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About Queer Kentucky
Queer Kentucky enhances Queer culture and health through storytelling, education, and action.
Storytelling: We uplift the experiences, barriers, successes, news, history, and joy experienced by our Queer community through our nationally recognized journalism programming, our arts-focused print magazine, and various storytelling focused events. We work with journalists, writers, and historians to regularly cover breaking news along with impactful stories on public health, politics & government, and arts & culture, along with the experiences of Kentuckians from all corners of our state.
Education: We know that information saves lives, which is why we strive to keep our community, as well as those around them, as informed as possible. Each month we prioritize stories that impact our collective health. Our Queer Inclusive Workplace Workshops are designed to connect with those coworkers who need it the most. Our Queer Election Guide talked about the WHAT and WHY of state and local elections, not the WHO that everyone likes to focus on. And we continue to add more educational opportunities as needs arise, like we’ve done with economic and suicide prevention workshops.
Action: The goal is action. Every day we work to arm our community with knowledge so they can bypass healthcare barriers, take advantage of available resources, feel more confident in their ability to advocate for themself or others, and take steps to increase the sense of connection and belonging in themselves and others. Whether it’s reporting on a free but limited healthcare resource in our region, or us getting harm reduction resources directly into people’s hands, we know that inspiring action to better ourselves and our community is our ultimate goal.
What We Accomplished in 2024
- DOUBLED OUR REACH: In just one year, Queer Kentucky connected with 1.4+ million individuals through our stories, trainings, classes, research, resources, and events. This doubled our 2023 totals!
- Investing in Our Own: We hired over 100 LGBTQ+ creatives to amplify stories from our most impacted and reinvested $200,000 back into the queer community.
- Queer Election Guide: Our first-ever Queer Election Guide hit 50,000+ views, empowering voters with everything they needed to make informed decisions all the way down the ballot.
- Live Election Night Coverage: Another first! We brought you live updates, reels, and insights on one of the most pivotal election nights in recent memory.
- “Mindful Movement” Classes: Every week, we team up with Suspend Louisville to offer free, trauma-informed breathing and movement classes for the community. (Sundays at 10am. Check it out!)
- HIV Self-Testing Kits: We distributed more than 200 HIV self-testing kits through partnerships with 11 small businesses in Kentucky. In October, we kicked off a partnership with Louisville Pride and the Ryan White Foundation to feature the stories of those living with HIV.
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Programming: From launching “Meth, Fent, & Alcohol” conversations to creating our “Stories of Hope” series, we’re tackling addiction stigma head-on with compassion and real talk.
- Bourbon & Belonging: History, y’all—we threw the world’s first LGBTQ+ Bourbon Week right here in Kentucky. Thousands of queer folks from around the country (and the world) joined the celebration of Bourbon, culture, and an inclusive good time.
- Inclusive Workplace Workshops: In 2024, we rolled out 3 new queer-inclusive workplace trainings, and partnered with local businesses and government bodies to make LGBTQ+ employees feel seen, valued, and respected. Behind-the-scenes we’ve been developing an e-learning platform to greatly expand our reach and impact.
- Groundbreaking Research: We collaborated on a comprehensive health and lived experience survey with Dr. Justin X Moore from the University of Kentucky and are preparing to release our insights in early 2025.
- The Magazine: This year, we captured the power of storytelling with three limited-edition print publications, showcasing the history, struggles, and vibrant culture of Queer Kentuckians.
What’s next? More stories. More action. More community. Join us over this next year as we fight to keep our community informed, empowered, and healthy.
Our Mission: Queer Kentucky is a diverse LGBTQ+ run non-profit founded in Louisville, Kentucky working to bolster and enhance Queer culture and health through storytelling, education and action. Through our storytelling approach, we give visibility and celebrate the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the great Bluegrass State.
Visibility alone is life-saving. Queer Kentucky actively works with organizations and businesses on their inclusivity efforts that enhance the well-being of their employees.