WerQfest returns for a fifth year of celebrating St. Louis’ Black queer community

SGT Charlie Lee In 2020, husbands and creatives Tre’von Griffith and Shelton Boyd-Griffith brought to life an idea for a festival that celebrates art, music and community at the intersection of Blackness and queerness. Five years later, WerQfest is a mainstay on St. Louis’ summer events roster.

“Something that just started off as a pure passion project has really turned into a movement about creating safe spaces, about uplifting a community that normally doesn't get to be uplifted in this type of way,” said Griffith, also known as Tre G, on St. Louis on the Air. “I'm just excited that the community has embraced it in the way that it has. And I think it's such a celebration for all of us to be able to even do something like this here in St. Louis for five years.”