Charlotte is home to plenty of fun things to do for the LGBTQ community, from annual events to everyday activities. Even though Charlotte may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of gay-friendly cities, Charlotte has it all, from the arts to athletics and nightlife to nature.
Social Clubs and Hobby Groups
If you are looking to meet new people in Charlotte’s LGBTQ community, look into one of Charlotte’s awesome hobby groups. A couple of examples are the Charlotte Gaymer’s Network and Stonewall Sports. These are just two of dozens of LGBTQ community organizations in Charlotte.
Charlotte Gaymer’s Network
Charlotte Gaymer’s Network hosts monthly events for queer gamers to meet new people and play video and board games. It hosts both free and paid member events, which means newcomers have the chance to give the network a try before committing to a paid membership.
Events include a Gaymer Gathering (a video-game focused event), CGN unplugged (a board game event), CGN After Dark (a social event hosted at LGBTQ-friendly venues), and more. They also host parties and drag events.
A membership costs only $10 per month and entitles members to priority registration for public events, member-only events, and more. Check out their website at the bottom of this page for more info.
Stonewall Sports
Stonewall Sports Charlotte organizes sports leagues for the LGBTQ community and allies. Stonewall Sports is present in many cities around the country. The Charlotte chapter offers kickball, dodgeball, bowling, cornhole, pickleball, and volleyball.
It was founded in 2014 with kickball as its premier sport, but has expanded rapidly over the years. Most leagues attract dozens if not over 100 players per season. Newcomers can join solo and be assigned a team, or join with friends. Stonewall sports leagues are very affordable – most sports cost around $30 per season, per person to play. Season length varies by sport, but most last between 4 to 6 weeks. Some sports seasons end with a tournament.
Stonewall has a very accepting, positive atmosphere and there are rules in place against bullying and harassment. Stonewall Sports Charlotte is a great way to meet people in the queer community, have fun, and get active. The link to Stonewall Sports Charlotte’s website is at the bottom of the page.
Nightlife: Gay Bars and Clubs in Charlotte
Many awesome venues in Charlotte cater to the LGBTQ community, and many more are LGBTQ-friendly. Check out our guide to Charlotte nightlife, or see below for a short list of just a few of Charlotte’s LGBTQ venues.
- Argon – A gay “video bar” in south Charlotte. Argon features a dance floor as well as lounge seating, and an outdoor patio.
- Sidelines –Next door to Argon is Sidelines, a gay sports bar in south Charlotte. Sidelines offers HDTVs to watch your favorite sporting events, as well as bar games like pool and darts.
- Chasers – In Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood, Chasers nightclub hosts events like EDM night. It is very popular with the gay community.
- Scorpio – A queer nightclub in west Charlotte that features DJs and drag queens. Scorpio hosts a mixed crowd of straight and queer patrons.
- The Woodshed – Located in west Charlotte near the airport, this bar caters especially to the leather, bear, and related communities, but is open to all.
Charlotte Pride Events
Charlotte Pride is a non-profit organization in Charlotte that hosts multiple events throughout the year. Two of those events are the annual Pride Parade and Festival, and the Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival.
Pride Parade and Festival
Charlotte Pride Parade and Festival take place annually in August of each year. The parade typically takes place in Uptown Charlotte along Tryon Street. There is also a family-friendly festival that takes place in Uptown as well.
The Pride Parade and Festival are free, thanks to Pride’s awesome sponsors. The festival attracts all kinds of community organizations and businesses hoping to reach Charlotte’s queer community. Click here to read more about Charlotte Pride.
Reel Out Charlotte Film Festival
In addition to a parade and festival, Charlotte Pride organizes an annual LGBTQ film festival. Reel Out Charlotte normally takes place in Spring of each year, and features around 20 short and feature-length films. Films cost around $10 to watch, or you can get an all-access pass to the festival for $45.
Did you know North Carolina is home to multiple LGBTQ film festivals? Read more about the state’s surprising presence in the LGBTQ film festival world.
Drag Shows in Charlotte
Dozens of venues around the Queen City host drag events. Occasionally Charlotte draws world-famous drag queens from around the country for one-night shows, but it also has its own thriving drag community that hosts regular events throughout the city.
Drag Brunches
- Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood, regularly hosts drag brunch events on Sunday mornings. These brunches are commonly organized by local drag queen Buff Faye. Dilworth Neighborhood Grille also occasionally hosts drag dinners.
- Midtown Tavern occasionally hosts drag brunch events that also often feature Buff Faye and other local drag queens.
- Charlotte Gaymers Network hosts its Sinners Brunch monthly. This brunch is hosted by a well-known local queen, Onya Nerves.
- Artisan’s Palate is a queer-friendly restaurant that occasionally hosts themed drag brunches, including brunches inspired by famous musicals or pop stars.
Drag Shows at Gay Bars
- Diva Royale is one of Charlotte’s most well-known drag shows, taking place every weekend at the Scorpio, Charlotte’s oldest gay nightclub.
- The Bar 316, a gay and lesbian bar in South End, often attracts RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and other famous queens from around the country.
Drag King Shows
- Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, an accepting venue especially popular with Charlotte’s lesbian community, occasionally hosts the Kings on Tap drag king show. Kings on Tap typically takes place on Wednesday evenings.
- The Diva Royale drag show at the Scorpio also features drag king performances.
LGBT-Owned Businesses and Restaurants
- Lupie’s Cafe in East Charlotte is renowned for its diverse chili offerings.
- Bean Vegan Cuisine serves up plant-based dishes in East Charlotte.
- Detour Coffeebar is a queer-owned mobile café that specializes in artisanal coffee and baked goods.
- The Artisan’s Palate in NoDa is a fashionable café that serves food, coffee, and alcoholic drinks, and hosts regular drag brunches.
- Not Just Coffee, a Charlotte-based coffee chain, prominently displays trans and LGBTQ flags at many of its locations.
Get Natural – Parks and Recreation
While obviously not exclusive to the queer community, no list of things to do in Charlotte would be complete without mentioning Charlotte’s green spaces and access to nature. Charlotte is home to awesome parks and greenways, and there are multiple state parks just outside the city.
Parks and Greenways
- Freedom Park is one of Charlotte’s largest and most prominent parks. Located between Charlotte’s Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods, this park is 96 acres and features tons of green space and a large pond.
- Independence Park is another very large park in Charlotte, sitting on 24 acres in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood. This park features a rose garden, a small pond, and fields and courts for various sports.
- Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a miles-long trail that runs alongside Little Sugar Creek. The trail extends from Cordelia Park in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood all the way to south Charlotte.
State Parks
- Crowders Mountain State Park lies about 30 miles west of Charlotte, near the neighboring towns of Gastonia and Kings Mountain. Hikers can get awesome views of Charlotte and the surrounding area from the park’s peaks.
- Lake Norman State Park is about 35 miles north of Charlotte near the neighboring cities of Statesville and Mooresville. Lake Norman offers hiking trails, camping, and lake activities like boating, fishing, and paddling.
So no matter what kind of activities you and your LGBTQ friends and loved ones are interested in, Charlotte definitely has it covered!
