Chris Andoe

Late last week, the Gay Men’s Social Group removed longtime leader Mark Moore. After years of building GMSG and organizing major events, he’d recently formed his own, more inclusive organization, Gay + St. Louis Social Group, but remained a moderator of GMSG.

The GMSG action against the well-liked Moore shocked and upset members, who openly demanded answers. This morning, founder Bill Tinsley said recent actions were voted on by a new Board it seems nobody has ever heard about, while also implying Moore mishandled funds.

“I dont have answers to his bizarre behavior,” Moore said of Tinsley. “I know of no board, none of the mods do. He has been deleting events like Pride masquerave, pageant fundraisers that all the queens are doing and other stuff.”

It appears GMSG is hemorrhaging members this morning. Tinsley has not returned a request for comment.

The tall stranger confidently walked into the den where I was resting. He was out of place, but oddly confident and sure of himself. He owned the room.

“I’m looking for Chris,” he said.

The next seconds unfolded slowly, and it was like someone else answered him for me. He then reached into his pocket.

I had never been so certain I was about to die, but he instead looked at his phone and ran out.

A former friend I loved, along with his partner and others they’ve teamed up with, have been at war against me and Kage for months, since they caused a major racist incident at our corner bar and we told the friend he had to move out. In the past five or six months we have dealt with endless harassment, culminating with the sex ad telling men that a woman at our house wanted them to just walk in. Men kept coming. The door handle still rattled five days after the first incident.

This has impacted all aspects of my life. From October 2021 to October 2022, my real estate sales totaled about $2.5 million. From October 2022 to April: zero.

I don’t answer most calls because of all the burner numbers our former friend uses to taunt and insult. I’m distracted and irritable. I manage property, and several times I’ve walked into the wrong unit.

I needed help, and my primary care physician gave me a referral. During my first visit, he noted that may face lit up when discussing the good times with my former friend, and said that I haven’t processed the loss and the betrayal. He also diagnosed me with PTSD, but said I have an great foundation to build from.

The show will go on, and I feel this is a healthy turning point. I have a plan of action.

I appreciate all the kindness we’ve received as we’ve been dealing with all of this. Hard times test bonds and put things into perspective. We will never forget who was there for us.

Yelling racial slurs at an entire bar is something I consider unacceptable. Nearly all queer bar owners in St. Louis agreed, which is one reason Nate Stickel and Patrick Manary are banned from nearly all of our establishments.

But tribal attitudes run deep, and former bar owner Jim Weckmann has rallied quite the rogues’ gallery against me for my stance. All carrying on and caterwauling like a bunch of idiots.

So be it.

Let him and his ilk howl until they’re hoarse. Jolene Gosha, Sandy Gay, Shawn Telkamp, all of them. Let them howl.