At 80 years old, beloved bartender Joe Hedley describes the three defining eras of his life as the three legs of a tripod: his time in the US Army, his years in San Francisco at the dawn of the AIDS crisis, and his 14 years at Just John. Though he has received awards from Fair…
Activism
The Luminary Awards: Randy Rafter
Black Pride’s Randy Rafter was sitting in church when something the pastor said stuck with him: “It’s no longer time for moments. It’s time for a movement.” A man of service, Rafter took that message to heart—and made it his organization’s motto. In many ways, Rafter and Black Pride St. Louis are one and…
The 2025 Luminary Awards: Joan Lipkin
Editor’s note: Join us for the Out In STL Luminary Awards on December 4. Joan Lipkin has been designated an Icon by St Louis Magazine, profiled in 50 Key Figures in Queer US Theatre, received numerous local and national awards as a visionary and community leader, and last spring was elected into the prestigious College…
St. Louis Coalition Rallies on World AIDS Day Amid Funding Threats
ST. LOUIS – Vivent Health, in partnership with the mayor’s office and a broad coalition of community-based organizations, invites St. Louis communities to join them in observing World AIDS Day on Monday, December 1. They are hosting a march, rally and more powerful events dedicated to remembrance, advocacy, and a renewed commitment to a world…
Republican Commentator Joey Mannarino Calls For All Trans People in the U.S. to be Detained and Studied
In a moment that should chill every American who values freedom and dignity, right-wing commentator Joey Mannarino recently called for all transgender people in the United States to be rounded up, detained, and studied. This grotesque suggestion isn’t just a toxic opinion—it’s a blueprint for state-sponsored persecution. Mannarino isn’t a fringe player screaming into the void.…
That Uppity Theatre Company and Missouri History Museum to Present a 3rd Queer Writes Showcase of LGBTQ+ Writers on June 5
Joan Lipkin’s wildly successful Queer Writes returns for a third year with an all-new bill on Thursday, June 5, as part of the Missouri History Museum’s Pride Month programming. Confirmed presenters include Paul Cereghino, Cheeraz Gormon, Matthew R. Kerns, Joan Lipkin, Romell Parks-Weekly, Jarek Steele, Diane Richardson and Jeff Truesdell. The Gateway Men’s Chorus will…
A Reason for Optimism: Local Universities Prepare to Fight
By Novice Sister Pattie O’Pounder On the bright afternoon of March 20, the T-REX Center in downtown St Louis buzzed with energy as faculty and staff from local universities gathered with regional nonprofit leaders for a networking luncheon that aimed to address a pressing issue: the support and protection of LGBTQIA+ students in a political…
Cocktail Competition Benefiting PROMO to Be Held at Platypus April 13
PROMO is Missouri’s statewide LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization, and a fun way to get acquainted with them and support their critical work is by attending their Merryvale Antigua Cocktail Competition at Platypus on Sunday, April 13 from 2-4 p.m. St. Louis’ finest bartenders will compete in a cocktail showdown that mixes sweet flavors…
Hundreds March on Market for International Transgender Day of Visibility
By Tom Epplin A unified front of hundreds of transgender people, leatherfolk, queers, and the allies who love them assembled on Kiener Plaza Monday evening to march down Market Street in celebration of the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Chants of “Whose streets? Our streets,” “No justice, no peace,” and “United we stand, divided we…
2024 Queer-in-Review
Did 2024 represent the pinnacle of LGBTQ acceptance, leaving us with nowhere to go but down? The nearly $215 million in anti-LGBTQ ads this election season, and Trump’s resulting victory, certainly makes it feel that way. Winter is in the air, and Corporate America is dispensing with diversity programs like flip flops at an end-of-summer…
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