Pridefest Guide 2018 by stltoday.com

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[pridefest] St. Louis PrideFest gives visitors a place to belong

A young participant at the 2017 PrideFest Parade

BY VALERIE SCHREMP HAHN ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

he growing crowds that return to St. Louis PrideFest each year are a galvanization. That’s how Pride St. Louis board secretary Landon Brownﬁeld sees it. By the organization’s estimation, a record 300,000 people attended PrideFest events downtown last year, and the group expects even more this weekend.

“We’re a lot stronger,” Brownﬁeld says. “We depend on one another right now.” Brownﬁeld cites an increase in hate crimes and a political atmosphere that makes people more comfortable making their prejudices known.

HealthCare, will staff a booth with face painting and giveaways, and a trailer will have interactive activities inside. Jerry Vuchak, a vice president of information technology at BJC, says the company has been a PrideFest sponsor for several years but at a lower level. BJC stepped up its involvement partly because of the efforts of SPECTRA, its group for LGBT employees and allies. About 30 people ﬁrst marched with the group in the 2008 PrideFest parade; about 170 are expected this year. “It is a fun event, but it’s really showing BJC’s commitment to the LGBT community and diversity and inclusion,” Vuchak says. “We want to be a really open and welcoming organization for employees

as well as patients and family members.” That awareness goes beyond throwing beads and stress balls to parade-goers: It’s teaching employees about transgender issues, as well as giving team members a chance to network with one another and with other companies. “I think a lot of people are just looking for that place to belong,” Brownﬁeld says. “And they see that our festival is someplace diverse and inclusive. They do feel welcome there.” WHAT St. Louis PrideFest • WHEN Happy hour is 4-6 p.m. Friday at Just John Nightclub (4112 Manchester Avenue) and Rehab Bar and Grill (4054 Chouteau Avenue); festival is 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; parade starts at noon Sunday • WHERE Soldiers Memorial downtown • HOW MUCH Free; suggested $5 donation; wristbands to buy alcohol are $2 • MORE INFO pridefe.st

P H O T O : C R I S T I N A M . F L E T E S / P O S T- D I S PAT C H

“That’s frightening, but the spirit to ﬁght is there.” The PrideFest celebration kicks off Friday night with a happy hour in the Grove neighborhood. Festivities are downtown Saturday and Sunday. The theme for Sunday’s parade is “Remember. Rise. Respect,” which reﬂects the history of the gay rights movement and the importance of respecting others within and outside the community. Pride events are typically held in June to commemorate the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, after a police raid at the gay bar led to days of demonstrations. PrideFest visitors this year can expect an expanded athlete’s village and children’s area. A new corporate sponsor, BJC

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If marriage is in your future, read this first. So you’re thinking about getting married. Congratulations! But before the big day arrives, make sure you and your partner sit down for these seven must-have financial conversations. It’s an important step for any couple, but one many people avoid because it’s too hard or causes tension in the relationship. By discussing finances upfront, you both enter marriage with your eyes wide open and a plan in place for financial issues. To help you get started, we’ve outlined seven key areas to address with your partner before the wedding bells ring. 1: Cover the Basics What to discuss. Each of you should share information on the following: • Income • Regular expenses • Existing debt, what you consider an acceptable level of debt, and under what circumstances you feel it’s okay to borrow • Saving strategy and saving priorities • Short- and long-term goals • Approach to investing and tolerance for investment risk • Your preferred standard of living • At what dollar threshold you need to check in with your partner before making a purchase • Whether to have joint bank and investment accounts, keep them separate, or take a mixed approach As you develop your goals, also create a budget to help you reach them. This may involve compromise as you negotiate priorities and determine where you might need to cut back on spending to boost your savings. 2: Tackle Taxes What to discuss. Your tax advisor can help you determine how your combined incomes will affect your tax bracket. Specifically, whether marriage might trigger a “marriage penalty” — potentially increasing your tax burden — or a “bonus” that helps reduce your taxes.

3: Review Retirement Plans What to discuss. Share information on current retirement investments. Discuss your end financial goal and how much you’ll each need to save on a monthly or annual basis to get there. Know that private, state, and local government employers are required to give same-sex and heterosexual married couples equal access to retirement plan benefits. Similarly, married samesex couples will now be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits. Also. Review the beneficiary and surviving-spouse rights for any retirement or pension plans. You can also work with your Financial Advisor and tax advisor to develop a plan that can help maximize retirement while positively impacting your tax picture. 4: Consider Children What to discuss. If you or your partner already have children, discuss to what extent you’ll share financial responsibility if you marry. If you plan to have children after marriage, discuss how you’ll plan for day-to-day costs, as well as future expenses, such as college tuition. Realize that you may also qualify for tax deductions as parents.* Discuss potential “what ifs,” too. Specifically, if one parent passes away, will the surviving partner be able to maintain your family’s standard of living? You may want to investigate life insurance options to prepare for this possibility.† Also. Same-sex couples need to pay particular attention to legal aspects of parenting. That is, who qualifies as the birth parent or legal parent? A family attorney can help you work through these issues. 5: Investigate Health Insurance What to discuss. Compare insurance coverage options from each partner’s employer to determine the best combination of coverage and cost for your needs.

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You and your partner should review your estate plan every few years or when you experience significant life events, such as marriage or children; as your estate value increases; or as your financial goals change. Also. Same-sex married couples will now qualify for the unlimited marital deduction, which allows a surviving spouse to avoid potential estate taxes upon his or her spouse’s death.* 7: Discuss a Prenuptial Agreement What to discuss. Discuss what assets each partner will bring into the marriage and how those, as well as future earnings or assets, might be split in the event of a divorce. Your attorney can help you both determine if this document is appropriate for your situation. Also. Discussing a prenuptial agreement could help facilitate other conversations about finances and your relationship. * Always consult your tax advisor. † Always consult a financial advisor.

wellsfargoadvisors.com/stl Wells Fargo Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice.

Also: Your tax advisor can help you evaluate “head of household” and “married ﬁling separately” options.

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6: Establish an Estate Plan What to discuss. A legal spouse often has specific inheritance rights under state law you may want to review with your estate planning attorney. It’s also wise to work with the attorney to complete at least the following four documents: • A durable power of attorney, which states who will be responsible for managing your finances and making financial decisions should you become incapable of doing so — for instance, due to injury or incapacity. • A will, which ensures your individual assets that do not have designated beneficiaries are distributed according to your wishes after you’re gone. • A healthcare power of attorney, which authorizes someone to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to do so yourself. • A living will, which expresses your intentions regarding the use of life-sustaining measures in the event of terminal illness.

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PRIDE NIGHT at Busch Stadium VS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 7:15 PM

Pride St. Louis and the St. Louis Cardinals are partnering to present the 2nd Annual Pride Night at Busch Stadium on Friday, August 17. Join LGBT friends, family, and allies to watch the Cardinals take on the Milwaukee Brewers. With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will receive a Cardinals t-shirt with a rainbow STL logo. A portion of each ticket sold will beneﬁt Missouri Courage Scholarship, which is the ﬁrst, and largest, state-wide LGBTQ scholarship organization in Missouri.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AT stltoday.com/go

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[pridefest] Steve Grand

Friday

Sunday

4-6 p.m. • Happy Hour (Just John Nightclub and Rehab Bar and Grill)

8 a.m. • Pride 5K (Tower Grove Park) 10 a.m. • Interfaith service (Mastercard stage) 11 a.m. • PrideFest opens (Soldiers Memorial) 11:15 a.m. • “Hands Across Market” ceremony (Market Street, outside City Hall) Noon • Pride Parade (Market Street, from Eighth to 18th street) 2 p.m. • Tassandra Crush emcees (Monsanto stage) 2:10 p.m. • All Mixed Up (Monsanto stage) 2:15 p.m. • Dignitaries (Mastercard stage) 3:25 p.m. • One Way Traffic (Monsanto stage) 3:40 p.m. • St. Louis drag revue (Mastercard stage) 4:30 p.m. • La Bouche (Mastercard stage) 5:30 p.m. • Mýa (Mastercard stage) 5:35 p.m. • Brandon Stansell (Monsanto stage) 6 p.m. • PrideFest closes

Saturday 7 a.m. • Pride Ride registration (Riverfront Trail) 11 a.m. • PrideFest opens (Soldiers Memorial) 1 p.m. • Military wreath ceremony (Mastercard stage) 1:45 p.m. • “Pride Idol” winners (Mastercard stage) 2 p.m. • Kyra Banks emcees (Monsanto stage) 2:25 p.m. • CHARIS (Mastercard stage) 3 p.m. • Gateway Men’s Chorus (Mastercard stage) 3:05 p.m. • Jaie Wells (Monsanto stage) 3:45 p.m. • Paige Alyssa (Mastercard stage); Jen Norman (Monsanto stage) 4:25 p.m. • Pride St. Louis royalty revue (Mastercard stage) 5 p.m. • Bella & Lily (Monsanto stage) 5:15 p.m. • Steve Grand (Mastercard stage) 6 p.m. • Bonnie McKee (Mastercard stage) 7 p.m. • PrideFest closes

A • It’s darker than the ﬁrst album. It’s a lot more personal and introspective, the reality of my life the last couple of years. I want the music to be a snapshot of where I’ve been. It deals with depression. I’m 2½ years sober. I was a heavy drinker. The music is the honest truth of where I am in my journey. The sound is pretty eclectic. It hovers around the dark pop genre. It’s a little bit like that in some ways.

Q&A ▼

Steve Grand gets darker, more honest on second album BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC

all pop singer-songwriter Steve Grand a YouTube star if you want — he owns it. “It’s a part of my story, for sure — a platform that gave me my launch. I wouldn’t shy away from that fact,” Grand says. “They’ve

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essentially been my distributor, though now we’re competing with clips from ‘The Tonight Show.’” It was his 2015 album, “All-American Boy,” that set it off for Grand. “I put up the video that I made with myself and some friends,” says Grand, 28. “It went viral instantly with a million views in a week, which was a much bigger deal than it is now, when things pop up and go away within hours. Five years ago there was a longer lifespan.” Grand is set to release his sophomore album, “Not the End of Me,” featuring the song “Walking,” on July 6. He’ll perform Saturday at St. Louis PrideFest.

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Q • How is it different from your debut album, “AllAmerican Boy”? A • On your first album, you really get to pick from everything written your whole life. It’s a lot lighter and reflects where I was at that point in my life. I was younger. It’s about things you go through in your late teens, early 20s. Q • Who are some of your musical influences? A • I grew up hearing the British Invasion music, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones. In high school I was into pop punk when that was a big thing. Currently I’m into Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran and Hozier. I’ve been playing Ed

Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill.” I just really love that. As a songwriter, I wish I’d written that.

love to do. I’ve been doing pride (as an entertainer) for ﬁve years now, when my video ﬁrst went viral.

Q • Are there any challenges that come with being an openly gay artist?

Q • How have LGBT pride festivals evolved over the years?

A • Nothing I spend any time thinking about. It’s who I am — a part of myself. I have nothing else to compare it to.

A • Things in the country really have changed. We have marriage equality now. But it’s really difficult for me to know how it has evolved. I’ve done so man prides, sometimes it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. But it’s always an awesome festival — fun, bright and colorful.

Q • How do you feel about being considered a heartthrob in the gay community? A • It is what it is. If that’s how people see me, it’s totally ﬁne with me. Q • What will your PrideFest set be like?

Q • Do you see differences in pride festivals in various cities?

A • People can expect to hear their favorites from my debut album, “All American Boy,” and some songs I just started playing this month. I’m also doing popular cover songs, some stuff from the ’60s all the way up. There’s something for everyone.

A • Most of that has to do with how big the city is, which determines how big the turnout will be and how much money they have for performers and ﬂoats.

Q • How did you get involved with performing on the pride circuit?

A • I’m just looking to be surprised as always — hopefully pleasantly surprised.

A • As a gay man, LGBT causes are naturally important to me. It’s important to celebrate who we are and show our pride. That’s why it’s something I

Q • What are your thoughts going into St. Louis PrideFest?

WHAT Steve Grand at St. Louis PrideFest • WHEN 5:15 p.m. Saturday • WHERE Mastercard stage, Soldiers Memorial • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO pridefe.st

7-show season ticket package now on sale

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P H O T O S : W I L L I A M D I C K ( G R A N D ) ; R E M R O D ( A LY S S A )

Q • How would you describe your new album?

ST. LOUIS PRIDEFEST

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[pridefest] “I WAS REALLY IN MY HEAD DURING MY LAST PRIDE PERFORMANCE. THIS TIME I’M GONNA BRING A LOT OF NONSTOP HIGH ENERGY”

Paige Alyssa

PAIGE ALYSSA

Paige Alyssa is in her element as a PrideFest headliner BY DYLAN KIEFER | ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

his year’s St. Louis PrideFest lineup features one local headlining act, and it’s 25-year-old Paige Alyssa, a queer urban pop singer. She took the PrideFest stage in 2016, and this year she’s back

with a new, amped-up live show. “I was really in my head during my last pride performance,” Alyssa says. “This time I’m gonna bring a lot of nonstop high energy.” Alyssa believes she’s grown a lot since 2016. Two more years of performance experience turned her into a stronger bandleader, and her music began to reﬂect how the world has changed since she started performing. “A lot of my newer songs contemplate how to cope with what’s happening to people who identify as I do in a world that tells us we don’t deserve

happiness,” Alyssa says. Since coming out in 2013, Alyssa hasn’t put any limits on her creativity. “Once I came out, I could stop putting the brakes on my authenticity,” she says, “and I could stop limiting certain concepts and visions that I had for my art.” Her most recent single, “The Plug,” and its accompanying video illustrate Alyssa’s newfound comfort with herself backed by her signature upbeat energy. Alyssa grew up in St. Louis listening to an eclectic mix of gospel music and video game soundtracks. As she got older, she branched out into pop, thanks to Beyoncé and Michael Jackson, and later also into jazz during her time studying vocal performance at Webster University. Her music incorporates all of those genres, and “there’s going to be something for everybody at this PrideFest show.” Being a local headliner on a festival lineup seems

intimidating, but Alyssa sees it as an honor — and a challenge. “I wasn’t expecting this at all,” she says. “It blows my mind that Pride (St. Louis) thinks I’m good enough to be on the same bill as some of these really talented performers.” Alyssa says she was born to entertain a festival-size crowd, and as a PrideFest headliner she’s taking the opportunity to seize creative control. She wants to give festival-goers her tightest performance yet. Though headlining a major festival is an exciting triumph, Alyssa’s desires extend far beyond the PrideFest stage. “If I had it my way, my next step would be getting signed to a major label,” she says. “I want to go on world tours and be a Billboard Top 200, Grammy-winning artist.” The PrideFest show is just one of many steps Alyssa is taking to reach her goals. She hopes her performance will leave people wanting more. “I’ve been elevating since my ﬁrst project in 2014,” she says, “and I’m going to keep moving higher and higher until I get where I want to be.” WHAT Paige Alyssa at St. Louis PrideFest • WHEN 3:45 p.m. Saturday • WHERE Mastercard stage, Soldiers Memorial • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO pridefe.st

x box office • 314-535-1700 • fabulousFox.com/subscribe

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OTHER PRIDE EVENTS Soulard Pride Kick off the weekend with a pub crawl through six Soulard establishments: Great Grizzly Bear, Hammerstone’s, Duke’s, Chava’s, Bastille and Nadine’s, where the night ends with a “Queens of Pride” drag show. Collect a full rainbow of beads along the way to be eligible for a grand prize. WHEN 5-11 p.m. Friday • WHERE Starts at Great Grizzly Bear, 1027 Geyer Avenue • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO Register at eventbrite.com

Tower Grove Pride Food trucks, local vendors and businesses, artists, live music, burlesque and drag performances, and more will be featured at Tower Grove Pride. New this year is a “Mommie Dearest”-off and a backstage VIP experience. WHEN 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday • WHERE Tower Grove Park • HOW MUCH Free; $15 for backstage experience • MORE INFO facebook.com/towergrovepride

FIND US AT PRIDEFEST On Saturday and Sunday, stop by the Go! Magazine tent (on Chestnut Street between 13th Street and Tucker Boulevard) for free photos in our TapSnap photo booth.

swap for one of These: THE ILLUSIONISTS A CHRISTMAS CAROL LES MISÉRABLES RUDOLPH The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical THE RAT PACK IS BACK ROCK OF AGES BAT OUT OF HELL BEAUTIFUL–The Carole King Musical

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Angelica Ross in “Pose”

‘Pose’ actress advocates for trans roles on TV Angelica Ross serves as grand marshal for the St. Louis PrideFest Parade BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON | POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC

ngelica Ross is striking poses on Ryan Murphy’s edgy new FX drama, “Pose.” But on Sunday, the actress and transgender rights advocate will serve as grand marshal for the St. Louis PrideFest Parade. “I feel excited,” says Ross, 2016 recipient of the Human Rights Campaign’s

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Visibility Award. “For me, this is an afﬁrming experience as to what I see my mission is, traveling from city to city, state to state. But I’m no different from anyone else in our community.” Having heard St. Louis is a work in progress for the transgender and black communities, Ross says she can’t wait to bring her pride and energy here. Ross was nominated for an Emmy for her web series, “Her Story,” about transgender women in LA, and she’s just as excited talking about “Pose,” the series that employs more transgender actors than any other. The ensemble cast also includes Evan Peters, Billy Porter, Kate Mara, Chris Meloni, James Van Der Beek, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson and Indya Moore. Set in New York City in the 1980s, “Pose” focuses on the ballroom community, a predominantly black and Hispanic LGBT subculture in which people “walk,” competing for trophies in various categories (“face,” “performance,” “realness”). The groundbreaking series has been praised by critics for its honest, heart-

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felt portrayals of a community that’s rarely seen. Ball culture, depicted in Jennie Livingston’s awardwinning 1990 documentary “Paris Is Burning,” is fairly new to TV. Viceland is airing a docuseries on what the scene is now, called “My House.” With “Pose,” Ross says, co-creator Murphy has “created history with a piece of art about advocacy, activism and protest. These are the things that change people’s hearts — change peoples’ struggles.” She also says the series is a love letter to the LGBT community — the black LGBT community in particular. “The show wasn’t written for mainstream gays,” she says. “It was written for black queers and the LGBT community. It’s also us reclaiming the narrative, not limited by a limited white perspective. It’s so unfortunate and insulting how the LGBT community for years has been marketed as a gay, white thing, not bringing forth the voices of the entire community. People don’t know about the history of anti-blackness in the gay community.” Ross has seen viewers gushing over “Pose” on Twitter, though “the white gay majority has been silent,” she says. “Think about the way they were when ‘Queer as Folk’ was on, when marriage equality was passed.” Ross plays Candy Abundance, a member of the popular House of Abundance, which is under the eye of house mother Elektra. In ballroom culture, houses are groups of people who unite as a family and compete. The role of Candy came to Ross after she passed on two other characters. “I believe I can play Elektra, but I don’t

think I’m ready for that mature of a role yet,” she says. “And Blanca was a Latina trans woman, and I didn’t see myself as a Latina trans woman, so I said, ‘Let me just pass on this; other people might be able to do it.’ My existence has solidiﬁed my belief in whatever is for you won’t pass you by.” She auditioned privately with Murphy, Brad Falchuk and the rest of the “Pose” brass, and Candy was born. “She was written for me after meeting me,” Ross says, “They knew they wanted me.” In early episodes, viewers barely get a glimpse of Candy. But Ross says that’s about to change. In episode 4, airing Sunday, Candy’s story will be presented. “Right now, Candy is along for the ride,” Ross says. “She’s sharp-tongued and sharp-witted. She’s one of Elektra’s children and wants to be as polished as Elektra, to be able to walk through society and not get clocked (detected). ”But Elektra’s not invested in these girls as much as she’s invested in herself. She’s dragging us around with her, and we kind of get her droppings. She’s using us, and at a certain point, Candy gets fed up and starts to strike back. I think they’re going to love Candy.” Ross says “Pose” will lead to more roles for trans actors on TV and the big screen, and they won’t be limited to playing trans characters. “We’re gonna see trans and nongender-conforming people in all types of roles, which will show how absurd it is to use actors who don’t identify in that lane,” she says. Ross has been cast as a transgender prostitute in “Ghetto Plainsman,” alongside Whoopi Goldberg. “I can’t wait to work with Whoopi,” Ross says, adding that the role is about more than the character being a sex worker. She plays a doctor in an upcoming project directed by Sia, and she recently went out for (though she didn’t get) a role on OWN’s “Queen Sugar.” “It’s deﬁnitely happening,” she says of playing non-transgender roles. “It needs to happen.” WHAT St. Louis PrideFest Parade • WHEN Noon Sunday • WHERE Market Street, from 18th to Eighth streets • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO pridefe.st

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PHOTO: JOJO WHILDEN/FX

[pridefest]

OVERDOSES DON’T HAVE TO BE FATAL.

For information about treatment, naloxone, or other resources visit mohopeproject.org stltoday.com/go

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[pridefest] “It’s all different colors of my perGirl” and “Somesonality,” says McKee, who has dabbled body.” in EDM, pop, singer-songwriter and She doesn’t typi“quirkier, weirder, minimalist (material) cally play songs she that’s more on trend at the moment.” wrote for other artShe recently toured with DJ/producer ists. “My set is just Kygo and joined him at Coachella. my own personal, “Bombastic” borrowed from ’80s original songs. If on nostalgia; the new music borrows from occasion I have a different eras in the same way Bruno long enough set, I’ll Mars does with his music. do some songs from “Everything I’ve done has had a nosother artists.” talgic thread running through it, and McKee, who identhat will continue,” she says. tifies as bisexual, has McKee digs deep into her own life a long relationship with her compositions. When she’s with pride festivals. She has been attend- writing for others, she likes to sit with the artist and get to know them, finding ing them since she out who inspired them, who broke their was a 12-year-old in Seattle and considers heart, what keeps them up at night. She has had the most success with it a summer tradiPerry; they’ve collaborated on tion. Now 34, “Roar,” “California Gurls,” she has been “Teenage Dream” and “Last performFriday Night (T.G.I.F.)” ing on the “She’s an incredible songpride cirwriter in her own right,” cuit for about a decade. McKee says. “We’re a good “I think they’ve really gotBonnie McKee team. We fi finish ten more sophisticated,” she nish each other’s sentences in a way.” says. “And it was once more of a Though writing songs for the stars controversial thing to go to pride. Now is more lucrative for McKee, she’s also it’s seen as a more beautiful thing. It’s looking to push her own brand as an artmore normalized and not seen as such a ist. crazy, outrageous thing. “I’m a performer. It’s nice being on“Now everybody comes out. It’s much more mainstream and globally accepted. stage. It’s nice making videos. I don’t get to scratch that itch when I’m a songLGBT culture is everywhere.” writer, so I’m going to split my time.” McGee is also busy working on her latest project, the follow-up to “BomWHAT Bonnie McKee at St. Louis PrideFest • WHEN 6 bastic” (2015). It’ll be an EP, the first in a p.m. Saturday • WHERE Mastercard stage, Soldiers Memorial • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO pridefe.st series of EPs, to be released this year.

McKee reacts to a mad, mad year of headlines BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON | POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC

t’s a mad, mad world out there, and Bonnie McKee is singing about it. McKee, who has written songs for Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Cher, Adam Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Jason Derulo and a number of other superstars, brings her new song to St. Louis PrideFest on Saturday. “Mad Mad World” came about after

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what McKee calls a heavy year in the news — including mass shootings, controversy surrounding President Donald Trump and “being on the brink of nuclear war.” “I found I was waking up every day reading the news and being traumatized by the headlines — all the intolerance and hate being spewed,” McKee says. “I wrote it after the Las Vegas shootings — that feeling like you need a vacation, a break from all the hate. It’s important we stand up and do something and say something, and pride fests are an excellent way to stand up for what you believe in and be heard.” She describes her PrideFest set as high-energy and fun. At past performances, she played songs that listeners may not have been familiar with; now she’s performing material fans will know from YouTube, Spotify and other platforms. “Now, fans can sing along and enjoy it,” she says. “I have fun costumes, dancers, and it’s really great,” says McKee, known for songs such as “American

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• FREE ADMISSION • Latino Bands, Authentic Food, Margaritas & Beer

• Children’s Pavilion with Hispanic Arts & Crafts

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P H O T O S : A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S

Bonnie McKee performs in 2014 in Los Angeles.

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06.22.18-06.28.18 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • GO! MAGAZINE

Standing with you, St. Louis. Then. Now. Always. Standing together with the LGBTQ community. It’s a commitment we made 30 years ago. Since then, we’ve contributed more than $50 million and countless team member volunteer hours to organizations that are making a difference.* We’re proud to stand together with the LGBTQ community now, and we promise to be there always. Visit wellsfargo.com/standingtogether to watch our video series about inspiring organizations that are having a positive impact in the LGBTQ community, and learn how you can help.

GO! MAGAZINE • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.22.18-06.28.18

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