Queer Kentucky Feature: ‘I’m proud of the way the community has come together since we started to protest the murder of Breonna Taylor’

Ezra Yelverton

What does the word queer mean to you?
Being queer means sharing similar experiences with a person or group, but having a different story to tell. I think everyone that falls under this umbrella term has several things in common, but no one is ever the same. And that’s okay because, at some point, we all know what it’s like to feel misunderstood.

How do you identify?
As a bisexual male.

What are your pronouns? Why are they important?
He/Him/His. They’re important to me because of the way I carry and present myself; being a man makes me feel whole.

Where are you initially from and explain how was it growing up/living in Kentucky?

Originally from El Paso, Texas. I’ve been in Louisville since the sixth grade; this is the only place I feel like I’m able to call home. I don’t hate Louisville; to be honest, I fucking love it. It’s hard to be proud of a lot of shit that happens here, but I’ll be damned if I don’t say I’m proud of the way the community has come together since we started to protest the murder of Breonna Taylor.

What would you say to any person struggling to come into their own identity?
Live your truth, and be proud of who you are. You’re beautiful.

How does your own identity run how you carry yourself? Or does it?
I carry myself with an immense amount of pride because I know that it takes a lot of courage to live the life that I live.

What issues do you see in the queer community?
Racism disguised as a “preference.” Miss me with that bullshit.

What do you think would solve those issues?
Honestly, I don’t have an answer for that. We’ve been fighting this fight for years.

Do you feel excluded from the “mainstream” queer community? Why or why not?
Absolutely. And it blows my mind because black trans folx are responsible for a fair amount, if not all, of the freedoms the queer community now has. The only time they talk about black trans folx is days 1-3 of pride month, or when they read about a black trans person being murdered.

Do you feel safe as a trans or nonbinary person?
I do because I feel safe and protected by the people I’ve chosen to surround myself with.

Do you feel safe as a BIPOC trans or nonbinary person?
It’s not safe being a BIPOC period, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Who influenced the life you live now?
Prince! Don’t let me find a pair of purple wedges that fit.