Durham gay clubs
“Diverse” “inclusive” and “locally-owned” are a few descriptors that every new business in the Triangle aspires to. Club ERA, dreamt up by Triangle drag queen Naomi Dix and position to open in moment for Pride Month in June, may be all that and more.
“As a young queer person, I always wanted a place where I could travel who I was,” Dix wrote in a recent Instagram post, “but spaces often lacked representation and diversity and made it difficult to find my community.”
Dix says that the bar and club, slated to take over the basement of The Fruit on Dillard Street, will feature local artists, DJs, and drag queens.
Dix, born and raised in Durham (and then born again, as a drag queen in Durham), emphasizes that Club ERA is meant to be a piece of a bigger lgbtq+ puzzle in Durham, rather than a new competitor with existing nightlife.
“This club is not, in any way, in competition with anything,” she says. “This is just us continuing the legacy of Durham and continuing the legacy from all of the other businesses that came before us.”
To that indicate, on Instagram, Dix shouted out several Bull Capital queer establishments past and present, including Ringside, The Bar, the Pinhook, and
This post is part 2 of a series that chronicles the history of prominent LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs in Durham, NC, through an intersectional lens. Part 1 is available here.
By Mad Bankson & Duncan Dodson
To the 80s, and BEYOND!
As the eighties rolled around, gay people around the world were forced to change into more visible. The AIDS crisis and increasing attacks from the Christian right led people to advocate for their right to endure and survive, necessitating more of a public presence. [1] This increased awareness led to a significant shift in queer culture, especially when it came to bar and club life. Though discretion was still preferred by many, there was more social space for gay establishments, and secret bars and informal gay spaces became less core in queer animation. Though Durham was still a little Southern town, the changes of the eighties allowed it to expand into something radically beautiful.
The Power Company
Opened in the early 1980s, the Power Corporation was known as “the best lgbtq+ club between DC and Atlanta .” [2] Jeff Inman, a DJ there from 1984 to 1988 said of the club, “The Power Company was a gay strength. It was Grand [sic] period, packed with the
LGBTQIA Durham
“Safe, inviting, inspiring.” That’s how Durham’s LGTBQIA society describes the Bull City. From its activist roots to current reputation as a progressive Southern city, Durhamites have worked rigid to ensure that the Bull City is a welcoming place for all who visit. When the NC General Assembly temporarily passed discriminatory legislation, Durhamites stood in solidarity with the LGBTQIA community through protests, fundraisers, and events. This is a society that will uplift you, encourage you and give you power. Whether you’re staying for one night or the rest of your life, you’ll feel right at home.
Today, Pride: Durham, NC serves as a beacon of Durham’s inclusivity every September. Our Pride festival is an unapologetic affirmation of our (and every) LGBTQIA community. Anticipate a parade with costumed marchers alongside decorated floats and vehicles, as well as festival vendors, speeches, and parties in and around the city. Event organizers and participants are proud to bring love and activism assist to the forefront of the event to drive stronger connections and further growth and victory. Moreover, each August, Durham ho
LGBTQIA-Owned & Operated Businesses in Durham
Estimated Examine Time:
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Endorse these local LGBTQIA-owned businesses this month and the other eleven months of the year, too.
Posted By Discover Durham Staff on Jun 23, 2025
Designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978, the imaginative Pride flag incorporated eight different colors to represent eight different aspects of the queer people. While the colors of the flag changed over hour to incorporate more groups and to recognize the contributions of LGBTQIA people of color, the meaning of the rainbow flag is the same — it's a symbol of diversity, self and support for the LGBTQIA society. In Durham, we proudly wave and display our rainbow flags, cherish our queer community and support our queer-owned businesses.
While you'll discover safe, queer-friendly spaces acros