In celebration of Pride Month, Metro Theater Company reflects on our 2014 production of Unsorted which explored themes of identity. Former MTC artistic director, Carol North, said that the company wanted to “create a play that would somehow dig into the whole issue of what it is to be you and the vital importance and value of every single person.” Unsorted playwright Wesley Middleton shared, “Being able to help young people understand more about who they are and allow themselves to be who they are without fear” was one of the goals of the project.

Read the 2014 St. Louis Public Radio article: “Do Swirly Pink Skirts Go With ‘Clompety’ Boots? STL Play Says Yes To Gender Mixups”

Unsorted was most recently produced for the Midsumma Festival, Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural organization that brings together LGBTQ+ artists, performers, communities, and audiences.

Here are some book recommendations for young people and St. Louis Pride events that celebrate individuality, inclusivity, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Brightly: 24 Great LGBTQIA+ Books for Kids and Teens

Welcoming Schools: Diverse Children’s Books to Create LGBTQ Inclusive Classrooms and Schools

We Are Teachers: 30 Children’s Books with LGBT Characters

Social Justice Books, A Teaching for Change Project: LGBTQ+ Book Recommendations

Learning for Justice: The LGBTQ Library

Common Sense Media: Books with LGBTQ+ Characters

Publishers Weekly: Reading with Pride

No Time for Flashcards: LGBTQ+ Books for Toddlers to Tweens

St. Louis Events

St. Louis County Library: Pride Month Virtual Events

Missouri History Museum: Gateway to Pride, Virtual Exhibit