Gay Guide to St. Louis
Same-sex marriage came to Missouri in 2015 as part of the Supreme Court's nationwide ruling. St. Louis, the state's historic river city, gathers its LGBTQ+ life into one lively, resurgent district.
That district is The Grove, running along Manchester Avenue in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood, a dense and colorful strip of gay bars, queer-owned businesses, and restaurants marked by its rainbow signage. Venues range from the decades-old Grey Fox to dance bars, drag stages, and easygoing neighborhood spots, giving the area a genuine gayborhood feel rather than a single street of clubs.
The Grove sits a short hop from Forest Park and the Central West End, so it slots neatly into a wider St. Louis trip.
Alongside the region's main June celebration, Tower Grove Pride packs nearby Tower Grove Park each year for a community-powered festival that leans grassroots and inclusive rather than corporate.