Breaking it Down: How to advocate for yourself in Frankfort
photo by Jon Cherry
ICYMI: Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session is upon us and, as always, it is shaping up to be a bit of a doozy.
Want to advocate for yourself, your friends or your favorite causes? Want to push for or against a bill? Just want to be more plugged into state politics this year?
Queer Kentucky talked to advocates, activists and political watchers to gather up some helpful tips for navigating Frankfort and making the most of your time with lawmakers.
I, Olivia Krauth, Queer Kentucky’s go-to civics reporter and an award-winning political reporter, also threw in some information that would’ve helped me when I was first trying to figure out Frankfort.
Know the process and lingo
LGBTQ+ activist Mason Kalinsky summed it up best: “Learn as much as you can about the process and how it works. Learn who you need to talk to to make change happen (committee leaders, leadership, etc.) and how to talk to them to make change. What do they care about? What will convince them?”
Step one: Know the legislative process (at least the basics).
In Kentucky, this is the fastest way to describe how a bill becomes a law:
- A bill gets filed.
- It gets a committee vote.
- It gets a full floor vote in the chamber it was filed in (so, House or Senate).
- If it passes, it goes to the other chamber to repeat the process (committee vote, then a full floor vote).
- It then goes to the governor to either be signed into law, vetoed or become law without their signature.
- If it is vetoed, the legislature has a chance to override it. Both chambers need to vote to override the veto. If they do, it becomes law.
And there will probably be a lot of unfamiliar words and phrases. We’re trying our best to explain things in conversational terms in civics and politics coverage, but it will be helpful to bookmark this handy glossary of legislative terms from the LRC.
And know the dates
Here’s a quick outline of key dates for the rest of the 2025 session:
- Feb. 4: Lawmakers return to Frankfort. From there, they’ll generally meet Tuesday through Friday each week.
- Feb. 18 and 19: The last day for new bills to be filed in the Senate and House, respectively.
- March 14: The last day before Gov. Andy Beshear gets a 10-day period to veto or sign any bills passed thus far. Typically, this is the final day for the GOP to pass any controversial bills so that they can override Beshear’s veto during the last two days of session.
- March 28: The final day of session. This is called sine die.
And also know the who, what, when and where
We’ll get more into the “who” in a second, but when it comes to the rest of it, the LRC website and social media accounts are your best friend.
The daily legislative calendar will show you what committees are meeting each day, in what room and at what time. It’ll also show you what they’ll be discussing and voting on.
The standing committee schedule shows the standard committee meeting schedule so you have some sort of baseline to plug into your planner. Be aware, though: Meetings can be canceled and called at any time, and especially so late into session.
The LRC’s social media accounts are great for reminders about meetings and updates about the cafeteria’s menu for the day.
You can also rely on organizations you know and trust.
“Follow an organization you support and sign up for their newsletters, events, and updates. READ THEIR UPDATES, even if it’s just skimming them to see what’s happening,” the ACLU of Kentucky recommended.
‘Lawmakers are just people’
The advocates we spoke to were clear: Get to know your lawmakers, and talk to them.
“Every Kentuckian has a representative and a senator. Learn who they are, learn how they vote, and talk to them! Ask if you can meet them to talk or even shadow them for a day during the legislative session, even if (especially if) you didn’t vote for them,” the ACLU of Kentucky said.
(You can find out who represents you in Frankfort by plugging in your address here. You’ll be able to access their contact info from there.)
“Lawmakers are just people,” the folks at the ACLU of Kentucky continued. “It can seem intimidating to attend a committee hearing, testify, or meet with a representative or senator, but legislators are no different than you are. They have been elected to represent YOU, and to do that, they need to hear what you think.”
Nisia Thornton and Jenn Bell from the LGBTQIA Council for Kentucky Democrats agreed: Those state reps and senators are ultimately just people.
“They’re only in office because voters put them there. Treat them with respect, but don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and start a conversation,” they said.
“Learn their faces and stories: Recognizing your legislator can lead to chance
conversations, but learning their story can help build a real connection. Advocacy is
about relationships, not just requests,” they continued.
One other thing from the ACLU: “They all have different experiences and expertise; they can’t know everything, and we shouldn’t expect them to. Give them the benefit of the doubt and try talking to them about things that are important to you.”
Respect the aides
We love an unsung hero, and legislative aides are top of that list.
“Become besties with the legislative aides. They are the gatekeepers. Approach them with extra empathy and respect,” Heather Hyden, a former lobbyist, recommended.
How to (get to) talk to lawmakers
Thornton and Bell had plenty of advice when it comes to actually sitting down with your lawmakers:
- “Say yes to meeting offers: Legislators’ schedules during the session are packed, so if they offer you a meeting time, try to take it — they may not have another opening.”
- “Virtual meetings are the norm: Since COVID-19, most legislators offer Zoom meetings in lieu of in-person visits. It’s an easy way to stay connected if you can’t make it to the Capitol.”
- “Prepare your elevator pitch: Some meetings might only last 15 minutes — or less! Be clear about your message and why it matters. Even a few minutes can make an Impression.”
- “Plan for extra time: If your legislator offers more time, don’t feel rushed. Stay for the conversation — you never know where it might lead.”
Go at it alone vs. with a group (or both)
There are pros to both sides, folks told Queer Kentucky.
“My biggest advice would be to try and show up as yourself and not be immediately associated with a big name org. It loses credibility for yourself immediately,” Hyden recommended.
“Legislators are exhausted by the big advocacy orgs and many don’t trust them,” Hyden continued. “Your story and experience are invaluable and we desperately need more people to share as themselves, not coached or wordsmithed. You can go far by building a relationship with your legislator as yourself and then having them help introduce you to others.”
But when you’re navigating a new and often unfriendly space, it can help to have someone to guide you through the process and tell you what to do and when. And there can be power in numbers.
Chris Hartman, who leads the Fairness Campaign, said: “First, keep a cool head. The Fairness Campaign will let you know when it’s time to light your hair on fire.
“We’ll let you know exactly the right time to send an email, make a phone call, or show up in Frankfort to maximize our collective impact.”
How to stay in the loop + how to follow bills
You can go through bills on the LRC’s website. There are several ways to search through legislation. Find what works for you.
Queer Kentucky will be tracking all of the biggest bills — especially those impacting the LGBTQ+ community — in our 2025 legislative session bill tracker. Bookmark that page and check it frequently for updates.
But one big thing to know: Hundreds of bills will be filed. Very few of them will go anywhere.
“In fact, some of the worst bills will serve as a distraction — sucking up media attention, energy, and the spotlight — while more subtle threats quietly slip under the radar,” Hartman said. “Reserve your knee-jerk reactions. We will be in Frankfort every day doggedly tracking bills to let you know what the real threats are.”
To stay on top of things, obvs, Queer Kentucky has you covered, but so do other folks.
From the ACLU of Kentucky: “Sign up for updates on our website, sign up to volunteer with us, and come to an event we host! And check out the new ALL ACCESS PASS. It’s a living toolkit we will add to and edit as session continues!”
And you can find info for the Fairness Campaign here and the LGBTQIA Council here.
Practical tips on navigating the state Capitol
In no particular order:
- “Be ready to walk—a lot: You’ll cover more ground than you expect, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk outside as well.” — Thornton and Bell.
- “Park in the garage: It’s free, convenient, and sometimes you’ll run into legislators there.” — Thornton and Bell.
- “The salad bar in the Capitol Annex Cafeteria is legit.” — The ACLU of Kentucky.
- “You can, and likely will, get lost in the Capitol Building or in the Annex. You may even end up on the roof. It’s okay, just ask someone for directions.” — The ACLU of Kentucky.
- “Take your time in the building: The Capitol is designed for visitors. You’re not in the way—you belong there just as much as anyone else.” — Thornton and Bell.