“Who’s fighting for us?” It’s the question that has echoed across the nation in the wake of the election. Our rights and our very democracy are being dismantled, and we’ve often seen tepid responses from those we look to for action. We’re demanding more, and we’re seeking to regroup and rebuild.
At the dawn of this “all hands on deck” moment for our community, Out in STL is highlighting some of the people who are meeting the moment. For some of these folks, who’ve been fighting all along, you might say that the moment has met them.
40+ Years in the Fight: Jordan Elizabeth Braxton
For more than 40 years, Jordan Elizabeth Braxton, known on the drag stage as Dieta Pepsi, has been a towering presence—physically and metaphorically—in our community. It feels like she’s been a leader and a fighter since the dawn of time, but she said it all began on a Kansas City playground when she was in the third grade.
“A classmate of mine was from Africa and had sickle cell anemia, so he was smaller than everyone else in the class,” Braxton recalled, “and kids were making fun of him. I stood on the school steps and gave a speech about how we were all God’s children, and we should embrace and love one another.”
Braxton followed a romantic interest to St. Louis in 1983, as the AIDS crisis was decimating gay men. “We would literally dance with someone one weekend and carry them to their grave the next,” she said. “There was no government funding, and no place to take care of people, so I acted up, and I helped to raise the money needed to start the St. Louis Effort for AIDS.”
One of her biggest recent wins was stopping a 2023 statewide drag ban. “The co-sponsor was Chris Sanders [then an openly gay Republican state representative], who I’ve known for 18 years.” At the State Capitol, Braxton did some arm-twisting and got Sanders to withdraw his support.
As many young people are attending their first protests, Braxton always seems to be present, like a wise mother hen telling them the rules of the road. “This is a public space, you have the right to be here,” I’ve overheard her say to a crowd, along with warnings of what not to do.
On the cover of this issue is Braxton at this year’s Trans Day of Visibility March. “We showed up, showed out, showing our fight and our joy,” Braxton said.
Braxton is indeed a joyful warrior.
At the Summit with Sara Marler
Sara Marler. Courtesy of Sara Marler.
In the aftermath of the election, Attorney Sara Marler of Marler Law Partners was reeling, like the rest of us, but found purpose in community service. On November 21, she assembled a fierce, all-female legal team to present at the LGBTQ Legal Summit, which was also broadcast on YouTube. Presenters gave their honest assessment on where the courts were headed and how to best prepare.
“These past few months have felt like I have been on a merry-go-round with the stages of grief, and I had no way off. I was controlled constantly by one stage or another: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance,” Marler says. “Only taking action in our community stopped the merry-go-found. I found what I needed in the community. What I saw was hope, not despair. And what’s remarkable is that the most hopeful people I have met are some of the most marginalized and at risk. Being in a community with people at our Legal Summit started to give me hope. After that, our Medical Power of Attorney event had an incredible turnout, and even more hope blossomed in the community. Since that event was held, we have been asked to hold two more. In fact, we are taking this free event on the road. We have one coming up in Columbia, Missouri, and we are discussing another one in Ferguson, Missouri.”
In addition to helping numerous community members set up their Medical Power of Attorney free of charge, Marler Law Partners has significantly reduced their rates for critical legal services like name changes, estate planning, confirmatory adoptions, or pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements.
Ohun Ashe Brings Forth An Army
Ohun Ashe. Facebook.
When one of the worst tornadoes in St. Louis history destroyed a swath of the city last month, Ohun Ashe, a vocal advocate and supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, sprang into action. An activist that came out of the Ferguson movement, Ashe founded ForTheCultureSTL.com, an online directory spotlighting Black-owned businesses and events in St. Louis, in 2018. Ashe used that platform, in partnership with other community organizations like Action St. Louis, to mobilize an army of volunteers serving thousands of impacted residents.
“Ohun is a beacon of Black brilliance,” says friend Maxi Glamour. “She’s a cultural compass gracefully guiding us through storms and leading us into celebration. From direct actions to tornado relief, festivals, and movie nights, Ohun has perennially provided instrumental cultural connections for the community. Regarding the tornado response, For the Culture and Action, St. Louis’s self-deployment has been better organized and more promptly responsive than government institutions, which is a bold testament within itself of their organizational prowess. Working under their guidance in the tornado’s aftermath has been a pleasure, and I am incredibly grateful for their leadership.”
State Representative Raychel Proudie Reads ‘em For Filth
State Representative Rachel Proudie. Facebook.
Y’all have been sharing Jasmine Crokett reels, but sleeping on State Rep. Raychel Proudie. First elected to the Missouri House in 2018, Proudie represents the 73rd district in North County, including Ferguson, and you’ve got to watch the videos of her calling out all of the nonsense in Jefferson City.
“I’m sick and tired of people who think an IUD is a landmine telling me that the people that I live by didn’t understand what they were voting for,” she has said on the House Floor, along with “The same people who say ‘I don’t believe in pronouns.’ “I” is a pronoun!”
“Rep. Proudie is a badass on the mic and in her ability to grill,” raves State Rep Elizabeth Fuchs. “She cooks with fire! From my view on the House Floor, she’s able to both painfully draw out their hypocrisy while simultaneously cradling their feelings with a little love pat at the end of her inquiries.”
Anarchy in the STL: Maxi Glamour
Maxi Glamour. Courtesy of Maxi Glamour.
Written by Evan Sult. If you only know Maxi Glamour from their absolutely otherworldly, blue-skinned performing life, you might not know that they’re one of the city’s most committed political activists. But you probably should: they’ve been putting in sweat equity both onstage and off for the world they want to see.
Glamour founded Qu-art in 2014 as a framework for bringing more racial diversity into the St. Louis drag and art scenes, and has been actively defining and advocating for the rights and needs pf trans people and people of color in the city.
During the pandemic they started THISTL, Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis, dealing with trans identities and housing justice, collecting data and doing paid trainings in which trans people learn how to build credit. It’s “aimed at trans people, because trans people have different situation drama needs,” says Glamour. THISTL has even helped more than one person go from an unhoused situation to owning a house, Glamour notes with pride.
In 2024 they successfully ran for an won the position of committee-person of the Third Ward Democrats and they have been working with the Democratic Central Committee. “It’s been interesting,” Glamour, who says they are “nonbinary in gender and political identity,” working both inside and very much outside the political establishment. “Every month we have a round table forum that’s organized for non-hierarchical discursive strategies,” they say. “We’ve worked with five trans and queer organizations.” They’ve also worked with the City of St. Louis Sustainability Department and City of St. Louis Recycles, as well as Metro Trans Umbrella Group.
Working independently and as a contractor with PROMO, they were able to jump into action during the recent emergency. “The day of the tornado I called all of the trans organizations and non-profits and queer elected officials and we had a meeting about what we’re gonna do,” Glamour says. “They fixed roofs, chopped down trees and built tents. It’s been crazy.”
Standing Tall Even When Standing Alone: Shawn Kohrs
June 6, 2025: Shawn Kohrs protests outside GM’s Wentzville plant. Photo by Bobbi Sherfy.
Editor’s note: Kohrs is not featured in the paper issue due the timing of GM’s announcement, and print deadlines.
In 2019, Shawn Kohrs was recognized by Out in STL for his incredible work raising funds and making dreams come true for children with cancer. A UAW member who has long worked at GM’s Wentzville plant, Kohrs was appointed as the first-ever LGBTQIA+ Chairman overseeing the 12 states in UAW Region 4 in 2020, and was the Local’s Vice President from 2020 to 2023. During that time, he worked with the company on many diversity initiatives.
Earlier this month, General Motors announced they will no longer participate in Pride activities. Kohrs posted a video to Facebook page in which he accuses the company of acquiescing to Trump and his war on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives after years of partnering with him on Pride initiatives. Kohrs shared this video the company produced in 2020, touting their support of the community.
“We started a movement here in Wentzville that took off in 2020 organizing LGBTQIA+ committees throughout the United States,” Kohrs said. “Now, because of Trump and DEI attacks, the corporation is pulling back on its support of their LGBTQIA+ workforce. It’s shameful and deeply upsetting.”
Since then, Kohrs has been demonstrating outside of the plant.
The Pros at PROMO
Courtesy of PROMO.
With eight full-time employees along with contractors, practicum students and volunteers, PROMO is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout the state of Missouri. Not only do they twist arms in Jefferson City, but they win hearts locally by going door to door and engaging with voters.
PROMO fights for protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, as well as promoting inclusive healthcare policies and combating harmful legislation. They support inclusive candidates, build coalitions with other advocacy groups, and mobilize grassroots efforts to ensure that the voices of LGBTQ+ Missourians are heard.
PROMO knows what individuals and groups to call on when needed. For example, a crowd was needed in Jefferson City, but the weather was too poor to ask people to travel across the state. PROMO instead asked Nclusion Plus, an organization with many Mid-Missouri members, to show up at the Capitol—and they did.
With their focus on joy, visibility and advocacy, PROMO throws large community events where people of different generations and backgrounds are encouraged to get to know one another. At a May 14 event at Rooster on South Grand, for instance, about 100 showed up to listen to a panel of community elders, and to share a complimentary meal.
This team is fighting incredibly hard day in and day out. Just think of what more they could do if more of us joined them.
Shining the Light
This is only a small sampling of those fighting for us right now, and Out in STL is committed to keeping the spotlight on those doing the work. We’re here to help break down our silos, and to introduce the community to itself so that we can care for one another, and live to fight another day.
