More than 12,700 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Kentucky since reporting began in 1982. Here’s how to find HIV-competent doctors you need from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to the Bluegrass Care Clinic at the University of Kentucky.
Read More
Western Kentucky LGBTQ+ violence rates top the state average. Most of the region has no fairness ordinance and KY’s hate crime law excludes trans people.
New data from the 2025 Queer Kentucky Community Health Survey paints a stark picture: more than half of LGBTQ+ people in Western Kentucky have no regular healthcare provider, and the region’s HIV never-tested rate is nearly 20 points higher than the state average. Nick Fulton reports on the education gaps, care deserts, and community organizers working to change it.
Nathan Wilson was once a patient at HIV health nonprofit Matthew25. Now he manages facilities for the organization that helped save his life.
Seven Counties Services is welcoming the LGBTQ+ community to “Rooted for Wellness,” a free annual open house at their La Grange location on June 27. Drop in for music, arts and crafts, light refreshments, and a chance to learn about mental health and behavioral health services in a safe, affirming space.
Trans Kentuckians are fighting to keep their healthcare as anti-trans laws hit record highs. Providers and patients speak out, and refuse to back down.
The 2026 LGBTQ Kentucky survey is live through June, building on data from more than 4,000 previous respondents. Add your voice to one of the most comprehensive studies of queer Kentuckians ever conducted.
In a time of political backsliding, artists are at the forefront fighting against white patriarchal ideals with acts of rebellious queerness and authenticity. One singer in particular, Cain Culto, blends unapologetic queerness and witchy aesthetic—long fingernails, grills with tusks, and jockstraps—with music that takes on themes of sexuality, battling colonialism, and healing his inner child. […]
Skylar Davis grows Period Y’all to fight period poverty across Kentucky communities.
Kentucky SB 72 advances allowing health care refusals on conscience grounds.
Dr. Bobbie Glass appears on Trevor Project series on LGBTQ mental health.
Lexington’s Slay Bells returns Dec. 7 to support Moveable Feast with drag, comedy, and community joy.
A new partnership between Free to Be Youth Project and Sweet Evening Breeze brings gender-affirming care packages and vital support to unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Kentucky.
Trans Kentuckians arm up amid fear, misinformation, and escalating political attacks.
Trans singer shares journey of finding voice on testosterone and tips for vocal transition care.
Free 3-week virtual voice training from Undead Voice for Kentuckians; plus $1,000 credit.
Queer Northern Kentuckians find belonging in NAMI’s LGBTQIA+ support group.
A queer raver’s journey through grief, psychedelics, body image, and finding sobriety.
Disabled trans voices show why accessibility is the backbone of justice and activism.
A gathering of raw, radiant voices: Kentucky’s trans youth share stories of truth and care.
From Covington to Louisville, queer cycling groups reclaim the road and build community.
Microaggressions in health care harm LGBTQ+ patients and fuel mistrust in medical spaces.
A personal look at fatphobia in health care and how weight stigma shapes care and self-worth.
LGBTQ+ Kentuckians face healthcare cuts—here’s how to find affirming care across the state.
Queer Kentucky is placing harm reduction lockers in businesses across the Bluegrass State.
The LGBTQ-specific option on the 988 lifeline gave queer youth immediate access to trained counselors. Now, Trump is shutting it down, despite widespread support and need.
Mathematical models indicate that the worst-case scenario of the Trump administration’s HIV-related cuts could result in 3 million deaths and an infection rate outpacing the virus’s peak in the 1990s.
Carma Bell Marshall uplifts trans youth, lives with HIV, and leads with joy and advocacy.
Supreme Court upholds Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers, hormone care for transgender youth.
Chemsex and Party and Play culture have ravaged the gay community for decades. Considering the history of this problem, are hook-up apps doing enough to combat the epidemic on their platforms?
Queer Kentucky introduces a special project about all things harm reduction.
Black queer Kentuckians reflect on HIV/AIDS history, stigma, and the fight for health equity.
Learn your rights in Kentucky if your nudes or deepfakes are shared without consent.
The RPDR Season 17 Finalist has entered a 30-day treatment facility in Texas.
An LGBTQ+ HIV support group exists in Louisville, check it out!
CDC HIV prevention cuts could harm Kentucky and Ohio’s public health efforts.
The Mpox Issue: A digital magazine tackling LGBTQ+ health, stigma, and prevention with education and advocacy.
HIV laws rooted in stigma still criminalize people despite medical advances proving undetectable means untransmittable.
HIV in Kentucky is on the rise and knowing your status in rural areas is possible!
Mpox can spread through sex toys and gear. Learn how to clean and sanitize them to stay safe and prevent infection.
Mpox, like smallpox, has a long history. Get vaccinated to protect yourself, backed by centuries of science.
Grindr’s Marielle Rodriguez led a successful mpox awareness campaign, balancing education with app integrity.
Mpox is a global emergency. Learn how it spreads, symptoms, prevention, and vaccine options.
Mpox is serious and can leave lasting scars. Get vaccinated to protect yourself and your community—don’t wait, complete your vaccination today.
When Lafesa Johnson first started baking, it was out of necessity and creativity. As a young single mother of three, she learned early on how to make the most out of limited resources. When expensive birthday cakes were out of reach, Lafesa began crafting cakes for her children using techniques she picked up from cake-decorating […]
What are you using to wash your hands? Here are some special instructions to prevent mpox and other viruses.
Mpox and HIV intersect in public health. Learn about vaccines, risks, and why knowing your status is essential.
Feed Louisville is changing the way people in need receive nutritious food.
Since 2018, Sniffies has been putting queers on the map. Literally. The web app uses a geolocation interface that helps cruisers – mostly queer men – find one another through a real-time, often anonymous exchange of physical traits and sexual preferences. Grindr meets Nextdoor. Sniffies is certainly a grower, with some reports estimating user counts […]
Homelessness in Kentucky has surged 200% in a year, highlighting urgent needs amidst anti-homeless laws and funding gaps.
As Kentucky Becomes the 23rd State to Ban Conversion Therapy, Religious Leaders Can Still Legally Practice Nationwide.
Chemsex, or combining drugs with sex, poses serious health risks but harm reduction and support can help. 🌈💊 Learn more about the realities, risks, and resources.
A new administration is upon us. What can trans people do?
Mpox is on the rise in Kentucky. Let’s learn more.
California health officials have confirmed the first U.S. case of a more severe mpox strain, clade 1b, in a traveler returning from Eastern Africa, according to the CDC. The individual was treated shortly after arriving in the U.S., and officials are working to identify anyone who may have been exposed. Despite this development, the CDC […]
Queer men have been using DoxyPEP to combat STIs. Can it help with Mpox, too?
Queer Kentucky’s Mindful Movement class at Suspend offers a safe, LGBTQ+ affirming space for trauma-informed breath and bodywork.
My HIV is 20 this year. I tested positive in September 2004. It was my habit to get tested during my birth month, and start my new year with a clean bill of health. The day I tested positive was a work day. At the time, the AIDS Volunteers of Lexington (AVOL) was in downtown […]
When Kyle Scott heard former President Donald Trump mention his town during the first and likely only debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, the feeling was not the joy of being acknowledged on a platform being watched by a reported 67 million viewers. He feared how the fallout would impact his neighbors and friends. I […]
One in eight Americans are food insecure, according to the USDA. That means they have little or inconsistent access to an adequate amount of food. In Kentucky, a state with growing income inequality, one in seven people are food insecure. In the queer community, the rate of food insecurity grows significantly. According to a report […]
Attending Louder Than Life this weekend? Check out the 1 Million Strong tent. The music industry, a hub of entertainment and creativity, is also a sector riddled with substance abuse, much like our own queer community. With 56 percent of industry professionals grappling with addiction, there has been a push to address the severe […]
art by Ceirra Evans The path of addiction and recovery is not linear. That is something that Lucas Blackburn and Josh Shaw can attest to in their recovery journeys. Currently, Blackburn has been sober for nearly four years, and Shaw has been sober for six and a half years. Despite this, it wasn’t always this […]
by Lantern staff, Kentucky Lantern September 20, 2024 The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has issued an overdose alert for Lexington. The health department reports a spike in suspected nonfatal drug overdoses with 24 reported in four days, Sept 17-20, according to information from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application System (ODMAP). “This is an important time […]
photos by Milkman Photography The booze beginning I did not grow up with queer people around me in rural Kentucky. But, I did have a fabulous, good country woman as a grandmother. She taught me how to cook, how to be myself no matter what anyone thought, and how to fight to survive in a […]
photos by Jon Cherry Queer Kentucky has partnered with Louisville Magazine for our fourth print issue. We asked Louisvillians and Kentuckians at large about their queerness and its relationship to the city, where they feel at home, who was there for them when it felt like nobody else was, the biggest issues facing Louisville’s queer communities, and […]
Louisville Vaccine Signups Kentucky Vaccine Locations The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that the mpox outbreak in Africa has become a global health emergency. A deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has reached at least four previously unaffected countries in Africa. The risk […]
I got addicted to drugs because I wanted to be cool. The cool kids in high school, the ones who listened to Dead Kennedys and Current Joys and wore their pants cuffed and talked about communism all smoked cigarettes. So I started to smoke cigarettes. I still remember the smugness on my face and sense […]
Queer Kentucky was built on a foundation of community. And as an organization that lives and breathes community, we are acutely aware of when our members are hurting. LGBTQ+ people are succumbing to substance use disorder at an alarming rate and Queer Kentucky is determined to loudly discuss this topic through a series of stories […]
This story was first published by Louisville Public Media When Kentuckians opened up the pornography video-sharing website Thursday, they were hit with a pop up. In all caps underneath a picture of the Kentucky flag, it read, “You will lose access to pornhub in 26 days.” Earlier this year, Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill — following in […]
photos by Brett Loudermilk I Will Follow You to BG ‘Cause That’s What Us Boys Are For In 2022, I stumbled upon an Instagram post of a sun-kissed bronze, tatted, and otteresque artist, Zain Curtis. He had recently gained notoriety from screen printing T-shirts with blood infused paint to raise awareness of the homophobic blood […]
“As long as you live in this house, you’re going to act a certain way. I don’t want you embarrassing me.” The words change as they echo from parents’ mouths but the feeling is universal for children who hear them: you are not welcome. Children like Robyn, who was fourteen years old when she came […]
a review & manifesto I remember the first time I encountered Zachary Zane‘s bawdy reporting on the internet. I was searching for something that could help me make sense of my sexual identity. His shameless approach to writing about sex horrified me at first. One such story graced my Instagram feed during a distracted moment […]
Queer Kentucky was built on a foundation of community. And as an organization that lives and breathes community, we are acutely aware of when our members are hurting. LGBTQ+ people are succumbing to substance use disorder at an alarming rate and Queer Kentucky is determined to loudly discuss this topic through a series of stories […]
by Richard Addison He/Him/His Queer Kentucky was built on a foundation of community. And as an organization that lives and breathes community, we are acutely aware of when our members are hurting. LGBTQ+ people are succumbing to substance use disorder at an alarming rate and Queer Kentucky is determined to loudly discuss this topic through […]
By Aaron Guldenschuh-Gatten he/him One June weekend, on a Friday, I arrived at the crest of a hill on a hundred-acre farm, deep in the rolling wooded hills of Central Kentucky. The setting summer sun bathed the distant pasture in gold as waves of tall grass seemed to whisper to me. A close-by friend, also […]
2023 was a mild-to-wild year for me. If I summarized my experience with hook-up apps in 2023, spotify-wrapped-style, my top artists would be … well let’s not overshare TOO much, but my playtime would be uhm… several dozens of hours. Seeking out fixes and fucks in the digital space takes a lot of time and […]
Why won’t my doctor’s office respect my chosen name or pronouns? While many healthcare practitioners are striving to be more inclusive in their forms and documentation, many patients still run into problems with being misgendered or dead-named during healthcare appointments. This can be a very triggering experience for many patients, but there is often more […]
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 […]
The Big Stomp Returns to Louisville August 18-19, 2023 Two-day festival to feature Lettuce, Bahamas and The Heartless Bastards and 30+ acts, plus full slate activities that support mental health and wellbeing Louisville, Ky. (May 16, 2023) – The Big Stomp, the nation’s first music festival to focus on mental health, will return August 18 […]
Queer Kentucky is a diverse LGBTQ+ run non-profit based in Louisville, Kentucky working to bolster and enhance Queer culture and health through storytelling, education and action. Through our storytelling approach, we give visibility and celebrate the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the great Bluegrass State. LOUISVILLE, Ky. Aug 15, 2023 [email protected] Queer Kentucky is launching […]
By Leah Bomar Crucial Conversations: A Panel Discussion and Forum on LGBTQ+ Suicide Awareness and Prevention brought community leaders and mental healthcare experts together on March 23, 2023, at Story Louisville to assess the problem and the risks within the Louisville Community. Problems highlighted in Kentucky include high suicide rates, too many people without health […]
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 […]
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 […]
The North Central District Health Department will be accepting walk-ins and scheduled appointments for monkeypox vaccinations at the Shelby County Health Department, 615 11th Street in Shelbyville, until 4 p.m. today, Aug. 24. You do not need to reside in the county to receive a vaccine. Due to a lack of interest in available appointments, […]
Norton Healthcare is offering the monkeypox vaccine to those with certain risk factors at a pop-up clinic on Saturday, Aug. 27. Before scheduling, please ensure that you are available for second dose on Saturday, Sept. 24. Click here to schedule. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not encouraging mass vaccination for […]
As of August 17, 2022, Kentucky has had a total of 15 cases of monkeypox. Louisville Metro Public Health emailed Queer Kentucky this morning and said, “We have expanded the Specialty Clinic’s ability to offer monkeypox vaccines to anyone who falls in the PEP++ criteria. We still have a limited supply, but as it trickles in, […]
The United States declared a public health emergency for monkeypox today to quicken the federal response and increase vaccine availability. Monkeypox has infected more than 6,600 Americans thus far with Kentucky having eight confirmed cases. Nearly all cases are among men who have sex with men. “We are prepared to take our response to the […]
Editor’s Note: Monkeypox is not specific to the LGBTQ+ community. It is affecting us the most because it came into contact with our community first. We are a close-knit community that usually stays within our safe social circles, leading to transmission among our community. This article will be updated once more information is available. Monkeypox […]
Dysphoria and discrimination deters many trans people from the doctor.q
Every time the elevator doors opened at The New School dorm building on 15th St & 1st Ave, my olfactory nerves were hit with the scent of dozens of strains of weed. Always a reliable source of debauchery, the 12-story Stuy building served as temporary home for a bunch of art school kids whose Northern […]
by Tyler Goodlet and Spencer [email protected] Editor’s note: This Story will be updated as new facts, anecdotes and more arise. When John Doe (name kept anonymous) noticed his swollen lymph nodes, fever and headache, he suspected that he contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI). He decided to head to the Speciality Clinic in Jefferson County […]
It’s go-go boy night at the local bar and as I enter, I suddenly feel like an anxious little kid again. Swarms of men crowd the space and rub up against each other (and me) as they shimmy toward the bartenders. Shy and unnerved, I cling to my good friend, Paris, who came with me. […]
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 […]
Being queer is a liberatory experience. We reject norms handed down to us through our power to construct our own lives, selves, bodies, families and communities. Such flagrant displays of freedom threaten power structures that depend on the status quo. Driven by fear of dismantlement, those in power move to silence disruptors at any cost. […]
The Vampire Shot Glass is an all-gender inclusive menstrual cup for anyone who menstruates. It is similar to the menstrual cups you’ve seen before, manufactured and tested in the US and created out of medical grade silicone. The two biggest differences lie in who the CEO is and who they are made for. Madeline, the […]
Register Here Friday April 22, 2022. 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT960 South 2nd Street, Louisville, KY 40203 This Friday, April 22, from 4-6pm, the Center for Women and Families will hold an event to honor the growth and healing of survivors, queer survivors in particular. Attendees will paint their own pot and plant seeds, […]
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 […]
During the 2020 pandemic fall months, Queer Kentucky reported on how OnlyFans and other forms of sex work were saving the wallets of Queer people all over. Business was booming for some because people were home more…and looking at porn more. Sex work is still criminalized and people in the profession couldn’t receive unemployment. Now, […]
Editor’s Note: The below is considered explicit content to many people. We have always stood by our stance of sex positivity in all facets and we normalize human sexuality within our organization. And let’s face it, we’ve all had interesting sexual experiences and you don’t want to feel alone in that, do you? Anyways…enjoy! Long […]
by Kelsey Westbrook When Alee Alleman went to disclose her HIV positive status to her now husband, she made a plan on when and where it would happen, so that he could be in a position to leave if that’s what he wanted. She sat in her car for forty-five minutes, agonizing over her words, […]
photo: Gay ACT UP members carrying huge banner that reads THE AIDS CRISIS IS NOT OVER as they walk down the street during Gay & Lesbian Pride march. MICHAEL ABRAMSON/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION VIA GETTY IMAGES Queer Kentucky and VOA FIT continue HIV education partnership by Kelsey Westbrook A stark, fluorescent-lit hallway, hospital-issued outdated chairs […]
by Lucia Burton “We are living in a time of two intersecting global pandemics — HIV and COVID.” — Valerie Farsetti, VOAFIT Program Manager HIV/AIDS has deeply affected millions of people for decades. The stigmas associated with the disease have further marginalized communities, targeted education of sexual health, and created countless barriers to basic healthcare. […]
This piece is the first in a series produced by Queer Kentucky that covers the intersectionality of queer identity, HIV status and drug/alcohol dependency in the city of Louisville. Other pieces will cover the rest of the state. Local luminary Amirage Saling was interviewed as part of the research for this piece, and in keeping […]
The following story was written by Josh Riley, a sex worker that wanted to shed light on an industry struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The highlighted sex workers have either remained anonymous or allowed us to use their name they use as a sex worker. All of the workers were compensated from non-Queer Kentucky […]
Before hopping into bed with a trans man, communication and consent are key—every trans body and preference is unique.
Queer Kentucky is proud to announce that we have received a $2,300 grant from the Community Foundation of Louisville to report on a topic we are very passionate about. We requested the “Field of Interest Grant: AIDS Project Fund” in order to demonstrate awareness regarding the connection between HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community in Kentucky. […]
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 […]
