Kentucky’s largest city has become the second in the state to ban the discredited and deadly practice of anti-LGBTQ “conversion therapy” on minors by licensed therapists with a bi-partisan Louisville Metro Council vote of 24-1 tonight. Louisville joins twenty states, Washington, D.C., and more than seventy U.S. cities that have banned “conversion therapy” on minors, […]
Louisville-based arts organization artThrust is offering virtual art and poetry workshops for parents and LGBTQ youth aged 13-18 beginning today, September 14, with participants welcome to join after the start date. Youth and their parents are not required to sign up together, and can participate individually. Presented as two concurrent programs, these eight-week workshops are […]
This series is proudly sponsored by Highland Coffee, Louisville’s Finest Coffeehouse, locally owned and operated since 1999. They have lots of VEGAN eats and treats made in house. Draft nitro-cold coffee on tap! Highland Coffee proudly bakes it’s own desserts and breakfast pastries in house, including many vegan & gluten free items, breakfast wraps, and […]
Louisville could become the second Kentucky city to protect LGBTQ minors from the dangerous and deadly practice of “conversion therapy,” which seeks to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Councilman Bill Hollander filed the ordinance Monday with co-sponsors Councilwoman Jessica Green, Councilwoman Jessica Green, Councilwoman Nicole George, and Councilman Brandon Coan. The Louisville ordinance mirrors […]
In the 2020 legislative session, Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky saw 37 state legislators in both chambers and parties cosponsor the Mental Health Protection Act to ban conversion therapy. While House Bill 199/Senate Bill 85 was sidelined by COVID-19, the Kentucky House of Representatives convened an interim committee session last Tuesday to hear testimony on conversation […]
When she first sat down to write, Sis Got Tea owner Arielle Clark‘s (she/her/hers) mind kept circling back to one central issue: the underrepresentation of voices like her’s on bookshelves across America. As a Black, queer, polyamorous woman from Kentucky, her story isn’t the sort typically chosen for book club meetings or “Ladies Wine and […]
Editor’s Note: Spencer Jenkins contributed to this story. Queer Kentucky spoke to Dr. Bernadette Barton (she/her), board secretary for JustFundKY and a Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at Morehead State. JustFundKY was founded in 2006 and funds educational projects that promote equality and visibility for the LGBTQ community in Kentucky. This last grant cycle, […]
by Laura Patterson/Spencer Jenkins Since the inception of Queer Kentucky in 2018, we have believed that creating sober spaces for LGBTQ+ people to gather is crucial in creating community. We have been thrilled to create a space for queer people to come together and experience the power of yoga. SIGN UP TODAY Due to COVID-19, […]
by Kathryn de la Rosa New York’s second annual Queer Liberation March, a protest march against NYC Pride organized by the Reclaim Pride Coalition, came to an early end last month when NYPD officers started making arrests and brutalizing protesters with pepper spray and blunt force. This year’s march specified liberation for trans and queer […]
Queer Kentucky chatted via email with Oliver Hall, (They/Them), Trans Health Director for Kentucky Health Justice Network about the new KHJN Trans Health Surgical Grant Application. The Trans Health Advocacy Program, a part of Kentucky Health Justice Network, is accepting applications to support Trans Kentuckians seeking gender affirming surgeries. Each grantee will receive $1,000 towards their surgery. The first […]
by Sarah Gardiner On July 1, bars in Kentucky reopened. I went out to Chill, and I don’t regret a second. I wasn’t going to go out. I’m still terrified of Covid-19, and after 3 months of falling into my full Grey Gardens best life, bars and restaurants scare the fuck out of me. But […]
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 30, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear has issued an executive order to ensure that all Kentuckians are treated fairly by the state when it comes to matters of employment, services and contracting in the commonwealth. “When I ran for this office I pledged to be a Governor for all Kentuckians, and when […]
by Allie Fireel In the midst of the historic upheaval and protesting that has followed the killing of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, Louisville based poet Hannah Drake has been speaking and protesting all over town. Then just last week Actors Theatre of Louisville announced Fix it Black Girl, a new theatrical work created by […]
LGBTQ organization is supporting racial justice through Digital Pride In less than one week, through an amazing outpouring of support for Black lives from the Pride community, the Louisville Pride Foundation raised $50,000 for The Bail Project. “This funding will support our revolving bail fund and also our expanded community support for individuals released during […]
Editors Note: This article courtesy of WFPL by By Amina Elahi After endorsing Mayor Greg Fischer in three back-to-back general elections, the Fairness Campaign and its political action committee are repudiating the term-limited Democrat. In a public letter published Friday and approved by the nonprofit’s staff and board, the organization said it “deeply regretted” its […]
by Mike Broihier I spent several years as the editor of a rural weekly newspaper trying to decipher the intent of letters I received, so I’ll cut right to the chase. My name is Mike Broihier, I am a Democratic candidate for US Senate, and I would like your support. As I’ve campaigned across Kentucky […]
Queer Kentucky is excited to announce that we have received a grant from the Tegan and Sara Foundation to help our Trans-Inclusive Workplace Workshops continue through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tegan and Sara Foundation has always focused on grassroots action, and their first priority is meeting the immediate needs of the community (while they fight […]
by Allie Fireel Before COVID-19 hit Possibility City, The Louisville Youth Group was undergoing a transformation that would help the 30 year old group expand their staff, budget and most importantly their mission; giving LGBTQ+ youths and young adults a safe, encouraging atmosphere to understand and explore their queer identity. The group’s transformation ground to […]
As of May 8th 2020 The Paducah LGBT Welcome Center has rebranded to be Heartland Equality. This is done to better reach our clients in our entire service area, and to position ourselves to be able to handle the inflex of services, and programs that we currently offer, and new programs rolling out. Heartland equality […]
by Allie Fireel In the 2010’s the drag scene in Louisville Kentucky flowered and grew. From large venues like Play, to pop up drag and burlesque shows at The Limbo, all way to queens appearing in broad daylight -Gasp!!- at one of the multiple Drag Brunches available in Louisville. Queens even read stories to kids […]
Queer Kentucky is proud to announce that we have received a $2,300 grant from the Community Foundation of Louisville to report on a topic we are very passionate about. We requested the “Field of Interest Grant: AIDS Project Fund” in order to demonstrate awareness regarding the connection between HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community in Kentucky. […]
Collins Black What does the word queer mean to you? How do you identify? The word queer to me honestly comes with a negative connotation.. I grew up in a small country town an experienced this word in a derogatory manner repeatedly. I never refer to myself as queer bc of this and that the […]
by Allie Fireel When theatres shut down to combat the spread of Covid-19, Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival of New American Plays was cut short, just two weeks into its six week run. Two of the five plays originally set to premiere are available for streaming, Are You There? by Vivian Barnes, Jonathan Norton, […]
Cassie Bilyeu What do you identify as? Why? Or why don’t you identify as anything?I’m a mostly probably binary trans woman. “Identify as…” is sometimes a troublesome term. There’s the feeling that one doesn’t identify as anything, rather, you simply are a thing. But it’s just semantics. What does the word Queer mean to you?It’s […]
by Allie Fireel On January first of this year, Parker James went down to the probate office and changed his name. Though he’d first told his partner that he was trans nearly five years ago, it wasn’t until the last year or so that Parker got serious about transitioning, and a big piece of that […]
The Kentuckiana Pride Foundation has postponed the annual Kentuckiana Pride Festival and Parade that was scheduled to take place on Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20 at Waterfront Park. New dates for the 20th anniversary of the annual festival and parade will be announced mid May. After much consideration and closely monitoring the COVID-19 […]
by Vinny O’Hara Hey straight people (and some queer folx), stop using the term “Breeder” because you think it makes you look like an ally or “woke.” Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. A couple of weeks ago, a well intentioned but misguided straight person pointed out a group of fellow heterosexuals to me and scoffed about […]
by Joseph Hubrich Editors note: Here at Queer Kentucky, we acknowledge that many LGBTQ+ folx struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. Being cooped up in quarantine can make this struggle a little bit more real for a lot of us. If you are struggling, please reach out. There are tons of organizations here to help […]
Evan Stoner What do you identify as? Why? Or why don’t you identify as anything?This is a question that requires at a lot of openness and vulnerability. In my 22 years on this planet, I have noticed that society loves placing labels on human beings and groups of people. I suppose it is somewhat easier […]
The large Northern Kentucky city of Covington, population 40,455, became the first in the state to ban the harmful practice of anti-LGBTQ “Conversion Therapy” on youth under the age of 18 with a unanimous vote of 5-0 tonight. The Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky spoke in favor of the ordinance at the meeting, which was […]
