Our Impact

Dec 2023

In October, St. Louis made two national rankings for LBGTQ+ friendliness. The Human Rights Campaign awarded the City of St. Louis a perfect score for its support of the queer community. Clever Real Estate, however, ranked St. Louis as one of the least LBGTQ+ friendly cities in the U.S.

What’s behind these disparate rankings, and how LGBTQ+ friendly is St. Louis, really?

Join Avi Ivaturi, peer support organizer at SQSH, and other panelists as they discuss how St. Louis supports its LGBTQ+ residents and what could be improved.

Sept 2023

Luka Cai remembers the moment when the need for a St. Louis-based LGBTQIA+ support line first struck them. It was in 2019, during a vigil and march on one of the city’s interstates to remember the trans lives lost to suicide that year, a bitterly cold day that was juxtaposed against the hot candles they and their peers held to represent those who were no longer with us. As the liquid wax dripped down from the burning candle and onto their boots, Cai felt sadness at the weight of the moment — but inspired by the power of collective action.

Read more about SQSH’s founding story and how we’ve grown since 2019!

Photographer: R.J. Hartbeck

Sept 2023

“Being queer and trans and looking for safe spaces in a new home is very challenging,” says Cai. “So I did a lot of community work and community organizing, and I was really drawn into St. Louis’s activism culture.”

“There’s a really strong current of resistance and activism in St. Louis, even though it’s a city in a region that a lot of people overlook or neglect, or think about it as a place with a lot of violence or harm,” Cai says. “I think it’s actually a really beautiful city with really resilient, strong people with really strong social justice values. I love the people here in St. Louis.”

…“SQSH is a grassroots, community-based organization that provides free confidential and identity-affirming peer support, resource referrals, education, advocacy, and storytelling,” explains Cai, “and we see ourselves situated as part of the larger queer liberation movement in the U.S.”

Sept 2023

This episode we feature Luka Cai (they/them), a trans-masculine, pansexual, Singaporean immigrant who co-founded SQSH to create the resource they wish they had.

As Executive Director, Luka develops SQSH’s annual budget, strategic plans, project timelines, and oversees program activities. With 10+ years of community organizing experience and 250+ hours spent learning, teaching, and applying peer counseling, they provide leadership and program coordination for SQSH through their passion for queer liberation and transformative justice.

Aug 2023

Learn more about the evolution of SQSH’s mission and strategies over time; stories of how queer folks have been impacted by the socio-political climate and anti-trans rhetoric; and how transformative justice and relationship-building are key to our work.

Jul 2023

“[SQSH] found that 16% of about 350 calls to the organization in the past three years concerned housing. Almost half of the callers did not have a place to stay, and the rest contacted the hotline to share information about unsatisfactory housing situations. Some complained about living with people who do not accept their sexual orientation or gender identities, and others had issues locating housing in LGBTQ communities.”

Jul 2023

Join the St. Louis County Library Reference Department in a conversation with SQSH, as we discuss funding challenges, the nonprofit industrial complex, lessons learned, impact of COVID, and strategies for sustainability. We also review how the library can provide resources to or support SQSH, and what SQSH hopes to achieve long-term with the community.

Jun 2023

“Our dream is to maximize the potential of our programs. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we want to strengthen existing systems of community care. One of our goals is to hire more full-time staff, and we’d like to be able to have our helpline operate more often. We want to have more touch points in the community and work with providers so that somatic and mental health care is accessible and adaptive to St. Louisans of all backgrounds and identities. Hopefully, SQSH can continue growing in a sustainable trajectory.”

Jun 2023

“This is a grassroots organization making a difference in our local queer community. SQSH Peer Counselors offer non-judgemental support and a listening ear for those in need. Joining us to share more about SQSH is co-founder Luka Cai.”

Nov 2022

“ST. LOUIS — Being a member of the LGBTQIA community can be challenging, especially in the aftermath of tragedies that occur in the community.

On Sunday, Nov. 21, five people were killed at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs. Eighteen people were injured. It's the latest in a series of hate crimes against queer people and marginalized communities.

The St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline, or SQSH, offers an empathetic, non-judgmental listening ear and an LGBTQIA+ resource list.”

Nov 5, 2022

SQSH hosted a Fall Community Photoshoot & Open Mic event attended by 80+ queer St. Louisans! We invited photographers, healers, and community members to connect over a clothing swop, open mic, fashion runway, wellness activities, face-painting, and more.

Andrea Richardson, Founder & Owner of Wombcare Womxn, wrote about her experience participating in her first in-person community healer event. Check it out!

Nov 2, 2022
SQSH Volunteer Sara ran an ad in all of the Jefferson County newspapers to raise awareness about Jeffco Pride, SQSH, and Atlas Youth Outreach! Check out Sara’s message for LGBTQIA+ Youth in Jefferson County. (Pardon the typos – the ad did not turn out the way it was submitted!)

Sept 14, 2022
At the Cardinals Game, SQSH received recognition for our work in the community. SQSH representatives (Luka, Jet, Alexis) attended the game and participated in the pregame ceremonies.

Thank you to the St. Louis Cardinals staff for hosting us!

March 15, 2022
Petition claims Festus teacher is being ousted for refusing to discriminate against LGBTQ students. SQSH speaks out to provide support to students.

August 27, 2021
A Listening Ear, and So Much More: SQSH to the Rescue

June 29, 2021
‘I don’t think there’s another service like it’ – St. Louis organization offers peer support through LGBTQIA+ helpline

September 30, 2020
CEC Meeting – Mental Health

July 3, 2020
Luka and Esther chat with Angela Skurtu, a licensed marriage and family therapist, about SQSH’s founding, story, and more.

December 27, 2019
St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline: Q&A with Co-Founder Luka Cai

November 2019
St. Louis Queer Support Helpline (SQSH) will be receiving the WUpan Leadership Development Award

November 7, 2019
‘This is the resource I always wished I had’ – Senior earns Holobough honor for helpline that provides support, resources to queer St. Louisans

October 18, 2019
St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline offers peer support and comfort

October 18, 2019
New ‘SQSH’ Helpline Is A Resource ‘For The St. Louis LGBTQIA+ Community, By The Community’

October 10, 2019
St. Louis LGBTQIA+ Peer Support Helpline Launched

July 11, 2019
St. Louis Queer Support Helpline offers social support for the LGBTQIA + community

July 8, 2019
New LGBTQIA helpline SQSH aims to provide more support to queer community

April 10, 2019
Washington University student starts LGBTQIA* helpline