About Us
Every LGBTQIA+ person deserves to be treated kindly and access the community resources they need to lead fulfilling lives. As members of the queer community, we have experienced firsthand the isolation, stigmatization, and fear that can arise from the lack of understanding and acceptance by the people around us. Many of us would have led different lives or made different decisions if we had a supportive, empathetic LGBTQIA+ peer to talk to when we were going through a hard time. That’s why we set up SQSH—a source of free, confidential, and identity-affirming peer support, by the St. Louis queer community, for the community.
Disclaimer: If you are having a medical or mental health emergency, please call someone you trust, 911, or one of these local or national hotlines first. We still welcome your call after you are in the process of receiving the immediate help that you need.
We are a short-term volunteer peer-counseling service. While we are guided by our Clinical Supervisors, we are no substitute for long-term, professional mental health care. Please visit MTUG's list of vetted providers or SQSHBook (once it launches) to contact a mental healthcare provider in the Greater St. Louis area.
COVID-19: To access mutual aid resources for COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease), visit STL Mutual Aid.
“Hi! I’m a trans-masculine, genderqueer, and pansexual individual who was born and raised in Singapore, which I experienced to be a highly homophobic and transphobic country. Without any queer role models to look up to or supportive peers to talk to, I grew up feeling isolated, stigmatized, and afraid. I only found the courage to come out when I came to the U.S., joined the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community, and found myself in a much more queer-affirming environment. I had always wished that there was an unconditionally supportive, non-judgmental LGBTQIA+ peer I could confide in and feel understood by. That’s why I’m passionate about setting up a LGBTQIA+ peer support helpline for the St. Louis region—to create a resource I wish I had, and to give back to the community that welcomed me.”
Luka Cai (they/them), SQSH Founder
Our Team
Meet the people behind SQSH! Click the links below someone's position to connect with them. Unsure who to connect with? Contact us or reach out to a Coordinator in the relevant team. They'll get you where you need to go! View the full list of all role descriptions.
Interested in helping out? Join us!
Helpline Team
Our Helpline Volunteers remain anonymous in order to protect their privacy and provide the most effective service possible. View our volunteer demographics.
Luka
they/them
Founder, Project Coordinator
Name
they/them
Practicum Student, Helpline Trainer
Name
she/her
Clinical Supervisor (LPC)
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
he/him
Clinical Supervisor (LCSW)
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Website
Name
she/her
Clinical Supervisor (LCSW)
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Website
Name
she/her
Clinical Supervisor (MEd, PLPC)
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Clinical Supervisor (MS, LMFT, CIS)
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
he/him
Clinical Supervisor (MSW, LCSW)
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Clinical Supervisor (MFT)
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Clinical Consultant (MEd, PLPC)
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Clinical Consultant (PhD, LMFT)
LinkedIn / Bio
Name
he/him
Clinical Consultant (MSW, LCSW).
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Practicum Supervisor
Name
she/her
Practicum Supervisor (MSW)
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
they/them
Community Advisor
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Community Advisor
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
he/him
Community Advisor
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
they/them
Community Advisor
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Name
she/her
Community Advisor
Email / LinkedIn / Bio
Internal Steering Team
Handling SQSH's internal functioning, including training, operations, and logistical issues.
Name
he/him
Internal Operations
Phone / Email
Name
they/them
Resource Coordinator
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Instagram
Name
she/her
Logistics Coordinator
Name
she/her
Food Coordinator
Name
she/her
Fundraising CoordinatorEmail
Name
he/him
Program Evaluator & Grant Writer
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Facebook
Name
they/them
Legal Advisor
Name
they/them
Curriculum Developer
Phone / Email
External Steering Team
Handling SQSH's activities, programming, and publicity within the larger St. Louis community.
Name
he/him
Community Engagement Chair
Name
they/them
Community Presenter
Name
he/him
PR Coordinator
Name
she/her
Graphic DesignerEmail
Name
they/he
Graphic DesignerEmail
Name
Social Media CoordinatorEmail
Name
Social Media CoordinatorEmail
Name
she/her
Website Coordinator
Name
they/them
Website Coordinator
Name
she/her
Website Coordinator, Newsletter Editor
Phone / Email / LinkedIn / Website
Community Partners
Our community partners help us do the work that we do. They include the Metro Trans Umbrella Group (MTUG), Trans Education Service (TES), Black Pride, NCCJ St. Louis, the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (NCADA), Behavioral Health Response (BHR), Provident Crisis Services (PCS), and others. If you or your organization is interested in partnering with SQSH, please complete an application. We'll be in touch.
