Out in Oak Lawn: A Queer History of Dallas

Introducing Out in Oak Lawn: A Queer History of Dallas

Introducing Out in Oak Lawn: A Queer History of Dallas, a podcast about one of the largest gayborhoods in the US.

1. The Formation of a Queer Community

Oak Lawn: The Formation of a Queer Community, discusses the early history of the Gayborhood. With the running theme of community, the listener will hear what Oak Lawn was like pre-community with regular police raids and attacks on queer individuals. The listener will then hear about the creation of the community. By highlighting the the first gay support group, the Circle of Friends and the queer church the Cathedral of Hope, the listener will be transported through staples in the history of Oak Lawn.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Trevor Project official website
Meet Dallas’ LGBTQ trailblazer Robert Emery: Why Dallas is a ‘loving city’
Finding Our Voice - The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Community
Outrageous Oral, Volume 1: Don Maison
The Ed Busch TV Talk Show Interview with Don Baker
 

2. Out in the West

Out in the West asks us to ponder, what is the significance of Oak Lawn’s location within Texas? By taking the listener inside the Round-Up Bar and Saloon, and to patrons who frequent Vaquero bars, the listener will become more knowledgeable about the relations and similarities between queer and western culture.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Dallas morning News December 19, 1979
Don Baker dress code letter
611 Cedar Springs news clip
611 Cedar Springs News clip
Orville Peck Interview:
Pedro Almodovar Article
Trixie Motel Website
TWIT Vol 8 no. 23 August 27- September 1st, 1982
Tyler Childers Article
Glen Campbell Article
 

3. Proudly Open for Business

Proudly Open for Business takes the listener on a journey through the businesses of the Oak Lawn neighborhood. It will inform the listener of  past and present queer businesses within the neighborhood, including the Station 4 nightclub, the Curious Times bookstore, and the Crossroads Market general store.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Crossroads Marker Article
Rose Room Website
Frank Caven Obituary

4. Girls’ Night Out

Girl’s Night Out discusses the disappearances of lesbian bars throughout the country and explains why Sue Ellen’s, the lesbian bar in Oak Lawn, has remained open and thriving. In this episode, the listener will understand the inclusivity of lesbian spaces and learn the histories of male privilege and lesbian history.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Interview with Kathy Jack
Krista Burton Event
Outrageous Oral Event with Louise Young and Vivienne Armstrong
Outrageous Oral Event with Emma Colquitt
Interview with Emma Dovers

5. Acting Out

Acting Out shows the history of Texan activism in the Oak Lawn Neighborhood. This episode discusses the history of HIV/AIDS in Dallas, the “Gay Robin Hood,” and prominent activists in the queer community.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Conversation/interview between Chance West, Louise Young, and Don Baker on DGPC
Dick Peeples Interview with Dr Phelps
Outrageous Oral, Volume 1: Don Maison
Pride in Dallas: A Brief look at Dallas LGBTQ History
Queering the Lone Star State Episodes 5 and 6
AIDS Services of Dallas
AIDS Services Dallas turns 30, Dallas Voice
Affidavit of Irvin Riddle
Embezzlement Imperils AIDS Home, New York Times
The Dallas Cowboy Behind the Real ‘Buyers Club’, NPR
Parkland's new AIDS clinic chief undaunted by problems, Dallas Morning News
Cece Cox outrageous oral
Cece Cox facebook video
Cece Cox info
Brandon Murray youtube video 1
Betty King oral history interview

6. Oak Lawn Today

Oak Lawn Today discusses the current state of Dallas's gayborhood, as well as current issues within it. We discuss gentrification, Drag Bans, and restrictive laws that affect the LGBTQ+ community. We also explore the potential birth of a new gayborhood in North Oak Cliff.
Select Sources for this Episode:
City of Dallas Office of Historic Preservation
Dallas Crosswalk Project
Rainbow Crosswalks Installed in Dallas Article
Oak Lawn Article Visit Dallas
Legacy of Love Monument Article
Boyd, Ron. [Clipping: Patti], clipping, June 27, 1988; Dallas, TX.
Staff, The Texas Tribune. “Elected Officials Districts: Texas Senate District 1.” The TexasTribune, January 21, 2023Proven Conservative Bryan Hughes article
Bill S-B 12 June 18, 2023
Bill S-B 12
Senator Bryan Hughes: District 1. The Texas Senate Website
Skyy, Jenna. Interview. Conducted by Gabriela Whitmore, Wendy Starks, and Rodrigo Triana.October 23, 2023
Kevin. “The Future of Oak Lawn.” Dallas Voice, August 2, 2019
Rogers That – Podcast. “EP. 32: Not Just a Big City - Mike Ablon” YouTube video, 51:15.March 6, 2023Wright, John. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 16, Ed. 1 Friday, August 31, 2012,newspaper, August 31, 2012; Dallas, Texas.

S2E1 Keep Fighting, Keep Dancing

This episode covers the history of activism in Oak Lawn during the AIDS Crisis, spanning from the early 80s to the late 90s, and how the efforts and organizations created during this dark period of time for the community are still impacting the neighborhood and greater Dallas today.
Select Sources for this Episode:
AIDS Arms Network Documents, The Portal to Texas History
Black Tie Dinner - 1998 Main Event Second Half  Video, The Portal to Texas History
It's For Everyone Video, UNT Libraries Special Collections
Mike Anglin, “Terry Tebedo,” January 4, 2018, The Dallas Way
Mike Anglin, “William H. “Bill” Nelson,” May 10. 2015, The Dallas Way
Rafael McDonnell, “Resource Center Dallas,” May 10, 2015, The Dallas Way
William Waybourn, “Crossroads Market,” November 24, 2017, The Dallas Way
William Waybourn, “How Dallas Got Into AIDS Research,” April 21, 2020, The Dallas Way

S2E2 Pink, White, and Blue

In this episode, we explore the historic first appearance of transgender icon Christine Jorgensen in the media and the lasting impact she had on the Dallas community. We highlight organizations providing vital healthcare and resources for transgender individuals, including The Resource Center, and examine the current statistics on hate crimes against transgender people in Texas. Finally, we amplify the voices of local transgender activists who are tirelessly fighting for change and visibility within the LGBTQ community.
Select Sources for this Episode:
https://transgriot.com/tributes-2/
https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/tgi-bios/christine-jorgensen
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1939944/m1/?q=transgender
https://www.texasobserver.org/anti-lgbtq-incidents-texas/

S2E3 Let's Get Creative

Let’s Get Creative explores a few of the different kinds of art within Dallas’s gayborhood. Throughout the episode, we talk about some of the ways the LGBTQ community has used creative expression to instill a sense of belonging and showcase queer joy in Oak Lawn.
Select Sources for this Episode:
AIDS QUILTS:  
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1584434/m1/6/?q=aids%20quilts%20dallas
https://www.aidsmemorial.org/quilt-history
QUEER CHIORS:  
https://www.chorusamerica.org/advocacy-research/gay-and-lesbian-choruses-then-and-now
QUEER HISTORY OF DALLAS; MIMS  
https://utd-ir.tdl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5627361a-b772-4a0d-9fc3-669a7e6b86f2/content
DUANE PURYEAR:  
https://www.thedallasway.org/stories/written/2021/9/19/duane-puryears-and-the-quilt-panel

S2E4 Dragging Up Dallas

As the art form of drag is undergoing scrutiny from politicians and the media, we dive into the history of both drag in the United States and the local drag scenes in Dallas and Denton. We get insight into how drag became what it is today, how Dallas' own Rose Room achieved its iconic status, and what the work of past Queens and Kings has enabled the newer generations to achieve.
Select Sources for this Episode:
https://dallasvoice.com/the-legacy-continues/
https://nmaahc.si.edu/gladys-bentley
https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/dallas/rose-room-dallas-drag-venue-how-to-support
https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/king-drag-queens-fascinating-julian-eltinge

S2E5 Hope on the Horizon

The Cathedral of Hope, located in the heart of Dallas, is the largest LGBTQ+ church in the United States. From its beginning to modern day, the Cathedral of Hope has been and continues to be a valuable resource for the community. This episode takes the listener back to the beginnings of Oak Lawn, the history of the cathedral, and the impacts the church has left on the neighborhood along the way.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Cathedral of Hope Website https://www.cathedralofhope.com/
Mike Piazza speaking on the impact the Cathedral of Hope had on the community in the 1990s.  (Video) https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2420370/m1/?q=cathedral%20of%20hope
Oral History interview with Sue Schrader (Audio) https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1639759/m1/?q=%22Cathedral%20of%20Hope%22

S2E6 Making Headlines

In this episode, we explore how The Dallas Voice evolved from just a newspaper into the central thread weaving together a growing queer community in Oak Lawn. Through its reporting and community coverage, the Voice helped residents find one another, organize, and define a shared identity. This is the story of how a neighborhood found its voice in print.
Select Sources for this Episode:
Dallas Voice in UNT Digital Library. University of North Texas Libraries. https://digital.library.unt.edu/explore/collections/DALVO/
Savoie, Caroline. “40 Years of Impact.” Dallas Voice, 25 Nov. 2025, dallasvoice.com/40-years-of-impact/
Texas Obituary Project https://texasobituaryproject.org/
Dallas Voice Celebrates 40 Years Video https://dallasvoice.com/video-dallas-voice-celebrates-40-years/
Dallas Voice: Our Place in History https://dallasvoice.com/our-place-in-history/