By Keith W. Hefner
Realtor and Dallas Resident
In 1970, Frank Caven opened his first gay bar, changing the landscape of Dallas and the Texas LGBTQ+ community forever, at a time when acceptance of homosexuality and frankly dancing too late in the evening was illegal in the city.
After many years, and many hard-fought battles for equality and acceptance, the community solidified around an area on Cedar Springs Road. Frank’s bars were set as an anchor point for the community, and a place for commerce to thrive.
The sense of community commonly known as the “Gayborhood” shows new generations not only our history but our future and how great life can be as an LGBTQ+ person in today’s society. Frankly, as this is being written, I think back to my first drag show so many years ago and can see how far I have come just because I had the opportunity to see a thriving community sitting in the back row in the Rose Room.
Unfortunately, 2020 has taken its toll on not just our community, but the businesses that support hundreds of workers, their loved ones, and families. The state mandate that closed all bars (which is still in effect as of this publishing) has caused financial constraints to become overwhelming. If it were not for the hard work, long hours, and quick thinking of a few bar managers, our community would still be locked down today.
As an effort to save the anchor of Oak Lawn, Caven Enterprises is working to partner with Pegasus Ablon to develop the parking lots behind TMC, S4, JR’s, and Sue Ellen’s into a residential and mixed-use property. This infusion of capital into our community will save the Cedar Springs “Gayborhood” as we know it, and preserve it for future generations.
If this project doesn’t pass zoning, planning, and permitting, the only alternative is to sell to another developer, which will plow over our neighborhood and end a 51-year legacy left to us by pioneers in the fight for acceptance and equality.
In a previous life, Keith W. Hefner was an award-winning photojournalist. Today, he’s a Realtor working to better the lives of Texans.
