Twist Social Club – This is more like a social club that you can visit if you’re in the mood for a loud crowded night. The crowd is mostly queer with some trans folks in the mix, but everyone is looking for something casual.
Vibe Bar + Patio – A cute little place to grab a drink and have some chatter. During the day it’s mostly gay men, so I suggest visiting on a weekend night as the chances of meeting trans people gets higher.
The Hawk – Cozy bar with cheap drinks that welcomes everyone. You can occasionally find trans individuals here but heads up that most people are looking for hookups.
Shade Nightclub – The staff of this bar really wins it for me. Despite being a low-key gay bar, they make all of their patrons feel at home so you’re likely to find trans folks here on most nights.
Cocktails Cleveland – One of the few venues in Cleveland where you can find drag shows.
The crowd is mostly gay men but try visiting once the show starts and you might find a few trans individuals. And even if you don’t, you can at least enjoy energetic performances like the one in the video…
2. Community Center and Organizations
If you’re looking for a place to socialize with the LGBTQ+ community as a whole then the Community Center of Greater Cleveland is a nice place.
They host workshops and support groups focused towards trans individuals.
One of them is in partnership with Colors+ Youth Center called TransYou in which they host a casual community discussion for trans youth.
There’s another community center that recently opened in Lakewood called Studio West 117.
They host dance parties and drag bingo events, all centered towards an LGBTQ+ crowd.
TransFamily also hosts regular meetings in both Cleveland and Akron and supports all transgender identities, including FTM, MTF, crossdressers, and those questioning their gender or orientation.
Cis individuals can also join the meetups to show support to the community.
3. Trans Dating Sites
Since Cleveland doesn’t offer much in terms of TG focused venues, most trans individuals resort to dating sites.
We’ve tested several options and honestly, even Tinder works. But the problem with that is it doesn’t offer a feature to filter out trans profiles.
Instead, Scruff really stands out in this aspect because it lets you select that you’re interested in dating a trans individual.
The app can also be used for platonic relationships, just be clear about what you’re looking for.
And if you’re purely after casual relationships, then TSDates is especially great for transgender women looking to hookup with cis men and vice versa.
4. Social Media Groups and Pages
Cleveland has some great trans-centered Facebook groups such as TransAlive.
What we like about this group is that it also allows allies of the trans community.
They host monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of every month in Akron – which is a 45 minutes’ drive from Cleveland.
Another group is Trans+ that is targeted more towards the trans and non-binary community.
They host weekly meetups in the Greater Cleveland region so be sure to check those out.
Next up, there’s the Event Quick Source group that provides info on upcoming LGBT+ events in the city. Note that this is a public group so we can’t vouch for the quality of its members.
Lastly, this page of Cleveland Transgender Choir is also worth checking out, especially if you’re trying to connect with trans women.
What It’s Like to Be Transgender in Cleveland
As a trans woman who has spent a few months living in Cleveland, I gotta say, I’ve felt pretty safe around here.
Most folks are too busy with their own stuff to give anyone a second thought.
Even though it might feel like you’re getting a lot of stares at first, things get smoother the further you go in your transition.
So unless you’re in the inner city or out in those more country-like areas, people tend to be pretty cool about it all.
Overall, things aren’t that bad for trans folks, but yeah, I do wish more trans-centric venues start opening up in the near future.
Wrapping Up: Enjoy Meeting Trans in Cleveland
Now that you know the ins and outs of the trans scene in Cleveland, we hope connecting with the community becomes easier for you.
And while Cleveland may not be on par with Columbus in terms of TG friendly venues, it’s certainly not bad either.
The West side suburbs like Lakewood and even Cleveland Heights on the East are easily the most welcoming areas.
They have great trans friendly spots, some of which we’ve also talked about in this article.
So whether you’re trying to meet trans individuals for friendship, dating, or hookups, you’ll find them at the places we’ve mentioned!
