Safe & Inclusive Halloween Spots: How to Find LGBTQ+ Friendly Spaces for Crossdressers and Trans Women

Growing up, I always knew that I was different since I had a hard time fitting in with my guy friends. You see, they wanted to play with their toy trucks and drive imaginary cars, but I secretly wished I could join my sister and play dress up. In my mind, there was nothing more fun than transforming into an entirely new person in seconds. 

Fast forward 15 years, when I eventually came out as a crossdresser to my close friends and family. However, I knew that the world was a cruel place, and I couldn’t dress the way I wanted to outside, at least not on ordinary nights. And that’s when I discovered the magic of Halloween.

Halloween was the one night in a year when I could strut the streets in 6-inch high heels and no one would bat an eye. All because I could play it off as my Halloween costume. But it wasn’t that simple. Even though the fear was gone, I never felt like I belonged in those cisgender Halloween parties. 

So I made it my mission to find my community and to spot safe Halloween parties for crossdressers. Hi love, today I’ll show you how you too can spot LGBTQ+ friendly Halloween parties. We’ll also talk about red flags to look out for in a venue and what to do in case you run into some trouble at a Halloween party.

Are you excited yet? Let’s get started.

Trick or Treat: Why You Shouldn’t Just Show Up Anywhere

Before I dish out the secrets that I’ve learned over the years, let’s go over why finding LGBTQ+ Halloween parties is super important.

Even though Halloween is all about dressing up, it can be really risky for us if we find ourselves at the wrong parties and in the wrong crowd.

The truth is, just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean that every place is as safe as it seems. I know we’ve all heard of cases where our fellow crossdressers and trans girls have been mistreated in the open at parties. 

That’s why finding LGBTQ+ friendly Halloween parties is super important. There, you don’t have to worry about being mistreated, misgendered, or even that your outfit might be ‘too much’. If you feel like showing up as a slutty sissy maid, people will complement your outfit, not look at you like you have two heads.

By finding these spots, you can make Halloween a night that you’ll remember and always look forward to. 

5 Ways To Spot an LGBTQ+ Friendly Halloween Party

Over the years, I’ve come to learn that most crossdresser safe Halloween parties are really subtle. They kinda feel like a secret club that only the members know about. So if you don’t know where to look, you might miss them. 

So, how can you find these places? Here are five ways to spot them. 

1. Look for an Inclusive Venue

I always say that the best hidden gems are those that are hiding in plain sight. So, you’ll definitely need a little help to spot them.

The best place to start is by asking around your circle. Call or text some of your crossdresser and trans friends to ask if they know any LGBTQ+ venues.

If you don’t have any crossdresser friends, try going on Reddit and searching for places closest to you. 

Don’t be too surprised if you find out that your favorite coffee shop has a basement that transforms into an LGBTQ+ club during the night.

2. Check Flyers and Social Media Posts

If you’re anything like me and you want to crossdress for Halloween miles away from home, then your next best shot is using social media.

All you need to do is follow transgender friendly accounts on TikTok and Instagram and search for safe Halloween spots for crossdressers.

Also, don’t expect to see ‘LGBTQ+ friendly’ written in bold letters on their flyers, but there will be signs that it’s an inclusive party. And if you don’t know what to look for, you might miss it completely.

So here are two things you should pay close attention to:

• The Pictures on the Flyers: I know most people think that these parties use random pictures, but the organizers are super strategic. So what kind of pictures are they using? Is it hypersexualized women with BBL and cleavage showing? If so, then this might not be the most welcoming space for crossdressers and trans girls. Those pictures mostly appeal to straight macho guys, so you can even experience transphobia.

• Check the Tone: The next thing you should check is the tone used in the flyer and social media post. Most LGBTQ+ Halloween parties are intentional about using words like ‘Come as you are’ and ‘Everyone is welcome.’

3. Check Out Who’s Promoting It

Trust me, if you saw someone like Troye Sivan or Chappel Roan promoting a Halloween party, then you could easily tell it’s a safe and inclusive space.

As much as you and I would love to go to a party they are attending, that’s not possible right now. So, instead, you can check out who is posting and hyping the Halloween party you want to attend.

The truth is, most inclusive Halloween events get promoted by:

• Drag queens
• Queer DJS
• LGBTQ+ indie or small artists

So take some time to do a little bit of digging to see who’s sharing about the event on their socials. They don’t have to be super famous or popular, but if there’s at least one from our community, then it’s definitely a good sign.

4. Text the Organizers

I learned this hack from a close friend, and honestly, I always do this before I crossdress and go to any party. If you’re not sure you’ll have a safe crossdressing experience, then you can always shoot a text to the organizers.

If you’re scared of using your personal profile and someone screenshotting your text, you can create a new IG or TikTok account and DM the organizers from there. 

Don’t think too much about it, just shoot them a short text asking if the event is trans and cross-dresser friendly. 

In most cases, you’ll get a straightforward answer, and if they leave you on read, then that’s your answer too. If they say that it’s inclusive, you can take it a step further and ask them if they have any anti-harassment policies and if there will be security guards in the event.

5. Test the Waters

Honestly, I am such a believer in testing things before committing to them. So if you’re still not sure about a venue, going there before the Halloween party will give you the overall vibe of the place. 

You can also plan to meet up with the Halloween party organizer and ask them some questions in person. 

If you get there and notice people staring weirdly at you, or the organizers being dismissive, then that’s a sign the place isn’t welcoming for crossdressers and trans girls. So trust your gut because it’s never wrong.

Red Flags To Look Out for At a Halloween Party

Even after you spot a safe place to crossdress on Halloween night, don’t let your guard completely down. I always say that it’s better to be safe than sorry. So once you’re there, look out for these red flags:

• You’re the only person crossdressing there
• Fights randomly break out throughout the night, and people are getting hurt
• People are staring at you, whispering, or making jokes about your crossdressing outfit
• You notice that the waiters and waitresses seem to be ignoring your requests and are mostly focusing on other people
• You can’t spot any security guards in the venue
• Pictures are being taken without your consent and are being posted on social media
• You just feel it in your gut that something is off

I know it might suck, but if you feel that you’re not safe, it’s time to leave early. It’s better to be safe than end up getting harassed or abused. Plus, you can always call one of your friends, ask them where they are, and join their party.

Conclusion

That’s it, love. I hope you enjoyed this article. Remember that Halloween is the one night when you can be anything and anyone that you want. But that doesn’t mean you should be anywhere you want.

A little bit of research and background check on the venue and party can save you lots of trouble. So bookmark this article and come back to it when you want to find LGBTQ+ friendly Halloween parties.

I always say that there is power in numbers. So if you can go out with a friend, you can both look out for each other.

Stay safe and stay pretty. Cheers!