St. Louis PrideFest unites queer community after tumultuous year of legislative attacks

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.