Out in Oak Lawn: A Queer History of Dallas outinoaklawn

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.