As an openly gay Londoner, visiting a rural Texas bar felt like hitting the grinder in Dubai: Brits have a tendency to sift through stereotypes from the media we receive from across the pond.
The Deep South, for many of us, represents the more “controversial” behavior of the United States.
Some would argue that gun worship, history of racism, controversial legislation, and stereotypes of characters in Hollywood and European media all contribute to this perception. The South has a tough time when it comes to international representation, but Dallas is the only LGBTQ+ Country dance bar.
Founded in 1998, the Round-Up opens its doors to LGBTQIA+ boot-scooters, country two-steppers and line-dancing enthusiasts every day of the week, and also hosts some famous faces and infamous performances. lady gagaa karaoke performance by Charli XCX, and appearances by actors such as Emma Watson and Leslie Jordan (RIP). Their most famous appearance was Willie Nelson’s Shooting “Cowboys Secretly and Frequently Have a Favourite for Each Other” was filmed on the dance floor of the saloon’s infamous country hall.
It’s a pretty average country bar stand, with the neon signs of the beer sponsors giving off a nostalgic glow and the reflective wooden dance floor bringing back memories, and the whole place is warm and inviting, with a smell of leather and spilled alcohol that’s foreign to me, not being from the South, but still very nice.
It was everything I wanted in a country experience.
This is a genuine experience, not some gimmick or imitation for the sake of inclusivity: you won’t be sneered at for slapping the soles of your leather boots on someone, unless you think your dance partner is awful (which I definitely wasn’t).
One of Roundup’s two-step dance instructors, Zach Sharp, offers free classes every week with his dance partner Emma Jean (EJ). Interestingly, EJ is the leader, followed by Zach. They defy gender norms and have won countless top prize “belts” at country dance tournaments held in well-known heterosexual venues.
This was shocking to me, not because of their dancing skills (think Olympic ice skating without the skates), but because of my mistaken assumption that gays could not coexist with cultural activities deemed “Republican” or “Southern.” I had assumed that Southern cultural symbols, including religion, guns, food, and dancing, would suppress, not promote, gay identity.
My dance instructor, Zach, has completely changed my perspective.
In the early 2000s, Zach was the only male cheerleader in his rural Kentucky school district. When word spread to the rival team they were playing against, they planned to violently assault Zach after the game. His school’s team barricaded the area and thwarted the attempted assault. Zach continued to dance at many games after this incident.
Perseverance was a recurring theme throughout our conversation. Raised in a deeply religious household, Zach said moving to Texas helped him become more himself and embrace his Southern identity, which may have been difficult to embrace back in his home state of Kentucky. The Roundup is now a second home for him, a place where “I can lace up my boots, go out, hear some good music, meet some great people, and have a good night any day of the week.”
After hearing about the traumatic events he experienced growing up, his calling Texas home carried more weight than anyone else who had spoken to me about the state before. In truth, I would never have encountered someone like Zach in a queer club in London. His experience of teaching at the Roundup gave me a better understanding of this community than years of clubbing would have. It reminded me that queerness can be found anywhere and expressed anywhere; safely, uninhibited, unrestricted, and not simply confined to the sweaty holes of glorious basement techno hell. It taught me that to fully understand myself, I need rich and diverse spaces that allow for broader exploration.
At a time when skepticism and prejudice against LGBTQIA+ people feels on the rise, there is a critical need for spaces like the Roundup that help queer “niche” identities be understood, explored, and formed. In places like Texas, where queer rights are questioned and restricted, diverse spaces for marginalized people to discover themselves are essential.
There are thousands of gay pop clubs, but where are the shooting ranges? Where are the bongos?
Where are the drum clubs? Where are the hookah lounges? Where are the spaces that, although they may seem unnecessary, allow queer people to connect with their culture and sexuality?
After talking with Zach and boot-scooting at the Roundup, I realized that the need for diverse, culturally rich safe spaces, free from stereotypes and connotations, has never been more apparent.
James Marshall A London-based arts and culture journalist interviewing artists, creatives and cultural “disruptors”, James interviews around 60-100 people per year, covering the arts and culture sectors closely linked to fine arts, LGBTQIA+ access and inclusivity, and exploring cultural and institutional perspectives from around the world.
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