Richmond, Virginia has a large community of trans individuals. But here’s the thing—finding them might not be as easy as you’d think.
It’s not that there’s no trans social scene, but it’s scattered everywhere instead of sticking to one spot.
Many social opportunities are waiting for you once you learn how to navigate the city.
And that’s exactly why I’m writing this article. it’ll help you explore the best ways to meet trans men and women in Richmond.
We’ll check out the TG focused nightlife venues, community centers, and even online dating sites.
So whether you want to make new friends, date, or find casual encounters, let’s kick things off!
Table of Contents
List of TG Friendly Venues in Richmond
1. Bars and Clubs
What I love the most about Richmond is its extensive selection of nightlife options.
It has an insane bar culture and you can find trans folks even in places that aren’t explicitly LGBT+ focused, simply because they’re very inclusive.
While it’s hard to mention every venue, I’ve compiled a list of my favorites.
Barcode – Located at 6 E Grace St, a fun place with waves of people (trans included) coming in on a Thursday night so I can only imagine how crowded it gets on the weekend.
Thirsty’s Bar & Grill – Located at 3516 Forest Hill Ave, this place is more than just drinks.
They have different themed nights, drag shows, and other fun events that will make you keep coming back.
The owners are really nice as well. They don’t tolerate any transphobia and will kick someone out right away if they sense it.
Babe’s of Carytown – Located at 3166 W Cary St, there’s always something going on here.
You can catch drag shows on Thursdays, dance to fantastic DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, and there’s even a pool table for everyone to enjoy.
Security is friendly and vigilant, ensuring a safe environment. It’s a place where you’re sure to bump into some awesome trans folks.
Cobra Cabana – Located at 901 W Marshall St, this isn’t exclusively a queer space, but surprisingly, pretty much all the people here were trans and non-binary.
I must say that the staff here has done a fine job in ensuring everyone feels welcomed and safe.
Fuzzy Cactus – Located at 221 W Brookland Park Blvd, this bar has a really fun queer scene with most of their nights in rockabilly and punk style.
Plan your visit on the weekend and you’re almost guaranteed to find trans individuals.
Papi’s – Located at 1407 E Cary St, people have their reservations about this place because it’s a queer club owned by a straight couple.
But I’ve visited here and can say that it’s a great place that gives Miami vibes. It’s slowly becoming a hotspot to meet trans people.
Godfrey’s – Located at 308 E Grace St, the drag performances here are just incredible and so was my server, Edwardo. He kept me accompanied while my food arrived.
For a sneak peek into the lively atmosphere at Godfrey’s, check out this video…
2. Community Centers and Organizations
Richmond has various organizations that cater to trans people and LGBT+ folks in general.
I’ll start by talking about Side by Side which focuses on the LGBTQ+ youth. They have an office located at Westwood Ave that provides a non-judgmental environment to the community.
They also host support groups for trans and GNC individuals every Thursday.
The James River Transgender Society is another amazing trans support group. You can become a member of the society by filling out the form on their website and getting updated for their upcoming meetups.
Diversity Richmond is also an incredible organization that hosts inclusive events for LGBT+ folks like drag bingo nights, and Halloween parties along with educational workshops.
Lastly, Stonewall Sports is a famous sports league that hosts events for the LGBT+ community.
Even if you don’t want to participate, you can join them on game day to potentially meet trans people.
3. Trans Dating Sites
The trans community of Richmond is scattered and online dating sites can be a great way to find them in one place.
Apps like OkCupid are especially popular among trans men and women who are looking for non-alcoholic places to make friends and date.
But here’s the thing: people here are a bit shy about meeting in person, and, of course, that applies even more so to trans individuals.
So, don’t expect everything to happen super quick, especially if you’re just looking for something casual.
Though if that’s your thing then try TSDates since the site is explicitly made for finding hookups.
4. Online Groups and Pages
Unfortunately, there aren’t many trans focused social media communities, but I did find a few decent general LGBT+ Facebook groups.
One of them is Lets Talk, it’s a forum where GNC folks and allies can talk about their lives and connect with other similar people.
Even though the group doesn’t have too many members, it’s somewhat active and worth joining.
Then there’s LGBTQ Professionals, an open group but you can find members there posting info on upcoming events.
And of course, we also have RVA Queer Exchange. It’s a large community of queer folks (trans included) where you can find housing, jobs and generally socialize.
5. Other LGBT+ Spaces
Richmond has lots of places to hang out at night, but what about non-alcoholic places to meet trans people?
Well, there’s Rag and Bones. It used to do trans friendly bike workshops until they decided to switch locations. Keep an eye out for when they start up again.
The Afterglow Coffee Cooperative is another place where trans scooter and motorbike riders often meet up. Seems like it’s a bit of a culture here!
And if you’re into fitness then Body Arc is a great gym for trans and queer people.
The trainers and staff here just make sure that everyone feels comfortable and welcome.
What It’s Like to Be Transgender in Richmond
I won’t paint a rosy picture of Richmond and say that everything is great because the city certainly has its flaws.
It’s still way behind in terms of trans healthcare and getting hormones can be hard. You’d often have to find a private provider.
I’ve also had friends sharing stories about workplace discrimination and how they were fired just for being trans.
Unfortunately, trans laws in Virginia are quite sketchy so you can’t do much about it.
But hey, some folks absolutely love this city and haven’t faced much trouble.
It’s like a lottery, depending on luck and the kind of friends you’ll make.
Still, Richmond’s got plenty of nighttime places where you can meet cool trans people.
Not only that, but the city also hosts one of the largest Pride Fests in Virginia, so it’s definitely making progress!
This video shows a glimpse of how exciting the festival can be…
Wrapping Up: Enjoy Meeting Trans in Richmond
To sum it up, meeting trans folks in Richmond isn’t about specific neighborhoods—it’s more like a city-wide affair.
Sure, Forest Hill is a bit of a hotspot for queer folks, but the truth is, trans individuals are sprinkled all over the place.
I’ve done my best to point you in the right direction with various spots in this article.
So, whether you’re connecting online or in person, I hope you build some fantastic connections with trans men and women. Happy exploring!
Ashley Taylor
Having grown up feeling misunderstood and unaccepted within my own family.
I also faced difficulties when it came to dating and connecting with guys around the world due to a lack of awareness about trans-friendly venues.
To address this, I took it upon myself to create city guides specifically tailored to meeting trans people.
