by Belle Townsendshe/[email protected] Commonly referred to by critics as a dog whistle for censorship, the “parental rights” movement has been finding its footing in Kentucky. Senate Bill 5, characterized by critics as a book banning bill, passed the Kentucky House and Senate in March of 2023. This bill would create a complaint resolution policy, wherein […]
With the release of a *particular* game about wizards in an IP created by famed trans-exclusionist/man in bathroom paranoia-conspiracy theorist J.K Rowling, my social media, which largely consists of millennials who defined their personality traits based on Hogwarts houses— for the record, I’m a Slytherin — and gen Z’ers who don’t have the attachment and […]
by Belle Townsendshe/[email protected] On March 17th, McKenzie Roller posted a Facebook status. In the post, they tagged a page they made called “Teen Frankfort Rally”, with the announcement that, “We will be protesting at the Frankfort Capitol March 29th on the final days of the legislative sessions.” On Wednesday, March 29, teens rallied by the […]
With at least 11 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in Kentucky’s 2023 legislative session, many folks are wondering where and how those bills ended up. This slate of hate contained similar language to bathroom bills, “don’t say gay/trans” bills, and anti-trans healthcare bills that have been pushed across the United States. The ACLU has been keeping an […]
The first Kentucky Republican Gubernatorial debate of the 2023 election year took place on March 7. The debate originally aired on Spectrum News, and one of the topics discussed was whether or not the government has a place in regulating the access of gender-affirming surgery for minors under 18. Alan Keck, Mike Harmon, Ryan Quarles, […]
By Christian Brawner and Sunny Cobb With the 20th anniversary of the Iraq invasion approaching, and while facing a seemingly insurmountable upsurge in state repression against our trans community, I want to honor the legacy of our queer and gay ancestors by reminding you of our revolutionary struggle. It’s absolutely no coincidence that when the […]
By Benjamin Berry In late October 2022, after months of organizing, the two dozen workers at local pizzeria, Pizza Lupo, notified management of their intention to unionize as members of the Louisville chapter of Restaurant Workers United (RWU). A young union founded at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, RWU uses a direct-join model through […]
A duo of Lexington drag performers launched a petition calling on local leaders to stand up against state and national leaders who have it out for the LGBTQ+ community Monday. The pair, Petty Poussay and Uma Jewels, founded LEXHAVEPRIDE.com and a companion change.org petition that has received over 4,200 signatures over the week. They plan to present 15 specific […]
Imanitwithago Zachee (pronounced Za-shay, known as Zachee to friends) was a Black transgender woman gunned down outside of her work on February 3. In addition to being murdered outside of her workplace at JBS plants in Butchertown, Zachee was murdered by one of her coworkers. The suspect, who turned himself in and now is pleading […]
The University of Louisville Trans Rights Alliance, or ULTRA, has been bringing attention to policy and culture promoting transphobia on the college campus. The student organizers leading this group include juniors Miles Lanham and Calvin Silver, with senior Parker Albro. According to University of Louisville students and activists associated with ULTRA, there have been lasting […]
Inequity increases the likelihood of worse health outcomes and steals agency from us all. Out-of-date restrictions on In-Home HIV test kits have created inequity in access to these tests for Kentuckians that can’t afford to buy them at the store or face stigma in their communities. The Social Practice Lab, along with researchers at Norton […]
by Belle Townsend With February 21st and 22nd being the respective filing deadlines for the KY state Senate and House, there were an influx of bills introduced. Of those is Senate Bill 5. This bill, characterized by critics as a book banning bill, would create a system to allow for parents to allege that materials […]
When asked why he keeps coming back to the art form of dance, Ryan Green said that he has been dancing since middle school and is always coming back for different reasons. Green, Louisville community member turned Los Angeles professional dancer, expanded on his evolution of loving to dance and teach dancing. He shared the […]
FEB 16 UPDATE: Chris Hartman, Executive Director of the Fairness Campaign, said that SB 150 was our most immediate threat. He was right. The bill was approved in committee already, but bill sponsor, Max Wise R-Campbellsville, wanted to add some technical corrections. Max Wise is also the running mate of Kelly Craft, coal baron Joe […]
Imanitwithago Zachee (pronounced Za-shay, known as Zachee to friends) was a Black transgender woman gunned down outside of her work on February 3. Soon after, a dozen Louisville advocacy and support groups, as well as friends, family, and community members, gathered to honor her life through a candlelight vigil. Zachee was shot and killed as […]
photo credit https://twitter.com/slutpilled I’ve already done the Valentine’s Day love letter and mixtape thing, so this year I give you a Thinking Queerly entry centering around identity crisis. A love story spoiled by politics. A confessional-manifesto. A bad romance, if you will. Oh, and a poem: The globe is overheating.The economy is depressed.We’re on the […]
This Valentine’s Day do you find yourself brokenhearted, disposed of, or eating chocolates in your bed and crying to Lana Del Ray? Baby, fuck that. You need to dance. You need to party. You need to forget all about them. When your heart gets ripped out of your chest, you bleed out… but what if […]
Introduced yesterday, Kentucky House Bills 173 and 177 fall under the umbrella of “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” bills that have been sweeping the nation. This fight has been in Kentucky, but it has been taken to an even higher and more alarming level. House Bill 173 expands on the conservative education movement advocating for “parental choice” […]
It is only the beginning of February, and there is already another violent killing of a Black trans woman. An immigrant from Rwanda, Africa, Imanitwitaho Zachee (pronounced Za-shay), known as Zachee to friends, was shot and killed outside of the JBS Foods plant where she worked on Feb. 3. Police say the gunman and Zachee’s […]
“When I was growing up in Carollton, I used to daydream about gay bars in the big city and what it would be like to go there and dance to all the music I loved. In some ways, working at Big Bar is like living my wildest dreams.” Carrollton is a small community nestled among […]
As state legislators around the country gather this month to create and pass policy, 2023 brings fresh attention to ongoing efforts impacting the LGBTQ+ community. The first part of the 2023 session of the Kentucky General Assembly convened on January 3 to swear in members, elect leadership, adopt procedural rules, and file bills. It is […]
Fairness Campaign Director, Chris Hartman, submitted his application this week to be the next Sixth District Louisville Metro Councilmember. Two members of the Louisville Metro Council, David James, and Keisha Dorsey have resigned, and the council will now have to fill their seats. It has also been almost 10 years since there has been an […]
As the LGBTQ+ community becomes more visible, institutions are adapting their policies to be more inclusive. The Transportation Security Administration will now offer gender-affirming screenings for queer and transgender travelers.
Kentucky Democratic state Sen. Karen Berg has announced in a statement on Tuesday, that her transgender son died by suicide. Berg said in the statement that Henry Berg-Brousseau, 24, spent his life “working to extend grace, compassion and understanding to everyone, but especially to the vulnerable and marginalized.” “As the mother of a transgender son, […]
Although my column is rooted in my own experiences which I try to paint as humorous, there’s always been something I’ve been paranoid about, or avoided. Through myriad years of lying about my age, never once thinking about what I should do with myself at all for too long, and rushing in and out of […]
This is part three in a series of stories that center around Louisville’s local coffee scene: a battleground of ongoing spiritual and class warfare between Christians and queers, workers and business owners. The purpose of the series is not to publicly drag local businesses or individuals, but to trace the connections between those businesses/individuals to […]
Visual artists are a vital part of Kentucky’s Queer community. Thanks to the Great Meadows Foundation, which was launched in 2016 by contemporary art collector and philanthropist Al Shands (1928-2021) in order to critically strengthen and support visual art in Kentucky, Queer Kentucky will be featuring interviews with a number of these artists. In order to […]
It was just two months since the United States was plunged into World War II. Temperatures were below zero in the hollers of East Kentucky and, while a nation mourned, James and Corinne Clarke of Cave Branch Hollow in Hindman, Kentucky, welcomed a son to the world. Elijah ‘Lige’ Clarke would live out his days […]
*Had to sign a Copy Service Agreement and Permission to Publish forms with U of L Special Archives to use the first pride flyer and Lavender Letter images* From my younger days, to when we moved to Meade County when I was in sixth grade and now into adulthood, Otter Creek Park has been in […]
Update 5:18 p.m. Via CNN Nineteen of the 25 people wounded in the overnight shooting at an LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs sustained gunshot wounds, Mayor John Suthers told CNN’s Jim Acosta Sunday. Based on his communication with medical personnel, Suthers said he expects the injured victims to survive, and the community is “crossing our fingers” for no more fatalities. Suthers […]
