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 fall,” echoed down the corridors of downtown St. Louis’s high-rises as the assembly coursed toward City Hall. The gathering was, on all accounts, joyous and peaceful, and was marked by moving, poignant speeches from notable leaders within the community.
“Visibility without protection is exposure. Visibility without resourcing is just exploitation,” entreated Milky Ray, Vice President of the Metro Trans Umbrella Group’s (MTUG) board, to the throng assembled in front of City Hall. “Audre Lorde once said, ‘Without community there is no liberation.’ And in trans spaces, we feel that in our bones every single day. We know safety for us is not going to come down from on high. There are no big institutions that have our backs. It comes from each other. We show up.”
A similar call to seek safety from within the community was echoed by Ryan (Mars) Klinghammer, MTUG’s Director of Events: “My job […] is to create safe and affirming spaces for trans and queer people all. But here’s the thing: I’m not doing that alone. Each of you also do that with the little and big moments, from creating bars and coffeeshops to welcoming people into your homes for safe haven. You are creating those safe and affirming spaces to be
vulnerable in.”
Implicit concern for the safety of trans and queer folk was front-of-mind for all, with many nods to recent legislative and executive actions aimed at depleting the resources and diminishing the rights and dignity of those in the LGBTQ community. “Who do you think will be next?,” quipped Jay Thurman, event co-organizer and member of the queer leather group Blue Max Cycle Club. “Our own state of Missouri is trying to pass a law that would ban people, human beings, from wearing clothing belonging to what they decide is the opposite sex.”
Jordan Elizabeth Braxton, prolific St. Louis LGBTQ advocate and newly-crowned Ms. Trans Midwest 2025, had some sound and aspirational advice for administrations across the country, noting the $143 million dollars spent by GOP PACs smearing trans issues in the recent election cycle: “Just think if they spent that much money feeding and clothing and buying shelter and finding jobs for the unhoused and underemployed. We could have a very productive nation. But no, instead they want to punch down on transgender people. […] In my opinion, they’re punching down on the wrong one percent.”
Perhaps the most actionable and impassioned advice came from Gloria C. Goode, MTUG’s Inaugural Ms. Metro Trans Umbrella Group, offered toward the City Hall building behind her: “I am a transgender woman. I am a mother of two beautiful children. I am a woman of faith. I am an entertainer. I work. I love my family. I come home, and I desire to live the same life as anybody else. And today, on this Day of Transgender Visibility, I would like to reaffirm that I love St. Louis. I will not be leaving St. Louis. You will have to drag me out kicking and [sic] screaming. It is my home. It is my chosen home. I grew up in Jefferson County and it nearly killed me. So I am here to say that I am not going anywhere, and I am here to call on the government of St. Louis to reaffirm and strengthen its human rights policies so that we may become the next sanctuary city for transgender individuals in the United States.”
The long, thunderous cheers from these remarks bled into the joyous ceremonies marking the occasion, including the award of a city Proclamation recognizing March 31, 2025 as the Transgender Day of Visibility in St. Louis by the mayor’s office, the crowning of new Trans Missouri 2025 and Trans Midwest 2025 Royal Courts, and vivacious drag performances on the steps of City Hall.
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Pre-march instructions and blessings delivered to the hundreds of assembled trans, queer, and allied peoples. Photo credit: Tom Epplin.
Members of Rudis Leather Society and Blue Max Cycle Club serving as march guardians. Photo credit: Tom Epplin.
Marchers on Market. Photo credit: Tom Epplin.
Amanita Goodthyme (left) and the Fourth City Sisters before delivering an outset blessing to the assembled marchers. Photo credit: Tom Epplin.
Leaders from the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, the Trans USA National Pageantry System, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Pride St. Louis, St. Louis’s queer leather societies, and City Hall assembled to address the marchers in front of City Hall. Photo credit: Tom Epplin.
Ryan (Mars) Klinghammer (left), MTUG Director of Events and march organizer, was crowned Mr. Trans Midwest 2025 by Scrappy Legacy (right), Mr. Trans USA 2024
