While most people might not think of Raleigh, North Carolina as a gay haven, the city is home to a surprisingly active LGBTQ community. If you are new to the city or just want to meet more people, it might seem difficult to make queer friends.
However, there are several organizations and spaces that are great for meeting LGBTQ people in Raleigh and the surrounding area.
Stonewall Sports Raleigh – Recreational Sports Leagues for LGBTQ People and Allies
Stonewall Sports is a recreational sports league for adult LGBTQ people and allies. Stonewall exists in many cities throughout the country. Raleigh’s chapter was founded in 2013.
The Raleigh Chapter of Stonewall Sports is a great way to get involved in Raleigh’s LGBTQ community, regardless of how athletic (or not) you may be. Stonewall Raleigh features ten sports leagues, played in various seasons throughout the year.
Kickball and dodgeball are among the more popular sports played by members of Stonewall Raleigh. For those members of the queer community who would rather not chase red rubber balls around on a warm day, indoor activities like bowling and billiards are also available.
Here is the full list of sports leagues organized by Stonewall Raleigh:
- Kickball
- Dodgeball
- Indoor Volleyball
- Sand Volleyball
- Bowling
- Flag Football
- Tennis
- Run Club
- Softball
- Billiards
While Stonewall Raleigh sports aren’t free, they are modestly priced. Registration fees range from $35 to $75 per player, with discounts for players who register early. The fees include a team shirt or uniform.
Stonewall Sports Raleigh is a nonprofit organization, so all funds go towards organizing the leagues and serving the community.
For team sports, players may join with a full team, in small groups, or individually. Small groups and individuals will be placed together to form full teams.
Even if you are unsure about committing to a league, Stonewall Raleigh also organizes social events like attending local sports events or volunteering with community organizations. Follow one of Stonewall Sports’ social media accounts or their social events page for up-to-date information about social events.
Raleigh and Durham Pride Festivals, Parade, and Events
Raleigh and Durham each host of the largest pride celebrations in North Carolina.
Out! Raleigh
If you are in Raleigh over the summer, be sure to attend Out Raleigh, the city’s pride festival. It takes place every year and June and consists of a street fair with vendors, entertainers, and food trucks.
Out Raleigh takes place on Fayetteville Street, right in the center of downtown Raleigh. The festival is organized by the LGBT Center of Raleigh. There is no cost to attend the festival.
Many local businesses and organizations also host Pride events in Raleigh throughout the month of June. Run for Love is an annual 5K run that benefits the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Also watch out for an increase in drag brunches and other queer events at local bars and restaurants.
Pride: Durham, NC
Durham, which along with Raleigh and Chapel Hill makes up the Research Triangle region, hosts Pride: Durham, NC every year in September. This festival is another great opportunity to plug into the local LGBT community. Durham Pride includes a Pride parade, which is not yet part of the Raleigh Pride celebration.
The parade and festival have historically taken place on the East Campus of Duke University. The festival features entertainment, vendors, and food trucks, as well as a youth zone. Low sensory areas and health and safety services are also available.
The parade and festival take place in the late morning and afternoon, and are followed by a concert and afterparties that go late into the night. Admission is free to the parade, festival, and concert.
All of the extra revelry makes the trip to Durham worth it for residents of Raleigh and the surrounding area. As with Raleigh Pride, watch out for other Pride events hosted by local businesses throughout the weeks leading up to Durham Pride.
Another benefit of Durham Pride is that the temperature is typically more pleasant in September than in the traditional pride month, June. Durham Pride attracts thousands of visitors from the Research Triangle region and beyond.
Raleigh LGBTQ Nightlife
While nightlife and drinking aren’t for everyone, it is undeniable that bars and clubs remain one of the most popular ways for LGBTQ people to meet one another. Luckily, Raleigh has a solid variety of queer venues, so you are likely to find a spot that fits your vibe.
Raleigh’s gay bars and clubs tend to center around the Warehouse District, just west of downtown Raleigh. Popular LGBTQ venues include Legends, Flex, and Ruby Deluxe. For more variety, check out our list of the top 7 gay bars and clubs in and around Raleigh.
Legends Nightclub
Legends Nightclub is a popular spot that is well known for its musical theme nights, including goth, techno, and industrial music nights. It also frequently features local drag performers. Legends is normally only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Flex Nightclub
Flex Nightclub is another Raleigh staple in the LGBTQ nightlife scene. The club is famous for its karaoke nights, go-go dancers, and of course local drag shows. Flex is open every night of the week except Monday.
Recently Flex and Legends have gone through changes in locations. First, Flex’s location of over a decade closed and it moved into a space in the back of Legends. Then, in 2022, the owner of Legend’s building announced that it would convert the space into a high-rise building. Fortunately, both Flex and Legends have committed to staying open in some form or another.
Ruby Deluxe
Ruby Deluxe is an underground bar that is a definite change of pace from your average bar or nightclub. Sure, it hosts normal bar events like drag shows, DJs, live performances, and karaoke nights. But it also hosts unique events like amateur burlesque night and bikini bingo.
Ruby Deluxe also holds regularly scheduled daytime events that represent great opportunities to get involved in the queer community. These include a queer community market and plant swap, where you can meet cool people and familiarize yourself with local queer-owned small businesses.
Volunteer with Gay for Good
The Raleigh-Durham chapter of Gay for Good organizes LGBTQ and ally volunteers to provide community service support to local non-profits. Gay for Good’s goal is to help the community while increasing goodwill between LGBT people and the rest of society.
Gay for Good Raleigh-Durham hosts community service events about twice a month. Service events typically last from 3 to 5 hours.
Events are almost always held on Saturdays, making it easy for most volunteers to participate. Visit Gay for Good’s website to view upcoming events and sign up for their mailing list.
Past events have included spending time with special needs children, volunteering at food banks, constructing homes, environmental cleanup, and more. A few of the organizations that Gay for Good supports in the Raleigh-Durham area include:
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
- Habitat for Humanity
- Miracle League of the Triangle
- Note in the Pocket
- TROSA Thrift Store
Besides doing good for the community, participating in a Gay for Good event can be a great way to meet LGBTQ people in the Raleigh area. You will meet kind-hearted people you might never otherwise meet in bars, clubs, or other queer spaces.
Check Out the LGBT Center of Raleigh
LGBT Center of Raleigh is a non-profit that hosts events and offers resources to support the local LGBT community. The Center sponsors Out! Raleigh, the city’s Pride festival, but also hosts regular events for adults, youth, and families throughout the year.
Some of the fun events the center hosts include a monthly open mic night, game night, and men’s and women’s social nights. Note that the Center’s gendered events are inclusive of trans people and non-binary people who identify more with one group or another.
Other opportunities to meet LGBTQ members of the community include transgender discussion groups, non-binary discussion groups, book clubs, and youth events with games, crafts, and snacks.
In addition to community-building events, the LGBT Center also provides important resources for the queer community including STD testing, mental and physical health clinics, and financial education resources.
Whether you are looking for fun, friends, or the satisfaction of doing good, there are plenty of awesome opportunities to meet LGBTQ people and get involved in Raleigh’s queer community.
