When Kyle Scott heard former President Donald Trump mention his town during the first and likely only debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, the feeling was not the joy of being acknowledged on a platform being watched by a reported 67 million viewers. He feared how the fallout would impact his neighbors and friends. I […]

photos by Samuel Greenhill The spirit, fight, and resilience of Michele Hobbs. Nothing that I describe to you, from her nonstop energy to her multiple successful businesses to the Bourbon that we initially intended to speak about, sums Michele Hobbs up better than her insistence on turning all conversations to the people of Whitesburg, Kentucky. […]

While the Presidential race is all over our screens, we know that true decision-making power happens closer to home. Enter our 2024 Queer Election Guide & Toolkit, designed to inform folks about what's on their ballot, why it matters, and what those big issues are that we keep hearing about.

In response to the alarming rise of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and actions across the political landscape, a groundbreaking coalition of 11 independent LGBTQ+ newsrooms has come together to form the Queer News Network (QNN). This initiative aims to provide in-depth and nuanced coverage of the 2024 General Election through an LGBTQ+ lens, ensuring that the voices and […]

For generations Bourbon whiskey has ebbed and flowed in and out of popularity and prestige, but as a uniquely American product, it’s long been part of the national beverage alcohol conversation. Over the past 20 years, however, Kentucky’s passion for the craft spirit has gained reverence from all over the world and with the institution […]

photos by Milkman Photography Josh Johnson is a Kentucky gentleman. That’s how he put it to fashion industry leaders from New York to Los Angeles while working as a clothing buyer more than a decade ago. Folks followed the phrase with confused looks and questioning glances at Johnson’s long hair and tattooed skin. “You’re not […]

photos by Beth Burrows April Elston was at work two years ago when she received an email that would change her life. Test results from an April 2022 biopsy revealed that she had cancer in her right breast, and a series of follow-up calls with her medical team presented a narrow range of treatment options.  […]

Contrary to popular belief, The Kentucky Derby has always been queer. Big, boisterous hats and flashy fascinators paired with dresses in bright pastels, deep rosy reds and Kentucky blues fill Churchill Downs from the infield to Millionaires row. Let’s face it: it’s one big drag show. For the Derby’s 150th anniversary, Churchill Downs and Woodford […]

Originally published by The 19th Your trusted source for contextualizing the news. Sign up for our daily newsletter. The destruction of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 storm, is coming sharply into focus as the death toll has continued to climb in North and South Carolina, Florida and […]

One in eight Americans are food insecure, according to the USDA. That means they have little or inconsistent access to an adequate amount of food. In Kentucky, a state with growing income inequality, one in seven people are food insecure. In the queer community, the rate of food insecurity grows significantly. According to a report […]

Attending Louder Than Life this weekend? Check out the 1 Million Strong tent.   The music industry, a hub of entertainment and creativity, is also a sector riddled with substance abuse, much like our own queer community. With 56 percent of industry professionals grappling with addiction, there has been a push to address the severe […]

art by Ceirra Evans The path of addiction and recovery is not linear.  That is something that Lucas Blackburn and Josh Shaw can attest to in their recovery journeys. Currently, Blackburn has been sober for nearly four years, and Shaw has been sober for six and a half years. Despite this, it wasn’t always this […]

In a recent study, Coqual.org revealed that approximately ⅓ of Black leave corporate America within two years of employment. Now, when I think about this from the bourbon industry. I noticed that when I go on tours of distilleries across the state, I see very little representation of people of color. This led me to […]