Hey folks, today we will be talking about meeting trans men and women in not one, but three different cities—Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
There’s a lot to talk about as together they offer a ton of different ways to meet the trans community.
So in this article, we’ll explore different trans friendly places including nightlife options, support groups, online dating sites, and more.
Whether you’re a part of the trans community or an ally, let’s uncover the hidden gems these cities have to offer.
Table of Contents
List of TG Friendly Venues in Raleigh, Durham, & Chapel Hill
1. Bars and Clubs
Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill – all have some decent clubs and bars for trans individuals.
I’ve combined all of your options into a single list because you can jump venues within 30 minutes regardless of where they’re located.
Also, note that the three cities are collectively called The (Research) Triangle because of their close proximity to each other, roughly forming a triangular shape on the map.
So if you’re planning a night out, here’s a list of some of the best transgender hotspots.
Ruby Deluxe – Located at 415 S Salisbury St, a cool queer/trans bar, often called The Sparkle Dungeon.
They host live music, drag shows, drag brunches, dance parties, and more. It’s a friendly spot for new performers trying out drag or burlesque.
I’ve been to a drag show and bingo night here. Personally, I liked the bingo night better—the energy was fantastic.
Flex – Located at 119 S Harrington St, this club is known for its weekly drag shows, gogo boys and themed nights.
Although you can meet trans people here, I noticed that on some nights, it’s dominated by gay men. They also do not charge a cover fee, but only welcome 21+.
The Wicked Witch – Located at 416 W South St, this is like the sister club of Ruby Deluxe.
It’s an event venue that hosts plenty of fun themed nights including kink events for trans and non-binary folks every other week.
View Bar & Gameroom – Located at 119 S Harrington St, went here on a busy Saturday night. They had the drag show running from 11 pm till midnight.
The drinks were just okay for the price but I met many trans folks so that really made my night!
The Green Monkey – Located at 215 S Wilmington St, this is a gay owned bottle shop but it has always run as a community bar.
Its clientele is pretty diverse and often has TGs enjoying their bingo nights, drag shows, beer-tasting events and more.
Legends Nightclub – Located at 330 W Hargett St, this is unarguably the busiest queer club in the Triangle.
Visit on Friday or Saturday nights and you’re almost guaranteed to meet a few TGs on the dancefloor.
The best part? You do not have to pay a cover fee if you’re 21+ but make sure to leave a generous tip for these incredible drag queens…
2. Community Centers and Organizations
If you prefer to meet trans people during the day, a good option is to visit a community center.
You have LGBT Center of Raleigh with trans focused group meetings twice a month. Check out its event calendar to see the next meetup.
There’s also the LGBTQ Center of Durham known for its inclusive programs like “The Closet.”
This unique initiative opens its doors from Wednesday to Saturday.
It not only provides a shopping experience but also serves as a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow trans and GNC individuals.
Last but not least, those who are into sports should join the events hosted by Stonewall Sports.
It’s a sports league for the queer community, they do football, tennis, kickball, bowling, and more.
From what I’ve seen, their kickball leagues are the most popular with their last season having more than 500 players, and many were trans!
3. Trans Dating Sites
There are a lot of young trans folks on dating apps since Chapel Hill is a university city.
They are normally open to meeting people from other parts of the metro area.
It just depends on the type of arrangement you’re looking for. In my experience, Grindr has a lot of trans men and women despite being a gay dating app.
However, the majority of its members are looking for hookups. And it isn’t uncommon to feel like you’re being fetishized by cis men.
If you’re looking for a more serious relationship or simply want to make trans friends, OkCupid is a great alternative.
4. Online Groups and Pages
Looks like The Triangle doesn’t have much to offer for the trans community on social media.
I had high hopes but only found a few Facebook groups and even they are not entirely trans focused.
But no doubt, Triangle LGBTQ is an active community with over 3000 people organizing meetups and many of its members are trans.
I also found Durham Queer Sports which as you probably guessed, is similar to Stonewall Sports.
The good thing is, the Events page on Meetup always has a few LGBT+ events coming up so make sure to keep an eye on those.
5. Other LGBT+ Spaces
As you’ve guessed, there are a lot of places across The Triangle to find trans people.
I’ll start with one of my favorite places, The Fruit. It’s an event venue in Durham that often hosts kink parties and has a lot of trans/queer folks in attendance.
However, if you’re looking for the most LGBTQ+ friendly city then you really can’t go wrong with Chapel Hill. It stands out among the trans community due to its university.
There are a lot of trans folks on campus and even have the UNC LGBTQ Center. They do a lot of workshops and programs throughout the year.
Also, there’s a place in Raleigh named Libations 317. It’s a restaurant with plenty of seating space and queer/trans people often come here to work so the seats fill up fast.
So really, regardless of which city you’re in of The Triangle, you will find an inclusive space to socialize with TGs.
What It’s Like to Be Transgender in Raleigh, Durham, & Chapel Hill
Whether you’re in Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill, being transgender is met with open arms, especially in Chapel Hill.
It’s like a safe bubble within North Carolina, and the LGBTQ+ friendliness there is unmatched.
CH goes all out during Pride month, lining Franklin Street with pride flags.
The UNC campus is not just beautiful but super supportive, with LGBTQ+ themes on campus bricks and a big LGBTQ+ community among students. There are even LGBTQ+ professors in various departments.
Local businesses proudly fly rainbow flags, and some are owned by LGBTQ+ folks.
In short, being transgender in The Triangle is not just okay; it’s celebrated with kindness and openness.
Wrapping Up: Enjoy Meeting Trans in Raleigh, Durham, & Chapel Hill
To sum it up, no matter where you are in The Research Triangle, facing discrimination is unlikely.
The trans community in all three cities is big and diverse, especially in Chapel Hill’s university areas. You’ll meet trans folks from all over the world.
Plus, there are lots of places that are cool with everyone in the LGBT+ family. And don’t forget, the online trans scene is buzzing too.
So, however you choose to connect, meeting trans men and women in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill is just around the corner.
That’s a wrap from my side, hope you enjoy the welcoming experience in The Triangle!
