By Madelyn Edwards
(DALLAS) Sue Ellen's, the only lesbian bar in Dallas, reopened Friday after being shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic about a year ago, The Dallas Morning News reports.
The reopening is happening just as Dallasites are celebrating Pride, the annual LGBTQ rights celebration that is taking place at Fair Park this weekend. Sue Ellen’s is known for its signature DJ nights and drag queen shows.
“There’s nothing like walking into a gay bar: It still feels safe and warm,” Sue Ellen’s General Manager Kathy Jack said. “You walk in, you know most of the people behind the bar, you know most of the people in the bar. It’s just a nice feeling. It’s like how they talk about Cheers.”
As a precaution, Sue Ellen’s staffers will wear masks and have their temperatures taken.
Sue Ellen’s is the oldest lesbian bar in Texas and according to Jack, possibly the longest-running lesbian bar in the U.S. Jack credits Sue Ellen’s longevity, particularly through the pandemic, to the support of Dallas’ LGBTQ community.
“[In the late ‘80s], everyone told me that a lesbian bar is not going to make it on a gay strip. I said, ‘Well, let me try it,’” Jack said. “We showed them.”
Sue Ellen’s is located at 3014 Throckmorton St.