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 […]
Anne Miller is the owner of Suspend, an aerial and circus gym in Louisville, KY. She has created the definition of a safe space; every single person that walks into the room at Suspend feel valued, welcomed, and accepted for who they are. As an instructor, Anne takes great care to make sure that students’ bodies are being […]
by Ben Gierhart In a surprise move, Justin Bramhall, an openly gay man running for Kentucky’s 79th legislative district seat has dropped out of the race. In a post he released on Facebook, Bramhall cites a respectful deference to incumbent Representative Susan Westrom, an overlap in ideology and a misunderstanding that she would be retiring […]
by Ben Gierhart The University of Louisville is certainly one of the best schools in the state, but it may surprise many to know that according to Campus Pride – a national nonprofit organization that rates colleges and universities according to their support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues – it is the best […]
RaeShanda Lias-Lockhart, founder of All is Fair in Love and Fashion, is being featured on TLC’s say yes to the dress this Saturday. “After I got engaged in July of 2018, one of my bridesmaids suggested I apply to ‘Say Yes To The Dress,’” Johnson told The Courier Journal. “I almost didn’t bother because I thought they’d never […]
by Sarah Gardiner Walk into any vegan restaurant and you’re likely to see the two more popular staples of any “alternative”-eatery: faux-meat and queer customers. Such is the case at the Louisville Vegan Jerky Company and former Morels’ new pop-up shops quickly spreading throughout the city. Vegan and Vegetarianism have always had deep ties to […]
By Ben Gierhart QueerKentucky spoke with Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky and one of its founders, Tanner Mobley in September of 2019. It’s only been a few short months since then, but already tremendous progress has been made. As of Tuesday, January 14, HB 199 (one can read Representative Lisa Willner’s bill language here: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/20rs/hb199.html) and […]
With a five to three vote of the fiscal court tonight, Woodford County, population 26,368, became the first Kentucky County in two decades to approve a Fairness Ordinance prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Jefferson County was the last county-wide municipal government to approve the measure in October 1999 before merging with […]
Katlyn McGraw is cofounder of Gayborhood Events, an organization that focuses on creating events for Louisville’s Queer community with a focus on providing inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ women, nonbinary and trans folx. What do you identify as? Why? Or why don’t you identify as anything?I currently identify as lesbian. The reason I say currently, is […]
A 15-year-old freshman was expelled from a private Louisville Christian school for a “lifestyle violation.” Whitefield Academy Student Kayla Kenney, celebrating her 15th birthday with family while wearing a rainbow top and a birthday cake. Her mother Kimberly Alford later shared photos of the celebration on social media. The post was shared with staff at […]
Chris Hartman, Louisville, Kentucky What does the word Queer mean to you? Queer, while still steeped in a complicated history, and hurtful to many, has overall become what I feel is among the most inclusive terms—an umbrella that works to leave no one out. I definitely identify as a member of our inclusive queer community. […]
Patti Minter, D-Bowling Green and Lisa Willner, D-Louisville have filed a bill that would ban the practice of conversion therapy in Kentucky. Conversion therapy is a treatment that works to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. If this passes, health professionals won’t be able to practice the therapy regardless of age. Public funds […]
Dear Editor, On Tuesday a few men walked around the Kentucky State Capitol carrying semi-automatic weapons for a “pro gun rally” advocating for their rights to own guns and lobby againt red flag laws. First, no one is trying to take away anyone’s rights to lawfully own a firearm. Second, the argument that red flag […]
(Fort Thomas, KY) With a unanimous vote of 5-0 by the city council tonight, the Campbell County town of Fort Thomas, population 16,263, became the seventeenth city in the Commonwealth and fifth in Northern Kentucky to approve a Fairness Ordinance prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. “This is a proud moment for […]
A man died after an altercation with security outside Nowhere Bar Louisville early Sunday morning. Nowhere has been a staple bar for the LGBTQ+ community in Louisville for years. Social media posts have confirmed the victim was Christopher McKinney. WDRB reported that Metrosafe supervisors confirm there was a call for a “man down” at 1133 […]
by Ben Gierhart There is a great axiom that all great change, no matter the odds, starts within. The saying couldn’t be more true than for the state of Kentucky. For progressive Kentuckians, it is easy to believe that votes don’t matter on the federal level. This current state of affairs can only improve if […]
Queer Kentucky Interview with Prince Crittenden What is BO$$? BO$$ is a creative cooperative designed to level the playing field by empowering minorities with business related resources, create a network of likeminded peers and encourage diversity within our local creative and entrepreneurial communities. What inspired you to create this event? Well I’ve always been pretty […]
Carrie Radshaw – a Kentucky lesbian on a journey through dating in the Bluegrass. Less Manolo Blahnik, more Birkenstock. Dating as a queer lady can be really difficult. Without a womxn-focused place left in Louisville, apps have become the means of connection. So, let’s rank the apps how queer womxn meet. Lex The Lex app […]
by Sarah Gardiner After an incredible year for Women’s Soccer, the news just keeps getting better with the announcement of an upcoming National Women’s Soccer League expansion to Louisville in 2021. Women’s Soccer is a really queer sport. Like, really queer. Within the US National Team alone, there are four openly out players, including World […]
OWENSBORO — Chadwick Benefield has been a huge supporter of the Owensboro adopting a fairness ordinance, however many community members are citing religious reason for not backing an ordinance. Benefield and a team of fellow Fairness advocates teamed up with friends Jeff Sorce and James Whitehouse and decided that for the time being, there is […]
Derek Miller Queer is a way to deconstruct the boxes within which I’ve been placed over the course of my life prior to coming out. It can be a tool for unpacking words and actions, analyzing behaviors, or simply making a statement. I often look around and find my queer peers and colleagues living with […]
Nick Yeast, Harrodsburg What does the word queer mean to you? How do you identify? Queer is such a liberating meaning. It means we as queer people don’t fall into societal norms that require us to fit in a box. The freedom to be your true authentic self is a gift that needs to be […]
Diikahnéhi Akwirá’es Delaronde, Lexington Within Native American communities, our relations to one another have always been the foundational force in how we find meaning in our identities. Our beloved relations extend through and past us, connecting a singular individual to both the living and the dead, to the ancient past, the sprawling present and the […]
State Representative David Hale wants students to use school facilities based on their biological sexes at birth in a bill he prefiled Thursday. This bill would require that all school restrooms and locker rooms be only available to students based on their biological gender at birth. The prefiled legislation, called the Kentucky Student Privacy Act, […]
By Ben Gierhart It’s almost 2020, so it may seem to be a foregone conclusion that most if not all communities are accepting of LGBTQ+ people by now. The truth is that unfortunately many rural communities in the country are still not as progressive as one might want. Kentucky has a reputation for being a […]
by Sarah Gardiner On December 8th, the L Word is back with a whole new series and a fresh look at what queerness looks like 10 years on from the last season. Like so many queer shows and media from the early 2000’s, the first L Word series had its issues. Rewatching it today can […]
With a unanimous vote of 6-0 by city council tonight, the Northern Kentucky town of Highland Heights, est. population 7,103 and home of Northern Kentucky University, became the sixteenth city in the Commonwealth with a Fairness Ordinance prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Highland Heights rounds out a record-breaking year for Fairness […]
by Vinny O’Hara The holidays can really suck for some of us. For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so different from my family. I had so much in common with these people—and I actually like them!—but I couldn’t shake my awkwardness and unease at holiday gatherings. I was labeled as […]
Editors note: We at Queer Kentucky know Officer John Burgraff personally and he has our support. ARTICLE ORIGINALLY REPORTED BY LGBTQNATION.com John Burgraff — a gay officer with the Louisville, Kentucky Metro Police Department (LMPD) — is suing the city and the police department for anti-gay discrimination after his commanding officers effectively accused him of […]
