Dallas will make history Wednesday as the first Texas city to get state recognition for its LGBTQ neighborhood.
Tonight at 7, the Texas Historical Commission will unveil a historical marker in front of JR鈥檚 Bar & Grill in Oak Lawn 鈥� the heart of the gay and lesbian community in Dallas.
, a group that works on preserving the city鈥檚 LGBTQ history, requested the designation. President Evilu Pridgeon says the location of marker, at the corner of Throckmorton Street and Cedar Springs Road, is significant. It was once a meeting place, known as .
鈥淭he Crossroads is the social, cultural, political heart of the LGBTQ community and we want to celebrate that,鈥� she said.
A store called Crossroads Market used to sit on that corner; it was like an indoor flea market with various vendors.
Pridgeon says many people don鈥檛 realize the important role the LGBTQ community has played in Dallas鈥� history. The marker will try to rectify that.
鈥淭he marker actually starts out talking about that Dallas is not known for being politically progressive or especially welcoming to diverse communities,鈥� she said.
鈥淎nd yet it has become one of the few places that actually is welcoming and has a neighborhood for gays, lesbians, transgender, bisexual and queer."
