Texas' Best Gay Country Western Bars & Line Dancing
Don't ride a horse - ride a cowboy
Two-Stepping Out of the Closet: In Texas, country-western culture is king – and that includes the LGBTQ+ community. Gay cowboys (and cowgirls) have carved out their own honky-tonks where you’ll hear Shania and Dolly on the jukebox, see same-sex couples two-stepping, and maybe even catch a drag queen in cowboy boots. The vibe is friendly and cheeky: think rainbow Stetsons and dance instructors who’ll happily teach you the Texas Two-Step with a twist. If you’re an LGBTQ traveler yearning to do-si-do in a safe space, Texas’s gay country bars await with open arms and cold longneck beers.
A Boot-Scootin’ Welcome in Dallas
When it comes to gay country-western dancing, Dallas leads the herd. The city’s crown jewel is The Round-Up Saloon, often hailed as one of the best gay country dance halls in the nation. Founded in 1998, Round-Up opens daily and draws LGBTQ+ “boot-scooters” for line dancing and two-stepping every night. Don’t be surprised if you rub elbows with a celebrity here – Lady Gaga once gave a notorious surprise performance on the Round-Up dance floor, and the bar even appeared in a Willie Nelson music video. Despite the fame, Round-Up remains down-to-earth and authentically Texan. Neon beer signs cast a nostalgic glow on the huge wooden dance floor.
The magic of Round-Up is how it blends traditional country culture with LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Free dance lessons are offered weekly – instructor Zach and his partner EJ will teach you a two-step where the “girl” and “boy” roles don’t matter (in fact, EJ often leads while Zach follows). Their defiance of gender norms in dance has won them top prizes in competitions against even straight dance clubs.
On any given night, you’ll see men dancing with men, women with women, and everyone swapping partners during group line dances. Nobody bats an eye – except maybe if you miss a step. Round-Up features multiple themed nights: karaoke Tuesdays, drag shows on Sundays, and of course packed-house dancing on weekends. The bar has several rooms, but the massive dance hall is the main attraction. Saddle up to the bar for a “Dallas-sized” beer or a whiskey shot, then hit the floor when the DJ puts on a line dance classic like “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”
Houston: Where Neon Boots Are Made for Dancing
Down in Houston, the LGBTQ+ country scene centers on Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon, a cowboy-themed gay dance hall that’s Texas-sized in every way. Opened in 2013 in a former historic honky-tonk, Neon Boots carries on the legacy of its venue (the old Esquire Ballroom, which once hosted country legends like Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson). At 11,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest gay bars in Houston and certainly the biggest country-western LGBTQ+ spot. It sits a bit outside the gayborhood, but folks happily drive the 8 miles from Montrose for a night of two-stepping under the giant disco saddle.
Neon Boots really rolls out the rainbow carpet for newcomers. They host line-dancing lessons every Thursday and Saturday evening – instructors patiently show both singles and couples the moves. You’ll see line dances from the classics to newly invented routines set to pop-country remixes. By 10 PM, the huge dance floor is full of men in boots, women in cowboy hats, and line dance lovers of all stripes moving in unison. One cool twist: on some nights they mix in West Coast Swing lessons or even a bit of Waltz, proving country folk can get fancy too.
The “extras” at Neon Boots make it more than a dance hall. Wednesdays it’s steak night and bingo; Fridays feature a taco truck out back for post-dance munchies. There’s also a patio where you can cool off between dances and chat under the Texas stars. The crowd is diverse – from older regulars who’ve been two-stepping for decades to college students in cowboy drag enjoying the kitsch. Even if country music “isn’t your bag,” as the bar admits, the DJ mixes in Top 40 and Latin pop on busy nights to keep everyone happy.
Austin & Beyond: Queer Country Culture Statewide
Austin, the “Live Music Capital,” doesn’t have a full-time gay country bar, but it makes up for it with events. The city’s alternative gay crowd launched Neon Rainbows, a roving queer country dance party that pops up at venues like Cheer Up Charlies. Billed as “the Biggest Little Queer Country Party in Texas,” Neon Rainbows features line-dancing lessons and a drag show called the “Gay Ole Opry” for a fabulously Texan time. So if you visit Austin, check the calendar – if Neon Rainbows is in town, grab your boots and go! Even if not, Austin’s famous straight country bars (like Broken Spoke or Little Longhorn) are generally gay-friendly, especially if you come on one of the unofficial “LGBTQ nights” that local groups sometimes organize.
Elsewhere, you’ll find smaller LGBTQ country-western gatherings across the Lone Star State. In San Antonio, for example, there isn’t a dedicated gay country bar, but venues like Pegasus on the Main Strip occasionally host country theme nights. And over in Fort Worth there’s a smaller gay scene: the city’s classic country dance halls like Billy Bob’s are friendly enough if you go with a mixed group of friends. That said, nothing beats a space specifically for our community.
One unique Texas group is the Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) dance team. TGRA chapters often hold country dance events to raise funds or just socialize. If you happen to catch a TGRA event in a smaller city, you might stumble into a hall full of gay cowboys dancing for a cause (and trust us, they know their steps!). These grassroots events keep the spirit going even where there isn’t a permanent bar.
