How to Connect With the Gay and Lesbian Community in St. Louis

The Gateway Arch is a St. Louis landmark.

Missouri is known as a rather conservative state, but its largest city boasts plenty of pride. Whether you're a native who's just come out or a first-time visitor, the door to the gay and lesbian community in the Gateway City is open.

Instructions

1. If you live in the Lou, join St. Louis' thriving Pride organization, which puts on the largest PrideFest in the Midwest each year in Tower Grove Park during the last weekend in June. You also can contact St. Louis Black Pride, whose festival is the third weekend in August.

2. Get to know PROMO, the state's political organization for GLBT equality. Serve on phone banks or committees and attend happy hours and other networking events.

3. Participate in the local chapter of the Human Rights Campaign. Volunteer to help with the annual Midwest Gala that's held each November.

4. Hang out in the Central West End, widely known as a gay mecca. Sip coffee at MoKaBes, a hip, gay-owned java joint. A bit farther south, stroll through Tower Grove Park and look for the gay and lesbian softball players when the sport is in season.

5. Be a good sport. Join Team St. Louis, which hosts athletes for the Gay Games and the Out Games. Also check out the GLASS softball league and the local Head Pins bowling league.

6. Attend SLAM football games. This St. Louis team is the city's full-contact women's football league with an April-through-June schedule.

7. Keep on dancing. Promenade down to the Gateway Squares gay square dance group or the same-sex ballroom dance classes. Get more info by emailing [e-mail]. Check out the nightclubs; St. Louis has more than a dozen GLBT bars (see Resources). From drinks to dancing to drag shows, you can find one that fits your style.

Tips & Warnings

• St. Louis is a "Where did you go to high school" town. Natives -- gay and straight -- often ask each other this question upon meeting.

• Be careful in the suburbs. They're not known for being especially gay-friendly, although there are many GLBT people who live there.

References

• Pride St. Louis, Inc.

Resources

• St. Louis Gay Bars
• St. Louis Black Pride
• PROMO GLBT political organization
• Human Rights Campaign in St. Louis
• Team St. Louis
• Gateway Squares
• Vital VOICE newspaper
• Community Pride Pages directory