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Sarah Ratliff, she/her, Pikeville

Use one Queer slang word to describe Kentucky!

Kinky!

How did you activate and organize your community for equality?

I serve as board member Pikeville Pride and Main Street Pikeville and work constantly on creating community throughout Pikeville. This May, I presented at the Main Street Now national conference alongside other Pikeville Pride and Main Street members. Our presentation “Y’all Means All,” details the story of Pikeville Pride and how we have gone from a small party in the city park to a full-fledged festival on Main Street. As Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Pikeville, I am faculty sponsor for Pride+, our campus LGBTQIA+ group.

In the last 25 years, what is one moment that gave you hope for Kentucky’s fight in equality?

Seeing Andy Beshear at the Fairness Lobby Days at the Capital and then getting to shake his hand and thank him for his vocal support. Governor Beshear gives me hope that there ARE people in power in Kentucky who want equality.

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

I think we’ll continue to see bigotry and hatred from those who are leading the anti-gay charge as they’ll always find a new non-issue to focus on. My fear is the continuation of attacks on Queer families—adoption, fostering, marriage, family planning, medical coverage, etc.

What are Kentucky’s greatest strengths when it comes to the fight for Queer equality?

Kentucky is filled with good people who truly want nothing but the best for their neighbors. While doing flood relief work in 2022, I saw so many people helping one another—some of them lost their own homes but worked tirelessly to muck out flooded houses owned by single moms, the sick, the elderly. That’s true Kentucky selflessness—we can watch our home float down a river and immediately turn around and get back to work helping someone else.