The year after Stonewall in 1970, what we now call Pride events began taking place across America. While St. Louis did not host its first Pride until 1980, many foundational events paved the way for modern era Pride celebrations across the St. Louis region. In 1977 and 1978, local gay rights rallies were held in…
Few cities have a neighborhood specifically for drinkers. Sure, New Orleans has the French Quarter, but that’s mostly tourists. Historic Soulard, however, is the real deal. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery’s blazing red marquis looms over the rooftops like the Eye of Sauron, there’s a tavern on or around every corner, and one even peruses the offerings…
“She did it for the kids.” Taken in any other context, this might have been a good thing. But this was part of a conversation I overheard in a coffee shop in south city, and it was far from good. Two humans, both presenting as women, were discussing Jamie Reed’s essay calling out the Washington…
By Monica Obradovic The Missouri attorney general’s restrictions on transgender health care will not go into effect today as planned. Circuit Court Judge Ellen Ribaudo granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the restrictions from going into effect until a lawsuit against the rules is adjudicated. The temporary restraining order expires May 15. The restrictions…
LeeAnne Lowry’s short film “The Treadmill Switcher” is based on an actual incident. One day, she was in the gym and saw someone get on a treadmill a short distance from her and start running. “I couldn’t tell if they were a lesbian or a child,” she says. But the story didn’t occur to her…
On April 13, 2023, the Missouri attorney general issued an emergency order effectively barring access to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals in our state. This stunning and profoundly concerning decision undermines the well-being of a vulnerable population and sets a dangerous precedent in allowing the state to intervene in personal medical decisions. Gender-affirming care is…
St. Louis’ LGBTQ+ ancestral family tree includes countless drag performers and gender nonconforming individuals. Currently, St. Louis lays claim to having the world’s oldest performing drag queen – John Chaney, who performs at the age of 94 as Bonnie Blake, a St. Louis legend. Chaney and others have paved the way to advance LGBTQ+ rights…
This march served lewks. Fishnet bodysuits, tiaras and opera masks were just some of the outfits at the first ever It’s All Drag March held in The Grove on Saturday, March 25. At this protest, what people wore meant everything. As one sign read, “I can wear whatever the hell I want to wear!”…
Jessica Hicklin may be best known as the trans woman who took the state of Missouri to court over access to gender-affirming care while incarcerated, with a successful ruling in 2018. Now five years later, as Missouri state legislators are sponsoring an array of bills targeting transgender health care, she describes this as a dark…
The 29-year-old Bryon Dawayne Pierson first hit my radar in 2019 when, as editor of Out in STL, I was searching for dynamic LGBTQ+ St. Louisans for our Influence Issue, and Habitat for Humanity’s Michael Powers nominated the tech entrepreneur. Since then, Pierson has missed no opportunity to update me on his startup, EDUrain, which…
