Queer Kentucky · Kentucky's Only LGBTQ+ Newsroom
About Queer Kentucky
Queer Kentucky is Kentucky's only LGBTQ+ newsroom.
We report on public health, government and politics, and arts and culture for queer people across the Bluegrass state, with a specific focus on Appalachia, rural communities, and the people state media most often overlooks.
We are a diverse, LGBTQ+-run nonprofit founded in Louisville. Our work reaches more than 8 million people a year.
2026 GLAAD Nomination: Outstanding Independent Journalism
2025 GLAAD Nomination: Best Print Article
2025 NLGJA Winner: Jeanne Córdova Award, Missy Spears
Our Newsroom
Queer Kentucky is an independent, LGBTQ+-run newsroom founded in Louisville, with roots now in both Louisville and Northern Kentucky. We publish original journalism, commentary, and cultural reporting that centers queer Kentuckians.
We work with journalists, writers, and historians across the state to document the people, policies, and culture shaping LGBTQ+ life in the commonwealth, from Frankfort to Pikeville to Paducah.
What We Cover
Our editorial focus is grounded in three core areas, mirrored across every platform we publish:
- Government and politics affecting LGBTQ+ Kentuckians
- Public health, including trans healthcare access and safety in the South
- Arts, culture, and queer joy across the state
We prioritize reporting that is Kentucky-specific, intersectional, and willing to challenge systems of power. That includes rural organizing, Appalachian communities, life outside Louisville and Lexington, and accountability writing about public institutions.
Our Impact
| 8M+ Readers reached each year | 1 LGBTQ+ newsroom in Kentucky | 4 National nominations and awards since 2025 |
Our articles have been shared across the world, bringing the stories of Kentuckians to readers in every state and beyond.
Leadership
Missy Spears
Executive Director · she/they
Missy took over as Queer Kentucky's executive director in November 2023 after joining the team as director of operations earlier that year. She is the 2025 recipient of NLGJA's Jeanne Córdova Award and made political reporting a core part of Queer Kentucky's work, including the newsroom's ongoing coverage of the Kentucky General Assembly and the widely cited Queer Election Guide.
Outside the newsroom, Missy balances service on three organizational and community action boards with neighborhood-level organizing in Covington. She co-founded and co-manages COVunity Free Fridge, a volunteer-run program that feeds more than 11,000 people a year, and creates community spaces and events that put LGBTQ+ folks in leadership roles.
Divya Karthikeyan
Editorial Manager · she/her
Divya joined Queer Kentucky in 2026 after reporting on Kentucky's capitol for Kentucky Public Radio and covering race and equity for Louisville Public Radio. Her work has also appeared in The Intercept, The New Republic, NPR, The Guardian, and CNN. She trained at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and is a current Solutions Journalism Network Youth Building & Belonging Fellow.
Board of Directors
Governance & Oversight
Queer Kentucky is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that sets strategic direction and oversees the newsroom's operations and finances.
Spencer Jenkins
Founder, First Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief · he/him
Spencer started Queer Kentucky in March 2018, designing the brand at a corner table in Morels cafe in Louisville. He served as the newsroom's founding executive director until November 2023 and continued as editor-in-chief through March 2026, helping to grow the publication from a single-city blog into a GLAAD-nominated statewide LGBTQ+ newsroom.
Transparency
We believe the public deserves to see how this newsroom is run and funded.
Support Our Work
Queer journalism in Kentucky exists because people fund it directly. If this work matters to you, there are three ways to keep it alive:
Support Queer Journalism Pitch a story Shop QKY gear
Contact
For editorial inquiries, press, partnerships, or republishing requests, contact us here.
Our Supporters
Queer Kentucky is funded by individual donors, members, sponsors, and grant partners. We publicly list supporters contributing $5,000 or more so readers can see who backs this work.
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Donors $5000 and over
