What makes a place feel like home? For many trans and non-binary people, it’s not just about a friendly face or decent coffee. It’s about feeling safe, seen, and welcome just as you are. Whether it’s a queer-owned gym, a cozy bookstore, a spiritual community, or a karaoke night with good vibes, these spaces go beyond acceptance: they celebrate us. We asked folks to share their favorite trans-friendly spots across the U.S., and what we received was a beautiful list filled with community, care, and joy. These are the places where you can breathe a little easier, laugh a little louder, and know you’re not alone.
Alabama
Montgomery Pride United – Montgomery
What people love about it: It is the one place in Montgomery that is inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community, provides resources, and advocates. As a safe space, they are dedicated to providing support groups, emergency food and clothing, community gatherings for progressive groups, and more. They also have their own thrift store. This is the only LGBTQ+ resource in the central Alabama area.
Arizona
Brick Road Coffee House – Tempe
What people love about it: The welcoming environment, the openly queer energy, and the events/information that they have there.
California
Unitarian Universalist Association – Santa Barbara
What people love about it: It’s very inclusive and welcoming of trans people in all activities and visibility! They’ve been so supportive personally. They also give financially and volunteer at our local LGBTQIA+ and trans organizations.
Ironbark Ciderworks – Claremont
What people love about it: Thursday Trivia and Friday Karaoke! Although not an explicitly trans-centric space, it is beautifully sapphic and the following disclaimer is proudly painted on the wall just behind the bar: “Ironbark is a safe, inclusive space. Please don’t touch anyone without their permission, or say/do anything: sexist, misogynist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, sizeist, ageist or any other form of derogatory behavior.”
Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center – San Jose
What people love about it: It’s an LGBT center that hosts support/discussion groups, game nights, and LGBT events regularly.
Folklore Salon and Barber – Los Angeles
What people love about it: Super-skilled and super-inclusive stylists!
Everybody Gym – Los Angeles
What people love about it: Really supports our community and is totally gender-neutral! I never need to worry about being in the wrong locker room.
Nail Me – San Francisco
What people love about it: I always feel welcome and see other trans people there.
Silver Sprocket – San Francisco
What people love about it: It’s a comix store that’s all about trans, queer, femme, and BIPOC folx. It makes me feel at home the moment I walk in, I just wanna live there.
Colorado
Denver Tech Dentistry – Denver
What people love about it: Trans friendly and affirming dental care. It’s not a “hang out”/social space, but trans friendly and safe places for business are essential for our healthy and happy existence.
Georgia
New Moon Cafe – Augusta
What people love about it: Great coffee, affirming and kind employees, cool art on the walls for sale from local artists, and near a bunch of downtown shops.
The REEL Center of Atlanta – Atlanta
What people love about it: Very diverse, fun-loving spiritual no-judgment zone.
Hi-Lo Lounge – Athens
What people love about it: Queer woman-owned, visibly inclusive (progress pride flag in the window), extremely friendly and supportive staff (and patrons!). Great food and drinks in a casual neighborhood pub setting.
Illinois
Vertical Endeavors – Glendale Heights
What people love about it: Great climbing gym, great staff. I love the community there.
Meta Beauty Collective – Rockford
What people love about it: Relaxed atmosphere.
BMO Bank N.A. – Various locations
What people love about it: Great place to work. Medical benefits include transgender health support, including necessary surgeries. Also, they strongly support DEI and accommodate those actively transitioning through established programs & procedures. Banking products support the transition, as you can use your selected transgender name on bank products, including checking & credit cards, and are addressed by your transgender name and appropriate pronouns. BMO Bank, N.A. Fully supports the LGBTQ community.
Dorothy Downstairs – Chicago
What people love about it: Extraordinarily inclusive queer space. Technically a lesbian bar but very, very, trans positive and inclusive of all queer expressions.
Michigan
Adam’s Apple – Detroit
What people love about it: Trans friendly, trans owned. Fun neighborhood style bar.
Minnesota
Solcana Fitness – Minneapolis
What people love about it: Body positive, queer owned and operated, they make inclusivity a priority. Private showers! Gender neutral private bathrooms! Trans Strength class! Fat Fitness class! Trans strength group classes are offered multiple times a week, with other affinity groups as well. They also do community work and have a deadlifting competition every year to raise money for one of the informed consent clinics here!
Missouri
Sticks and Stones – Kansas City
What people love about it: The stylists, several of whom are members of the LGBT community, are super welcoming.
Mississippi
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson – Jackson
What people love about it: It’s a place where I can just exist and nobody has any questions or treats me as anything special. There is a lot of organizing happening in MS, but nobody ever hears about it. We are here.
New Jersey
The 244 Spot – South Amboy
What people love about it: Very LGBTQ friendly.
Club Feathers – River Edge
What people love about it: It’s extremely inclusive. It’s also incredibly LGBTQ friendly overall.
Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice – Princeton
What people love about it: Very LGBTQ friendly.
Craft House Salon – Atlantic Highlands
What people love about it: LGBTQIA+ friendly and owned, and does great haircuts for transgender, gender non-conforming, or alternative people.
Georgies – Asbury Park
What people love about it: Very LGBTQ friendly.
Tipple & Rose – Princeton
What people love about it: Run by a lesbian couple, it’s an LGBTQ safe space near Princeton University. Adorable little tea shop, great selection, delicious food, and queer staff. The owners have never been anything but kind to me every time I go, and they pay all of their workers a living wage.
Ohio
Bexley Natural Market – Columbus
What people love about it: Quirky, very small co-operative, organic grocery that welcomes everyone. Stay for an hour and you’ll see LGBTQIA+ people, Orthodox Jewish people, Muslim women, African-Americans, young suburban parents, and senior citizens. Everyone is welcome as long as they are respectful. The customer is not always right; a prior manager told a customer to leave and not return after he made a slur at a gay employee. Great place for trans folks to work.
Oregon
Community Cup Coffee – Eugene
What people love about it: Proudly queer friendly and sooo much yummy food.
Workers Tap & Cafe – Portland
What people love about it: Leftist co-op pub & cafe. Every Friday night is a Trans meetup. Twice a month, they host trans clothing exchanges.
Always Here Bookstore – Portland
What people love about it: Queer-owned, worker-owned bookstore full of books with queer rep by queer authors and a cozy, sensory-friendly space to hang out. Forget other bookstores, if you’re trans (or queer in general) and live in Portland, this is the best place in town!
Pennsylvania
The Cub Room – New Hope
What people love about it: Very LGBTQ inclusive.
The Midnight Oil – Lancaster
What people love about it: Inclusive LGBTQIA+ ownership, diverse staff, comfortable and dry setting. Queer owned and operated nerdy play space with non-alcoholic, cafe-esque bar.
Texas
Cheer Up Charlie’s – Austin
What people love about it: All are welcome, but it’s an LGBTQ+ bar with live music, food, drag shows, and more! I love the outdoor area where the shows are held. It’s also downtown, so it’s next to a lot of amazing restaurants/food trucks, and stores. Let loose and don’t be afraid to be your authentic self, because at Charlie’s, you’ll meet amazing people from all over the rainbow!
Washington
Dandelion Tea House – Vancouver
What people love about it: Everyone is kind, and they are actively engaged with the local LGBTQ+ community. There are queer flags visibly displayed (not just for show). It’s family-friendly.
Elephant & Castle – Seattle
What people love about it: Most of the staff is queer and they are all so welcoming and friendly, no matter what. ❤️
Wisconsin
Room of One’s Own – Madison
What people love about it: Queer/trans bookstore with amazing staff, book, events, and vibe.
From tea shops to climbing gyms, churches to comic stores, this list is a love letter to the places that make our lives brighter. Some are explicitly trans-centered, while others simply radiate kindness and respect. All of them were shared by real trans and gender-diverse people who found something special there. We hope you discover somewhere new to visit. Because every affirming space matters, and together, we’re building a world where trans joy is the norm, not the exception.
