Jordan Braxton leads hundreds in chanting “Who’s streets? Our streets.” during a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Advocates demonstrated for transgender rights amid new federal policies that transgender St. Louisans say put them in danger.
A couple hundred advocates for transgender rights took to the streets of downtown St. Louis Monday, marching from Kiener Plaza to City Hall.
The demonstration celebrated Trans Day of Visibility, an international event, but many were also there to send a message to lawmakers.
“You can do whatever you can try to do to us, but we're not going anywhere,” said Ryan Klinghammer, director of events with the Metro Trans Umbrella Group. “We've been here. We're going to be here no matter what they throw at us. Nothing's gonna change that.”
Ethan Grayson Nihells, 25, of Belleville, throws their first in the air during a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Affton resident Dawn Lillicrap said she came to the demonstration to show that trans people are not hiding.
“I'm definitely not very happy with what the administration is doing right now, and I think there's a lot of weird fearmongering on trans people,” Lillicrap said. “That's just not right.”
Multiple LGBTQ St. Louis organizations partnered to hold the event, including MTUG, Black Pride St. Louis, and Blue Max Cycle Club, a gay motorcycle and leather club. The club’s historian, Joe Hosea, said the community has to come together right now.
“There's too many people trying to divide us, so we have to be united, and we have to be LGBTQIA,” Hosea said. “The whole gambit, the whole alphabet soup, is one community and we have to remember that.”
At a rally following the march, a representative from the mayor’s office read a proclamation for the day of visibility.
The rally ended with drag performances on the steps of City Hall. Robyn Beck is the inaugural Miss Metro Trans Umbrella Group and performs as Gloria Goode in drag. Beck said performance brings her community joy, which is necessary for survival.
“As the world becomes a less safe place for us, I refuse to be unseen,” Beck said. “I refuse to not live the experience that I was destined to live. I am a mother. I am a survivor of domestic violence. I am a woman of faith. I am multitudes, and I deserve to live just as anybody else would.”
See more photos from the march and rally below:
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Metro Trans Umbrella Group’s Ryan “Mars” Klinghammer, right, adjusts a headpiece worn by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s Amanita GoodThyme during a rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Ashton O., the program coordinator at the Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis, waves a transgender flag during a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Robyn Beck, who performs as “Gloria Goode,” throws her fist in the air during a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Blue Max Historian Joe Hosea before a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Hundreds gather for a march and rally celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Hundreds gather for a march and rally celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Hundreds gather for a march and rally celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Members of the Rudis Leather Society gather for a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Blue Max Historian Joe Hosea speaks during a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Jordan Braxton, second from right, reacts after being presented a proclamation marking International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Mx.Metro Trans Umbrella Group 2025 ZeLucy Leone Fur reaches for dollar bills while performing drag at City Hall in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Rion Mazzaratie-Evermore performs drag at City Hall in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Members of the Rudis Leather Society gather for a march and rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 31, 2025, in downtown St. Louis.
