For as long as I can remember, grounding myself in history has provided steady footing. Even an evening at a new restaurant requires a quick Google search to learn the who, what, when, where, and why of the establishment’s history. In the period between 1990 and 1997 when I lived in St. Louis (South County,…
I met Flowing Johnson in 1994 through the St. Louis chapter of the (then-called) Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN), which I started that summer. She and I were teachers – community college math for her and high school social studies for me. In her mid-50s at the time, Flowing had long ago developed…
THISTL (Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis) is seeking donations for its Mutual Aid Fund, the organization’s longest-running program and a critical winter lifeline for transgender and gender-nonconforming TGNC people in the St. Louis region. Each year, the Mutual Aid Fund provides low-barrier rental assistance and emergency aid to TGNC community members facing housing instability. Aid…
On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., landmark cases challenging bans that discriminate against transgender students under the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX. In response, the ACLU has called on Black Pride and TFAM organizations nationwide to host community activations…
At 89 years old, sitting behind her big wooden desk at the front of her sleepy South Broadway antique store, Bonnie Blake could have never imagined how interesting her life was about to become. In walks Geoff Story, a documentary filmmaker seeking to interview her for a documentary about found footage of a 1940s gay…
St. Louis has never lacked brilliance, but every so often, a light appears that does more than shine—it guides. Kitty Denise Litter was that light. A native daughter of this city, Kitty Denise Litter was not only a gifted drag queen; she was a mother to the community, a powerhouse on the stage, and a legacy that continues…
No, they won’t look anything like this photo, but your drinks will be sloshed together with love by beloved bartenders who want to spend Christmas with you. Bar culture runs deep in St. Louis, and bar families will gather and will welcome guests as they celebrate. Here’s your Christmas Day guide to what’s open, what’s…
Opportunity cost is an economic term, but its most painful examples often play out in human relationships. It describes what we give up when we choose one path over another. When someone chooses to spend their time and energy hating—tracking enemies, nursing grudges, and relitigating conflicts—the opportunity cost isn’t abstract. It’s measured in friendships that…
To many, movements for civil rights appear to change with each generation, topically shifting focus as new social issues arise year by year. We often fragment movements chronologically, forgetting the expertise of elders who, like ancestral chords, sonically bind movements together through time. Rooted in the legacy of those who came before us, we stand…
Jordan Elizabeth Braxton has been officially elected as Co-President of the United States Association of Pride (USAP), marking a significant milestone in her long-standing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ Pride Movement. The announcement was made during USAP’s December board meeting, where delegates from member Pride organizations across the country cast votes for national leadership positions. Braxton…
