Houston is home to a dynamic and storied queer history, which makes sense considering that the city is home to the largest LGBTQ+ population in Texas. Montrose is the unofficial “gayborhood” of Houston, and it has been at the nexus of queer culture in Houston and the state at large since the ’60s.

But inside, for the past four decades, Ripcord has been a haven for Houston's LGBTQ+ community. Leather daddies and jocks. Bearded drag queens and lesbians. Outcasts and in crowds, "the wild, the weird, and the kinky."

Priding itself as Houston’s best gay leather bar, the establishment can morph from a mild-mannered daytime neighborhood bar to a popping weekend disco spot. It can be a sin den or just a friendly place to grab a beverage and enjoy the company of others. Ripcord will mark its milestone with a three-day menagerie of special events December 9-11. The full schedule is available online.

In this Montrose staple, everyone is welcome. There's no pretentious aura from the patrons, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the bartenders are...shall we say...easy on the eyes. Located in the heart of the gayborhood, it is easily walkable from most of the other gay bars, and there's never a cover, so there's no excuse not to pop in if you're in The 'Trose.