“Queer Writes” on June 27 Brings A Kaleidoscopic Slice of the St. Louis LGBTQ+ Universe to the Missouri History Museum

by Grayling Holmes / Photos and graphics compliments of Queer Writes

With Memorial Day behind us, summer days are here again. Pools are open, kids are out of school, planes are being boarded, the cicadas are chirping, and a thousand and one things that define summer in St. Louis are upon us. This weekend, as we flip our calendars to June, St. Louis, in fact the entire nation turns its eye to Pride month, which is celebrated annually to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots.

Wonderful parties will abound. Parades will fill the streets. Drag queens and kings will strut their proverbial feathers. An array of activities as varied as the LGBTQ+ rainbow Pride month represents will take place here in St. Louis and beyond.

Amidst all the parties and parades, one champion of the queer community, Joan Lipkin, has curated participants for the “Queer Writes Showcase of LGBTQ+ Writers” on June 27th to culminate Pride Month.

For the sophomore season of Queer Writes, the Missouri History Museum is bringing back this event which will feature a new diverse lineup of St. Louis-based or connected LGBTQ+ writers sharing excerpts of their work in various genres.

“This year, we are expanding the program to include singer/songwriters, screen writers, playwrights and more,” said Joan, “and I’m excited about that.”

Joan is the Producing Artistic Director of That Uppity Theatre Company as well as Dance the Vote in St. Louis. A playwright, director, activist, educator and social critic, her award-winning work has been featured on network television, National Public Radio, the BBC, the Associated Press and internationally and she is included in the recent volume, “Fifty Key Figures in Queer US Theatre”.

“My aim in choosing program participants is to amplify the presence of lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, questioning, and the myriad facets in the community and expand the circle of representation,” she explained.

“We had an outstanding line up last year and could easily have brought some of these stellar people back. But I thought it best to continue to grow exposure for more writers,” she said. “ It’s good for them and for the city.”’

Joan Lipkin, Producing Artistic Director of That Uppity Theatre Company and playwright, director, activist, educator and social critic.

Of particular interest is the return of Michael Kearns who left St Louis for Hollywood as a young man and was embarked on an impressive career in television when the AIDS crisis hit. Deeply affected by the death of his friend Brad Davis, he pivoted his direction and became the first openly gay, openly HIV positive actor in Hollywood and created much work around and about AIDS. He will be performing some of his iconic characters from his landmark piece, “intimacies”.

“Michael was one of the late theatre critic Joe Pollack’s favorite actors, “ said Joan. “Joe marveled at how Michael could transform characters with a simple scarf. Michael is also featured in the upcoming Gateway to Pride exhibit so his appearance at the related Queer Writes event is a special homecoming for him and for us.”

St. Louis-born actor, writer, director, teacher, producer, and activist, Michael Kearns.

Queer writes is affiliated programming with this summer’s Gateway to Pride exhibit. Presented by the Missouri History Society, the Gateway to Pride initiative includes oral narratives and artifacts to add to its permanent collection. The major exhibit seeks to tell the story of the lesser-told contributions of LGBTQ+ St. Louis, and will open at the Missouri History Museum on June 8, 2024.

Sam Moore, Managing Director of Public History at the Missouri Historical Society, expressed the museum's commitment to telling diverse stories. He stated, "At the Missouri Historical Society, we’re committed to the idea that everyone deserves to have their story told, and the Queer Writes program is perfectly aligned with that as we prepare to open our Gateway to Pride exhibit this summer."

Sam believes that through the work of talented writers, Queer Writes will bring to life the humor, vulnerability, perseverance, and strength exemplified by Queer St. Louisans throughout history.

“I look for diversity of voice and experiences and also genres when curating the program,” said Joan. “We have people who are very established and others who are absolutely on the rise. I am thrilled, for example, that Nancy Fowler, who used to be a reporter for St Louis Public Radio and left to get her MFA in writing, will be presenting and just won a significant award for an essay and is at work on a much anticipated memoir.

Nancy Fowler, former reporter for St Louis Public Radio.

And Gabe Montesanti, the former Mx Pride St Louis, published a best seller, “Brace for Impact” about life as a queer roller derby player. I could go on and on. All of our presenters have a fascinating back story.”

Gabe Montesanti, former Mx Pride St Louis and publisher of best seller, “Brace for Impact”.

Indeed, the program will also include former Alive magazine publisher Kelly Hamilton, screenwriter Philip Irving who is working with the Poplar Institute for Film and playwright Charlie Meyers who just had a play selected and staged by the developmental Confluence New Play Festival.

The Queer Writes program further elucidates another side of Pride by having performances by CHARIS and Summer Osborne. Their voices will ring out in a rainbow of auditory celebrations of Pride.

CHARIS, or the St. Louis Women’s Chorus, is a non-audition chorus of 60-80 singers who perform music that celebrates and encourages women and the LGBTQ+community, including nonbinary and trans singers.

Summer Osborne is an award-winning St. Louis and nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter who, according to her website, “entertains audience throughout the US and Canada with her magical brand of melodic and lyrically potent genre-jumping performances. She masterfully amalgamates the human condition, spirituality, truth, love, and healing.”

Award-winning St. Louis and nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, Summer Osborne.

The evening of June 27, the History Museum’s Grand Hall will be filled with those who wish to explore St. Louis rich queer history. The evening will begin at 5:00PM with a happy hour in the Museum’s Grand Hall, where attendees can explore St. Louis’ LGBTQ+ history through mini tours, engage in hands-on activities, and visit resource tables hosted by local LGBTQ+ organizations.

Queer Writes is part of the History Museum’s Thursday Nights at the Museum series and will take place at the Lee Auditorium on the Museum’s lower level.

Joan emphasized the timeliness of the program, stating, "A record over 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state legislatures last year, including in Missouri, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. When we tell our stories, whether in song or memoir or many other genres, we say we will not be erased and that we have gifts to offer the community."

Several community organizations, including SQSH, Southhampton Healthcare, Pride STL, PFLAG, Band Together STL, PROMO, Proud Art STL, the St. Louis LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Bisexual Alliance of St. Louis, Tower Grove Pride, Actually Aspec!, and HRC, will be tabling at the event. Their presence will provide attendees with valuable resources and information.

Make time, if you can, to attend Queer Writes, a one night only event where a kaleidoscopic slice of the St. Louis LGBTQ+ universe will be presented to savor for the month of Pride and all year long. You do not have to be gay to attend or enjoy.