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…
By day, Heather Brown-Hudson raises funds for Shriners Children’s Hospital, and her wife Lacie does the same for PROMO, Missouri’s statewide LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization. But what do they do in their off hours? They raise more funds — for others. This dynamic duo is known for hosting extravagant gatherings at their West…
Whoever posted the flier didn’t want it going anywhere — duct tape on all four sides lashed it hard to a telephone pole. “St. Louis queer community: Do you feel scared and vulnerable being queer in these polarizing times? Then sign up for your concealed carry class, pistol class, or private lesson with Aria today.”…
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…
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…
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…
Maven Logik Lee is a multidisciplinary artist, community cultivator, and cultural producer whose work uplifts identity, empowerment, and authentic expression. As Executive Producer of Tens Across the Board, a documentary inspired by their acclaimed Tens Project, Maven has brought the artistry of ballroom to audiences across the U.S. and abroad, earning features on PBS…
By Thresa Giles, CEO — Hope & Help of Central Florida The emergence of pre-exposure prophylaxis treatments (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV was a watershed moment in the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, for some people, remembering to take a daily pill can be a struggle. In addition, a stigma still exists surrounding…
