Our Story

 

Local Queer started in 2022, born out of a simple but urgent need: finding real queer community post-quarantine. As two trans men new-ish to Austin, we saw firsthand how sapphic and trans folks often weren’t the focus of queer events, even in LGBTQ spaces. We wanted something different—spaces that weren’t just "friendly" to trans people but actually built for us, at every stage of our journeys.

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So, we started small. Meet-ups, happy hours, and events in borrowed spaces, spreading the word however we could. And it worked—so well, in fact, that by the end of that first year, we had over 80 people showing up to a happy hour just days before the holidays. From there, we kept growing, making connections with local businesses, nonprofits, and other queer organizers. By 2024, Local Queer had become Austin’s largest social organization dedicated to the sapphic and gender expansive communities.

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Then came the attacks on trans rights in Texas. When Ken Paxton ordered the Texas Department of Transportation to block gender marker changes on driver’s licenses, we knew we had to do more. In August 2024, we launched the Local Queer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on supporting our most marginalized community members. Just weeks after getting nonprofit status, we pulled off Transistance, an all-trans-produced drag show fundraiser that brought in over $7,000 for trans Austinites. Since then, we’ve helped over 100 trans Texans get passport cards—valid federal IDs that reflect their correct gender identity.

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And we’re just getting started. This year, we’re bringing back our biggest events—Queer Camp, the Rainbow Stoplight Party, Boat Parties, and more—while keeping our monthly happy hours, book club, and exercise series going strong. ​

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This isn’t just about events. It’s about building a community that actually sees and supports each other. And we’re so glad you’re here.