Dear Reader,

Protect. Trans. Youth.

As a Queer journalism organization, our platform is our greatest power, and it is with complete joy that we hand it over to the trans youth of Kentucky for this special issue. With anti-trans legislation sweeping the nation, and trans Kentuckians no strangers to these attacks, the voices of trans youth need to be uplifted now more than ever.

This year, 953 anti-transgender bills were introduced across the United States. Of those, 120 were passed into law, including Kentucky’s House Bill 495, which bans the use of Medicaid for gender-affirming care, and Senate Bill 2, which prohibits public funding for gender-affirming care for transgender inmates. Let us also not forget Senate Bill 150, which was signed into law in March of 2023 and had the biggest impact on trans youth in Kentucky.The legislation bans gender-affirming care for minors, restricts discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, limits bathroom and locker room access, and allows teachers to deny the usage of a student’s preferred pronouns.

Experts say the ongoing political and social battles targeting transgender youth are harming their mental health. A 2024 Trevor Project study found suicide attempt rates among trans youth rose by as much as 72% in the first year after states enacted anti-transgender laws. Trans youth are in pain and need to be heard.

For almost a decade, Queer Kentucky has served as a voice for LGBTQ+ Kentuckians, and that is something we take great pride in every day. When we were awarded the Charles and Jack Endowment Fund Grant from the Community Foundation of Louisville, we were posed with a task: create programming to inspire the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in Kentucky.  So naturally, we created a project that specifically boosts the voices of the remarkable trans youth community across the Bluegrass State.

However, as two cisgender leaders of this organization, we knew it was important to hand over the leadership role of this special digital issue to a trans leader and creative genius. Enter Covington native, Mo Viviane. Mo has nurtured this project from inception to fruitio—meticulously sourcing writers and artists to curate a unique piece of art to be celebrated by queer people and allies alike. It is a privilege working with Mo, and we thank them for their
dedication to advocating for the queer community and trans youth.

The stories that live in this issue serve to evoke emotion and empathy while also educating readers on the lives of trans youth in Kentucky. Our wish is for you to cherish this piece of art and find value in the voices of trans youth. They are the voice of the future.

Always,
Missy and Spencer
Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief