by Allie Fireel UPDATE: The Food and Drug Administration revised its blood donor guidelines on Thursday, significantly easing the restrictions on men who have sex with men. The new guidelines reduce the donation deferral period for sexually active gay and bisexual men from 12 months to three, meaning these otherwise healthy men will now have […]
Dennis Cornell What does the word queer mean to you? I grew up in a time when “queer” and “fag” was used in a derogatory way. But I like how the LGBTQ+ community has taken hurtful words of the past and turned them into positive connotations for the community such as the pink triangle from […]
by Georgia Connally Editor’s note: This is an account of an actual experience. Names have been changed for confidentiality. Domestic violence also transcends gender and all people are vulnerable to it. A few years ago, I met a woman (we will call her Karen) who was trapped in an unhealthy marriage with her partner—we will […]
by Sarah Gardiner With much of the country now shutting down due to Coronavirus, Queer Kentucky is dedicated to making sure the community has the most up to date information on resources and news. We will be releasing a weekly update with the latest outlooks and assistance options. If you have any resources you would […]
Courtesy of the Fairness Campaign At the Fairness Campaign, we recognize how difficult this time is for our whole community, but especially for marginalized groups, who have disproportionately higher vulnerable populations. We will share on this page some community services/resources and volunteer needs as we are made aware of them. Please share additional resources with […]
by Sarah Gardiner, Queer Kentucky Board Member Illness isn’t a foreign concept to queer people. The HIV epidemic of the 1980’s showed us just how quickly a community can be torn apart, how easily a government can turn a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens, and how vital it is for those affected […]
Conrad De Chabert What Does the word queer mean to you? The word queer… man that was a real struggle hearing it growing up. It was tied to some very deep rooted self hate issues for me. Where I grew up, it was a majority white town and homosexuality wasn’t in the forefront of anyone’s […]
Louisville, KY – On Saturday, March 28, 2020, join the young people of Louisville Youth Group (LYG) and artists from IDEAS xLab’s Our Emotional Wellbeing for Merging the Rainbow, a Fashion Show at Unity of Louisville at 2pm. The Fashion Show was created through a collaboration between the artists and young people starting in 2019, designed to embody self-acceptance, confidence, pride, originality, and […]
Feature photo: Louisville Pride Team poses with Todrick Hall in shirts procured by Custom LogoWare Business owners across Kentucky are excited to become certified as LGBTQ+ businesses by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). The first business certified in Lexington was recognized in January 2020. Jesse Caylor, owner of Custom LogoWare, said […]
Jace Stovall What does the word queer mean to you? The word queer, to me, means I guess anything that isn’t heteronormative. It relates to gender, sexuality, identity, presentation, really everything. How do you identify? I identify as non-binary (using they/them pronouns) and as asexual and pan-romantic. Why? Or why don’t you identify as anything […]
What do you identify as? Why? Or why don’t you identify as anything? I had to really give this some thought because I never really identified myself as anything. At least not openly. I was always just Hannah. I have dated men and women although when I look back over my life, I believe had […]
Cold Spring, KY) With a vote of four to one tonight, the city of Cold Spring, population 6,370, became the 19th municipality in Kentucky to approve a Fairness Ordinance, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The Campbell County community becomes the fifth Northern Kentucky city to […]
Most of us have had some sort of sexual education class during schooling. It was most likely taught to you by a very awkward P.E. teacher who was forced to briefly go over the birds and the bees of cis het sex. Or, you had an eighth grade science and life skills teacher that told […]
(Frankfort, KY) Kentucky Senate Bill 90, a healthcare denial law that would disproportionately affect LGBTQ people, is slated to receive a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning at 10:00 a.m. ET. in Capitol Annex Room 154. The bill, proposed by Senator Steve Meredith (R-Leitchfield), would allow any worker in a healthcare setting to […]
Supporters from all across Kentucky will come together in the Capitol Rotunda to rally for LGBTQ rights and protest discriminatory bills Wednesday, February 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET. State Representative Patti Minter (D-Bowling Green) is expected to announce a new piece of pro-LGBTQ legislation and two longtime leaders will be honored to celebrate the 20th […]
Ramona Thomas , Check out the campaign website, here! My intent to run was started early last year, when I was about a year and a half into my transition. Prior to coming out, and early on in my transition, I had almost no self-confidence, crippling dysphoria can do that to you. My whole life […]
In the organic trend, consumers are discovering the benefits of avoiding chemicals and pesticides. Certainly, CBD is no exception. USDA organic seals and non-GMO labels are a couple of ways consumers identify quality foods and products. However, does the label make CBD better? No, CBD labeled USDA Organic isn’t better. The USDA is a voluntary […]
by Ada Jones The first time I went into a sex shop, I was mesmerized. At 18-years-old, I was a college freshman and a baby queer, desperate for an unknown community and slowly coming into the realization that I was not as heterosexual as I had once claimed. The bulk of my sexual history at […]
by Ben Gierhart It goes without saying – but will be repeated here anyway – that 2020 is perhaps the most significant election year in recent memory. Of course, Donald Trump will be on the ballot, and the role of president is obviously a highly contested spot, with both national and international ramifications whatever the […]
What do you identify as? Why? Or why don’t you identify as anything?A genderfluid, polyamorous, pansexual, pagan drag queen! I identify as such partly because it’s cheeky to have such an amazing alliteration when describing yourself but, more seriously, because I have encompassed multiple truths at once throughout my entire life. I am a man […]
By Remi Dior Background: A student has come into Dr. Kaila Story’s class to distribute anti-queer literature. A Courier Journal article describes the pamphlet as being 36 pages in length. An excerpt shared in the article shows that the pamphlet denounces the idea that “what people do sexually is their own business.” The pamphlet also […]
Originally reported by WDRB For the first time in history, Republicans in both the House and Senate are supporting legislation that would ban conversion therapy. Rep. Kim Banta from, Fort Mitchell, and Senator Alice Forgy Kerr, from Lexington, are backing The Mental Health Protection Act, also known as House Bill 199. The bill would make […]
Jaison Gardner continues to push our community to face the divides that exist, from race to socio-economic, and to spur public dialogue to support moving the LGBTQ+ community forward – both through social media, in person, and through the Strange Fruit podcast. He is part of the leadership for Sweet Evening Breeze, which is currently being […]
Volunteers of America Mid-States HIV program is dedicated to helping educate the community around testing, prevention and treatment resources. They conduct free, confidential HIV testing with results in minutes, distribute an abundance of safer sex supplies to the community and provide linkage to care when appropriate. Their program also provides housing assistance for individuals living […]
Kyle May Kyle lived in a small eastern KY town that does not have a big acceptance to the LGTB community. Struggling himself with feeling comfortable in the community Kyle took it upon himself to create the Big Sandy Safe Zone. It started out as him as some member and now is compete with a full board and […]
He helped organize the first pride event in Paducah, Ky. He also started a local 501(c)(3) organization welcome center in the area with educational programs and support groups for trans people. He fought in Paducah for the passage of the fairness ordinance. He has literally showed me what could be done to help the people […]
Two bills have been filed that will harm transgender Kentuckians, particularly transgender kids, said officials with Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky HB321, introduced by Rep. Savannah Maddox, would prohibit parents from making medical decisions about their kids and use government force regarding the medical care of their children by banning parents from raising their children based […]
Desi has worked her ass off by creating Queer Black pride celebrations like The Pride Games. Over the years she has created a community of prideful black folx that get together and celebrate who they are. Desi loves everyone and works to have everyone included — always. She deserves recognition for her hard work in […]
by Dustin Havens Western Kentucky Pride Festival is back in full force planning. The festival is set to take place at Carson Park in Paducah from May 29th – 31st. Opening Ceremonies will take place at 12pm on Friday the 29th and closing Ceremonies Sunday the 31st at 2pm. This years event was moved from […]
As an open transman, Kasen spends his time assisting numerous organizations in the Kentuckiana community in becoming more inclusive. Currently, Kasen sits on the Leadership Committee for Louisville Trans Men, running many of their social media groups, volunteering to help with the Transgender Wellness Summit, recreating the LTM website, organizing their participation in the Louisville […]
