Kentucky law says the governor must appoint a replacement senator. A 2024 Republican-backed bill says hold a special election. A UK law professor says the conflict could end up in the courts.

Kentucky's governor has fewer options than most people realize when a sitting senator goes absent but hasn't vacated their seat. No removal. No forced replacement. And the law around special elections is murkier than it sounds.⁠ We broke down every option Beshear actually has, including the one hiding in plain sight.

Queer Kentucky, the Commonwealth's only LGBTQ+ newsroom, reached 8 million readers in 2025, according to its newly released annual report, despite a sharp decline in funding.

Nathan Wilson was once a patient at HIV health nonprofit Matthew25. Now he manages facilities for the organization that helped save his life.

The "I'm Feeling Queer Today" podcast returns July 30 for Season 4, with young LGBTQ+ hosts interviewing writers, drag artists, and storytellers shaping queer culture. The show is a free artistic mentorship program through The Future Perfect Project, a nonprofit co-founded by Celeste Lecesne of The Trevor Project.

From 1980s hankie codes to today's watermelon stickers, queer Kentuckians have long relied on safe signaling to find each other without outing themselves in a hostile political climate.

When Sen. Mitch McConnell disappeared from view, Kentuckians wanted answers about his health. The Constitution says he doesn't owe them any.

Rocky Adkins, former Kentucky House Majority Leader and senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, has announced his candidacy for the 2027 Kentucky governor's race, joining a Democratic primary field that already includes Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.

Rep. Thomas Massie shut down talk of running for Mitch McConnell's Senate seat - and the reason is a civics lesson. Even if McConnell were to pass away, a Kentucky special election would only fill the remainder of his term, which ends in January. Massie, who lost his primary and is already leaving the House in January, called the Senate "the same circus with different monkeys."

Brandon Hill filed a federal lawsuit against the Covington Police Department and two officers, alleging excessive force and civil rights violations during the July 2025 Roebling Bridge protest.

Pikeville native Samantha Ratcliffe draws on her Appalachian roots, the punk scene, and the literary community to write poetry and music that pushes back against hatred and harmful stereotypes. Her upcoming thesis collection explores what it means to live openly as a queer person in the South.

As the University of Kentucky aligns its policies with state and federal directives, queer students and organizations on campus are navigating the loss of institutional support. Research suggests that perceived lack of university support is tied to worsening mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ students nationwide.

Founded by Louisville artist Tayzzy, the event features R&B performers Baby Grace, Just Joey, and Penny Marguax, plus face painting, tarot readings, and local vendors LOUISVILLE, KY — On Thursday, July 23, from 7:00–11:00 PM, Louisville’s Jubilee Field will transform into a vibrant celebration of music, creativity, and community during the inaugural Love Out Loud […]

Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office in Washington, D.C., demanding more information about the senator and his health.

LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 23 are invited to a four-day residency at ACT Louisville to help shape a new musical about queer history. Applications close July 13.

A new wave of LGBTQ+ organizations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are filling the gap left by shuttered venues and building spaces that are more inclusive than ever.

Since 1990, Rosie's Tavern in Covington's MainStrasse neighborhood has been a queer-owned safe space for LGBTQ+ communities across Greater Cincinnati. Through AIDS losses, neighborhood harassment, and two ownership transitions, it has endured as an anchor of Northern Kentucky's growing gayborhood.

Poet Melissa Helton found her queerness, her voice, and her found home in Appalachia, and she's using all three to challenge stereotypes and turn rage into art.

The Supreme Court is upholding state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams, in another setback for transgender people. The court’s conservative majority has repeatedly ruled against transgender Americans in the past year.

Henderson KY Pride is heading into its third year with record sponsorships, 85+ vendors, 30+ performers, and Jaida Essence Hall headlining Pride '26 on June 27 in downtown Henderson.

Sandra Carpenter came out in college at EKU and spent her career building toward a role like this one. Now, as Executive Director of Louisville Youth Group, Kentucky's oldest queer QTBIPOC youth organization, she's focused on bridging the urban-rural divide for LGBTQ+ young people across the state.

Seven Counties Services is welcoming the LGBTQ+ community to "Rooted for Wellness," a free annual open house at their La Grange location on June 27. Drop in for music, arts and crafts, light refreshments, and a chance to learn about mental health and behavioral health services in a safe, affirming space.

After death threats, hacked accounts, and rumors of white nationalist interference, Corbin Pride organizer Rebecca Chastain almost called it quits. What brought her back was the thing she's been building all along: community.

Trans Kentuckians are fighting to keep their healthcare as anti-trans laws hit record highs. Providers and patients speak out, and refuse to back down.

A community is finding ways to honor Murry Foust, the transgender Northern Kentucky University art student who went missing and was later found dead in Wilder, Kentucky, almost a month later. Foust was a 22-year-old artist from Crescent Springs, Kentucky. In the weeks since they were found, the outpouring of love from the Cincinnati and […]

J.P. Davis, co-founder of Louisville's LGBT Chamber of Commerce, writes that the One Louisville board's lack of openly LGBTQ+ representation isn't an oversight but a choice, and a pattern this city needs to break.

A Louisville Safe Haven ordinance meant to protect trans people is headed to a Metro Council committee hearing, but the community it aims to protect has serious concerns. LGBTQ+ organizations and advocates say the five-page draft has critical gaps, could invite retaliation from Frankfort, and wasn't written with enough community input.

The 2026 LGBTQ Kentucky survey is live through June, building on data from more than 4,000 previous respondents. Add your voice to one of the most comprehensive studies of queer Kentuckians ever conducted.

A Kentucky middle schooler honors Freida Belinfante — Jewish lesbian, Nazi resistance fighter, and orchestra conductor — with a stunning art competition dress.

Discover Cinema Systers in Paducah, America's only lesbian film festival, celebrating queer women's voices and stories in Kentucky.

Doug Ullrich, the Covington Police Department's LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer, faces nine federal lawsuits since 2021. Local LGBTQ+ community members say the city's silence has eroded trust and they're demanding answers.

Louisville’s Kentuckiana Pride announced late Tuesday night that it would no longer have gay celebrity DJ Eliad Cohen of Miami Beach perform during its annual event on June 20 as part of its entertainment lineup that also included Drag Race superstar Alaska and other acts. Cohen served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the country’s […]

In a time of political backsliding, artists are at the forefront fighting against white patriarchal ideals with acts of rebellious queerness and authenticity. One singer in particular, Cain Culto, blends unapologetic queerness and witchy aesthetic—long fingernails, grills with tusks, and jockstraps—with music that takes on themes of sexuality, battling colonialism, and healing his inner child. […]

When Kentucky lawmakers wrapped up the 2026 legislative session earlier this month, they gaveled out and went home without passing a single anti-LGBTQ+ bill. It is a reprieve from a heavy onslaught of high-profile, targeted laws coming out of Frankfort over the last few years — years that saw measures limiting access to gender-affirming care, […]

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced Monday she will run for governor in 2027, making her the first major candidate to enter the race to succeed Gov. Andy Beshear.

This story will be updated throughout the day. Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session is officially — finally — coming to a close. Lawmakers will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Frankfort, overriding any vetoes from Gov. Andy Beshear, passing any last-second bills and wrapping things up before heading home for the year.  Things will kick off at […]

Editor’s Note (July 15, 2026): Registration for Creating Change 2027 is now open here. (June 16, 2026): Proposal submissions for Creating Change 2027 are now open. Here’s the full timeline to mark on your calendar:   Call for Proposals: June 15 – September 15, 2026 — Submit here CC27 Kick-off Reception: August 25, 2026, Louisville […]

FRANKFORT — As anticipated, a last-second attempt to keep transgender people from teaching in Kentucky has failed. Kentucky lawmakers wrapped up the bulk of their 2026 legislative session late Wednesday night, going home without bringing up House Bill 759 — a previously uncontroversial bill around alternative teaching certifications that got a late floor amendment that […]

As Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session winds down, Queer Kentucky will be keeping y’all updated throughout all of it.  Lawmakers will meet Tuesday and Wednesday to pass any final legislation before the veto period begins Thursday — a two-week-ish period where Gov. Andy Beshear will be able to sort through all of the bills on his […]

No, Kentucky is not set to quickly and quietly declare transgender people “mentally ill” this week.  And no, Kentucky’s GOP-dominated legislature is also not about to silently kick trans people out of teaching in the last seconds of the 2026 legislative session. Y’all, I am once again respectfully begging you to get your Kentucky politics […]

(Louisville, KY March 25, 2026) It’s that time of year again for one of the best Drag Illusions shows you have ever witnessed. Grab those dollars and come out & join Kentuckiana Pride Foundation and Play Louisville on Saturday, March 28th at Play Louisville as we bring the community together for a fun-filled night of […]

Friends, the time is near: Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session has mere days left.  Lawmakers are scheduled to meet four days over the next week to hammer out the details of the next two-year state budget, along with passing any other bills they think Gov. Andy Beshear could veto, by 11:59 p.m. on April 1.  They’ll […]

Let’s imagine something. Imagine walking into a reproductive health clinic in Kentucky and not having to brace yourself. Imagine reproductive healthcare that was designed with LGBTQ+ people in mind from the beginning. Reproductive health is too often reduced to “pro-choice” versus “pro-life.” But for many people in queer and trans communities, reproductive justice is even […]

What is a shell bill? Kentucky’s legislative process follows a set of rules, but there are several common ways lawmakers can reshape or fast-track bills. Fun fact: Kentucky lawmakers can’t just go around filing new legislation throughout the entire legislative session.  They have a deadline to file new bills each year, weeks before the end […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Queer Kentucky Announces Divya Karthikeyan as Editorial Manager   Louisville, KY — Queer Kentucky has named award-winning journalist Divya Karthikeyan as its new Editorial Manager, ushering in the next chapter for Kentucky’s only LGBTQ newsroom. Karthikeyan will oversee the editorial direction and daily operations of Queer Kentucky’s newsroom, guiding coverage of LGBTQ […]

Skylar Davis grows Period Y’all to fight period poverty across Kentucky communities.

Kentucky lawmakers file immigration bills tied to ICE enforcement in 2026 session.

Kentucky Rep. Bill Wesley files HB 867 requiring bathroom use based on birth sex.

Kentucky Sen. Gex Williams files SB 351, targeting transgender teachers’ licenses..

Midwestern Lesbian expands after Sapphic Sips anniversary draws 200+

Gov. Andy Beshear, Silas House headline Kentucky Fairness Rally as key bills advance.

Author David Dominé discusses HBO’s Murder in Glitter Ball City and the Old Louisville case that inspired it.

Kentucky SB 72 advances allowing health care refusals on conscience grounds.