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Tanner Mobley, he/him, Louisville

Use one Queer slang word to describe Kentucky!

Kentucky’s fluid—people claim we’re a Red stronghold, but we’re actually very purple and swing both ways.

How did you activate and organize your community for equality?

I kicked off a grassroots movement in Kentucky to ban conversion therapy, educating hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians on its dangers. Together with an amazing team of organizers, we mobilized thousands to push for statewide legislation to protect minors and played a pivotal role in passing bans in Covington, Lexington, and Louisville. In 2021, we achieved one of the highest Republican co-sponsorship rates for a pro-LGBTQ+ bill in history. Today, at The Trevor Project, I’m dedicated to expanding protections for LGBTQ+ young people nationwide. After eight years of dedicated advocacy, I, along with a coalition of Kentucky organizations, successfully secured an executive order signed by Governor Beshear to protect minors from conversion therapy.

What do you think is next for Kentucky in the fight for Equality?

Kentucky is one of the most disenfranchised states in the country, with many people too busy trying to survive to organize for change. In my experience traveling across the state, Kentucky is full of kind-hearted, resilient folks who care deeply for our families and neighbors. I sense a reckoning on the horizon—people are fed up with the status-quo and ready for change. By uniting Queer Kentuckians and all communities that have been screwed over by the system, I believe we can one day transform Kentucky and make significant strides toward equality.

Who is one other LGBTQ+ Kentucky leader do you admire and why?

I deeply admire my friend Zach Meiners, for his courage and unwavering advocacy to protect LGBTQ+ young people conversion therapy. His tireless efforts in pushing for legislative protections, along with his impactful documentary ‘Conversion’ highlighting survivor stories, have undoubtedly saved lives. Zach’s advocacy is a true testament to the power of storytelling and effecting change.