Black, Queer Mental Health: How Vocalist Otis Junior Found Self-Love Through Community & Authenticity
Vocalist Otis Junior found self-love through music, community, and embracing his Black queer identity.
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FROM METRO STREETS TO APPALACHIAN TRAILS
Entries by Sophia Harris
Queen of the Rodeo: Entrepreneur Opens Custom Clothing Shop — Velvet Outlaw
Miranda Deaton started Velvet Outlaw out of her natural-born desire to defy the odds and test the limits. The local clothing brand made its official debut in late April 2022 and Deaton’s Nudie inspired suits have been popping up all around the city ever since. Whether featured in local magazines or TikTok fashion trends, Velvet […]
Poppers: Queer Cultural Norm or a Harmful Chemical Enhancement Not Worth the Rush?
If someone told you that there was a drug that could completely enhance your sexual experience, would you try it? Would you even think twice or would you dive right in? Most people would probably take a step back and consider the factors here. What is it exactly? What does it do? How long does […]
Queer thrift collective opens in Butchertown, offering the gayest gifts
by Sophia Lee (she/they)[email protected] “We want the queer community and adjacent offshoots of that to feel safe here and know that they’re loved and welcome, always and in any circumstance. We really want to be able to help anyone in need while also clothing our queer besties.” – Chaella Higdon When Megan Widmer and Chaella […]
Caravan for Compassion Rolling Through Lex/CKY Friday to Stop SB 150
On Friday, March 24, 2023, there will be a multi-car procession of support for Kentucky’s trans community. The procession will travel throughout Central Kentucky, starting at 4 p.m. This event is being organized by Mason Chernosky and Emma Curtis, two transgender individuals who recently spoke out against the Kentucky Senate Bill 150. The two activists […]
UofL’s Black, Greek life celebrated historical queer voices
“The reality is you’re going to interact with somebody from all walks of life if you live long enough. A lot of people are under the impression that I will never, because I won’t befriend a queer person. I’ll never have to respect one but you will. They’re gonna be your manager, your taxpayer, your […]
Black, gay publication gives visibility to Louisville’s West End through authentic storytelling
“bell hooks was from Berea, I’m from Louisville. Let’s make it happen,” said Talesha Wilson of Black Gay Tymes, a Louisville-based Black archival research project. Working with several organizations, including the Black Leadership Action Coalition of Kentucky (BLACK) and Change Today, Change Tomorrow, Wilson is a full-time organizer who is dedicated to cultivating and maintaining […]
HEALTH EQUITY: Tegan and Sara Foundation, GLMA bring LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory to Americans and Canadians
When we think about healthcare, we often think about the doctors and nurses that care for us in times of need. However, we rarely think about all the environmental components that go into acquiring and producing a genuine medical care experience. Does my doctor understand the importance of my pronouns? Can they prescribe hormone replacement […]
Bodies After Dark: a Black, queer variety show to enhance community within a safe space
Ready to see the most random, queer, gender roles fucking variety show you’ve ever experienced? Drag and boylesque artist Blaque Diamond, The Trans God, and founder of Love Thy Belly, LLC, Fairen Kia, joined forces to curate a safe space event for people to express themselves and learn what feels comfortable and free for them. […]
Ashland native launches Queer music label with partner in January
A local couple will launch a new record label in January to help promote BIPOC and LGBTQ musicians.
Philip Odango and his partner David Johnson are the founders and co-managers of BlackRainbow Records. A press release says that BlackRainbow will offer clients “music production services, video production, licensing and distribution assistance, marketing, and merchandise sales support while celebrating diversity.”
“Our vision is to elevate, amplify, innovate, and energize our artists to new creative and expressive heights and reach broader audiences,” the press release said.
Hip Hop Sweet Shop WILL remain a staple in Louisville’s West End despite fire
Editor’s note: The 18th & Jefferson Street Plaza succumbed to fire before we were able to publish this story. We still believe it is essential to tell Hip Hop Sweet Shop’s story, and we hope you will help us support them in rebuilding. Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers, as our hearts […]
Two Louisville nonprofits collaborate for the benefit of the QTAAPI community
On the horizon for Louisville queers, is a new collaborative inclusion effort supporting the Queer Trans Asian-American Pacific Islander (QTAAPI) community. The initiative is supported by Joel Buno, director for the Asia Institute – Crane House (AICH), and Mike Slaton, executive director for Louisville Pride Foundation (LPF). With May being AAPI history month and June […]
Hard Candy brings Ongina back to the Bluegrass and PLAY Louisville
Daniel Cole’s Hard Candy presents yet another stunning RuPaul’s Drag Race star for its upcoming mini tour series with the one, the only, the Bald Queen herself, Ongina. Ongina is a Filipino-American drag performer who became the first queen to not wear a wig on the main stage, and the first to come out as […]
LGBTQ+ owned, horror-themed bookstore opens in Highlands neighborhood
When most Louisvillians think of local book shops to hang around, they tend to patronize the city’s staples — Carmichael’s or the Book & Music Exchange. In terms of niche sub-genres and cult picks, there isn’t a large variety for us queerdos to browse. As Louisville continues growing, we’ve seen an abundance of food, clothes, […]
Melanin Pride celebrates Black queer folks, continues growing
Since 2017, Desi Carr has been the sole organizer of Melanin Pride – a multi-day social event that celebrates the Black queer community. The event started with Black queer folks wanting to play kickball together, but slowly grew into something much bigger. The 2021 festival was five days long, in celebration of the event’s five […]
Reflecting on Evangelical Christians spewing hate at Shelbyville Pride
Earlier this Summer I had the opportunity to attend Shelby County Pride Parade and Festival, which took place on June 26 at the Shelbyville Stargazer Plaza. The event was filled with queer folks and allies, vendors and entertainers alike. I had a great time, and would give the festival five stars–were it not for the […]
Top Queer albums thus far brought to you by Queer Kentucky
CRASH by Charli XCX Charli XCX has taken the indie pop/hyperpop scene by storm for years. Most people either know her name or know a song or two by this queen, but we never imagined that during this hellacious pandemic she would give us some of her best bops yet; using several ‘80s pop influences […]
Getting Glitzed with the Gays: Biodegradable centered startup launches holographic product line tomorrow at Darling’s Bar
Need more looks to kill for this raging festival season? Well theys, gays, and baes, I sure do have a newly improved, and environmentally sustainable accessory for you. Every year at Forecastle Music Festival, there is one table that shines a little brighter than others. Probably due to the immense amounts of glitter wafting through […]
Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is body policing, detrimental to community
featured article art by Juniper Moon Folk Art If breaking the law meant that you could better someone’s life and potentially save their life entirely, would you do it? This is the moral dilemma we as a Queer community and allies are facing. In 2021 alone, over 250 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced. A large portion […]
Forcastle Festival Roundup: It was gay AF in 2022, to that we say, ‘hell yeah!’
After two years of longing from Louisvillians all around, Forecastle Music Festival has finally returned. And they are back with a bang. While I haven’t been to every Forecastle ever, I will go ahead and say… This was the gayest Forecastle Music Festival yet. With colorful flags, prideful light shows, and the queerest lineup ever, […]
Kentucky Wesleyan College makes strides in safe spaces and diversity
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private Methodist university located in Owensboro, Kentucky. The city has made recent headlines in the LGBTQ+ world over the past few years because it keeps failing to enact a fairness ordnance. They consistently also score very low on the Human Rights Campaign’s equality index. In 2017, they received 18 out […]
“How Big is your Bar?” Louisville gay bar celebrates 10 year anniversary with ultimate expansion
When Big Bar opened up on May 1, 2012, Kevin Bryan and Jim Lunger never imagined it would become one of the most popular watering holes in the region. Some incredibly dramatic and traumatic (in a good way) things have gone down in the little 800 square foot building over the past 10 years. Big […]
Queer, Highlands-based record company prepares for annual Record Store Day after months of growth
Whether it be jelly sandals, Animal Crossing, or mushrooms, everything you once loved comes back around. Gen Z has been no stranger to the resurgence of trends of the past. Though we’ve seen it the most up close and personal in the form of fashion, one of the greatest resurgences taking place is vinyl records. […]
Blessed be the fruit: Drink enthusiasts create superfood cocktail mixer with health in mind
Most of us have days filled with nothing but pure and utter stress. Overwhelmed, beaten down, and totally drained from your day, you can’t help but crave some sweet delicacy to help you meet your zen. Whether that vice be sugar, alcohol, drugs, sex, is up to you. But for those of us that like […]
First generation American finds strength through online bake shop, queerness
Growing up in Clarksville, Tenn., Lease Carmona was the youngest of three children, all born to an Afrolatin family. With their mother being Dominican and their father being Puerto Rican, Carmona had to develop a strong sense of self even if it wasn’t who they were meant to be — it was who they had […]
Rural Kentuckian, adult entertainer Lane V. Rogers adds UK Wildcat to résumé
When googling the name “Lane V. Rogers,” an abundance of media and information swarms the page. Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Twitch, Onlyfans, and more. Click on a google image, and you’ll see the most precious human. Sweet face, greek god build, and that astrological Leo tattoo? Phenomenal. Lane V Rogers, aka Mr. Blake Mitchell, is a […]