The Gateway City is a also a gay-friendly destination marked by diverse neighborhoods, eye-catching architecture and local charm. Today, St Louis is a magnet for young and ambitious folks from vast areas of surrounding farmland and small towns of the region. Drawing from its unique geographic location on the Mississippi River, bordering the Midwest to the east and the Ozarks to the west, the city soon became a jumping-off point for people headed in every direction, but especially to points west. Just as France was giving up their American territories they provided a settlement for French families at a point where British, (soon American), French, Indian and Spanish interests converged. St Louis was founded by New Orleans fur trader Pierre Laclede and his teenage stepson Auguste Chouteau in 1764.
See the CDC website for details and updates.įor local Covid-19 updates see the websites of the City of St Louis and Missouri DHSS. There are restrictions on the entry of some travelers into the United States in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This story was originally published in the fall 2021 issue of UMSL Magazine.Emergency measures in the wake of Covid-19: We’re all walking around and out and proud.’” “Then I have elders who are in tears going, ‘You know, back in the day, we were all hidden and now look at us. “I often have exhibits at Pride festivals, and I have had great conversations with younger folks who are interested in the history and are appreciative,” he says. Louis’ dynamic LGBTQIA+ history via museum exhibits, speaking engagements and projects such as “In Our Voices.”
The project has grown to include an artifact archive and oral history recordings and has allowed Brawley to champion St. It resulted in a flood of support and subsequent partnerships with the Missouri History Museum, the State Historical Society of Missouri and Washington University in St. Louis LGBT History Project was born with a blog post. Yet, the stories from elders in the community remained with him, and the St. He credits those opportunities, following his graduation in 1987, for his three-decade career, including stretches as communications director of BJC HealthCare, head of his own consulting firm and executive vice president of Area Resources for Community and Human Services. Touhill, who was vice chancellor at the time.īrawley secured internships at American Cable, Barnes Hospital and Maritz. He found a mentor, and fellow lover of history, in Blanche M. He majored in communications and joined The Current, becoming editor-in-chief in 1987. He started to waffle after serving as editor of the student newspaper at Hazelwood West High School and matriculating to UMSL.
Most recently, he launched, “In Our Voices,” a documentary video series detailing the stories of queer landmarks in the city – such as the Zebra Lounge – through informal discussions.īrawley had an interest in history dating back to childhood but thought he would become a lawyer. Louis” and has served as a trustee for the State Historical Society of Missouri since 2020. He’s authored the book “Gay and Lesbian St.
For more than a decade, Brawley has dedicated his free time to documenting St. It’s a shame that their amazing life stories are now lost because I never thought to pick up a tape recorder or video camera.” “I regretted never recording them,” he says. However, he never recorded those conversations. Louis’ LGBTQIA+ scene at gay bars and clubs.
Louis student and young professional during the ’80s and ’90s, Brawley would seek out stories about the history of St. Looking back, it seems like such a consequential period in LGBTQIA+ history, but in the moment, it felt like everyday life.Įven so, as a University of Missouri–St. He remembers the protests, the outrage and the lost friends. The AIDS crisis was ongoing, and Brawley had recently come out. “People still would go to Pride, yet they would be afraid to be photographed.” “You would never hold hands in public,” Brawley recalls. Steven Louis Brawley was always wary of where he parked his car when frequenting gay bars during the ’80s. Most recently, he launched, “In Our Voices,” a documentary video series detailing the stories of queer landmarks in the city – such as the Zebra Lounge – through informal discussions. He’s also authored the book “Gay and Lesbian St. Louis LGBT History Project in 2007 to preserve St. Louis communications alumnus, founded the St.
Steven Louis Brawley, a University of Missouri–St.