Posted on Jun 26, 2023
St. Louis PrideFest unites queer community after tumultuous year of legislative attacks
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This year marked Mateo Johnnie’s first St. Louis Pride as an out transgender man.
"I just love it. I love the community," the 17-year-old from St. Charles County said. "I love being able to celebrate my own individuality with so many people and just learning how to be more accepting of everyone around me."
Johnnie was one of the more than 300,000 festivalgoers who packed downtown St. Louis after a year in which the LGBTQ community — and particularly transgender youth — saw Missouri's Republican-controlled legislature place restrictions on transgender Missourians receiving health care and playing sports.
Nearly 50 anti-LGBTQ bills were filed in Missouri during the last legislative session, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The efforts are part of a wave of efforts by Republicans nationwide. In total, state legislatures filed more than 500 such bills, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker.
"I just love it. I love the community," the 17-year-old from St. Charles County said. "I love being able to celebrate my own individuality with so many people and just learning how to be more accepting of everyone around me."
Johnnie was one of the more than 300,000 festivalgoers who packed downtown St. Louis after a year in which the LGBTQ community — and particularly transgender youth — saw Missouri's Republican-controlled legislature place restrictions on transgender Missourians receiving health care and playing sports.
Nearly 50 anti-LGBTQ bills were filed in Missouri during the last legislative session, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The efforts are part of a wave of efforts by Republicans nationwide. In total, state legislatures filed more than 500 such bills, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker.
St. Louis PrideFest unites queer community after tumultuous year of legislative attacks
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.org
St. Louis
LGBTQ+
Transgender
Community
Posted 11 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel live & let live... simple...
..."Despite the challenging landscape, community leaders said this is a time for the queer community and its allies to come together at events like St. Louis PrideFest.
Jordan Braxton, the public relations director for Pride St. Louis and a member of the City of St. Louis’ LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board, said there isn’t much that can be compared to looking out to the Gateway Arch during the PrideFest parade and seeing a sea of supporters and flags.
“One thing that our community is, we are resilient and we are resistant,” Braxton said. “We will be out here showing the legislators and the haters out there that we will not be erased. Trans people and gay people have been around forever, and we’re not going anywhere.”"...
..."Despite the challenging landscape, community leaders said this is a time for the queer community and its allies to come together at events like St. Louis PrideFest.
Jordan Braxton, the public relations director for Pride St. Louis and a member of the City of St. Louis’ LGBTQIA+ Advisory Board, said there isn’t much that can be compared to looking out to the Gateway Arch during the PrideFest parade and seeing a sea of supporters and flags.
“One thing that our community is, we are resilient and we are resistant,” Braxton said. “We will be out here showing the legislators and the haters out there that we will not be erased. Trans people and gay people have been around forever, and we’re not going anywhere.”"...
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