Year-In-Review: Remembering Kitty “Denise” Litter

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

Where to Sip Your Christmas Day Cocktails

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

The Opportunity Cost of Being a Hater

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

Year-In-Review: The Community Remembers Stephen Houldsworth

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 Elected Co-President of United States Association of Pride Organizations

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

2025 Luminary Awards: The Art Doll

Sherelle Speed — known artistically as The Art Doll — is a surrealist painter whose work transforms personal pain into imaginative, dreamlike worlds. Her artistic journey began in 2015 after a traumatic experience pushed her to create an alternative reality through painting. A self-taught artist, Sherelle honed her craft through trial and error, studying the

2025 Luminary Awards: Sister Pattie O’Pounder

Sister Pattie O’Pounder, lovingly dubbed “Drill Sergeant” by the legendary Sister Roma of the San Francisco House of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, currently serves as the Abbess of the Fourth City Sisters, Abbey of the Glittering Arch. As radiant and resilient as the Gateway Arch itself, Sister Pattie has become one of the city’s

2025 Luminary Awards: Dannae Delano

An attorney with the Wagner Law Group, focusing on employee benefits law, executive compensation, and taxation, Dannae Delano wasn’t known for publicly weighing in on hot-button issues. That all changed a year ago.    “When Trump was first elected, I was so angry.  I believed the best in people, and I was angry that he

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