Creating Queer Comfort In New Orleans
Twelve Mile Limit, 500 S Telemachus St., New Orleans LA 70119
Since September 2022, Now That’s What I Call Queer has been calling Twelve Mile Limit homebase. But the relationship between this beloved Mid-City bar and the queer community didn’t begin there, it’s been building for over a decade.
We sat down with Cole Newton, owner of Twelve Mile Limit, to talk about what makes thIS SPACE feel so welcoming, how that came to be, and why it matters now more than ever.
T. Cole Newton, owner of Twelve Mile Limit
what’s your name and what do you do?
I’m T. Cole Newton, just Cole to friends. I own Twelve Mile Limit and co-own The Overnight Lows Bar and 9th Ward Amaro Closet at the Domino. I’m also a dad to a five-year-old, sit on a few nonprofit boards, and occasionally find time to write.
Both of your bars feel really safe and welcoming, especially for queer folks. Was that intentional from the start?
It’s been an evolution. When we opened Twelve Mile Limit in 2010, I wasn’t trying to create an explicitly queer space. I just wanted everyone to feel comfortable. To me, that meant being kind and welcoming to every guest who walked in.
Funny enough, the first two bartenders I hired were queer women. Naturally, their friends started coming in, and because there weren’t many lesbian-oriented spaces in New Orleans, we became a bit of a haven early on for the queer femme community. That culture built from there.
How do you approach hiring and employee support today?
We’ve kept that inclusive hiring policy going. One of our most recent hires, Celeste, is a trans woman. I asked her what made her feel supported here, and she said simply, “You hired me.” That shouldn’t be a radical act, but unfortunately, it still is in a lot of places.
Another thing we do is pay our staff a shift wage that doesn’t rely entirely on tips. It creates a more stable and safer work environment — especially for folks who are more vulnerable to harassment, like LGBTQ+ employees. It wasn’t originally a social justice move, but it turns out it really helps.
“It’s all about sending a clear message: you are welcome here.”
What other steps have you taken to make your bars safer for the queer community?
Over time, we’ve leaned into being explicitly queer-friendly. We put up signage in the bathrooms discouraging harassment. We stopped gendering our bathrooms. We fly a Pride flag year-round. It’s all about sending a clear message: you are welcome here.
After the pandemic, when it felt like the country—and especially states like Louisiana—were becoming more openly hostile toward LGBTQ+ folks, we realized we had to be more vocal in our support. The little signals add up and create a feedback loop. Queer people feel safer and more seen, so more of them show up, and the community strengthens.
“The more I went to Twelve Mile Limit, the more it seemed very queer-friendly, sorta like the unofficial queer bar of Mid-City.”
Twelve Mile Limit has been hosting Now That’s What I Call Queer since 2022. How did that come about?
The host/DJ reached out to us because they’d always felt comfortable here. They said, “Twelve Mile Limit appealed to me because it was one of the first bars I went to when I moved to NO, and I felt at home right away. ... The more I went to 12ML, the more it seemed very queer-friendly, sorta like the unofficial queer bar of Mid-City.”
That was the goal all along — to create a space where anyone can feel at home the second they walk through the door.
Why is creating space for the queer community so important to you?
Growing up, my dad always brought home “strays” for holiday dinners — friends from work who didn’t go back to their families. Looking back, a lot of them were gay. Maybe being out was the reason they didn’t feel welcome at home. My dad never made a big deal out of it — he just made space. And I guess that stuck with me.
Twelve Mile Limit is located at 500 S Telemachus St., New ORleans LA 70119
Visit Twelve Mile Limit in Mid-City New Orleans, and you’ll see the result of years of intentionality, kindness, and listening to the community. And if you're around when Now That’s What I Call Queer lights up the dance floor, come say hi. Everyone’s welcome here.
Instagram: @12milelimit
Website: twelvemilelimit.com
