LGBTQ+ allies, advocates and organizations to follow in Kentucky’s General Assembly

Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session is well underway, and LGBTQ+ rights are once again under attack. 

Over a dozen bills could directly negatively impact the LGBTQ+ community, taking aim at everything from healthcare for transgender inmates to school bathrooms. 

So, Queer Kentucky compiled this list of allies, advocates and organizations doing the work in and around Frankfort — from groups you can get involved with, to activists speaking against bills, to elected officials filing and supporting pro-LGBTQ+ legislation.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should provide a solid starting point for anyone looking to help defend LGBTQ+ rights in Kentucky. 

Want to see beyond the LGBTQ+ list? Check out the FULL POWER BROKERS LIST!

Activists

Emma Curtis — A well-known LGBTQ+ activist in Frankfort, Curtis is now a Lexington Councilmember and the only openly transgender elected official in Kentucky. Despite now being in office, she still has made her way to Frankfort to push against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

 

Maddie Spalding — As the founder of the Kentuckiana Transgender Support Group and Transgender Wellness Coalition, Spalding knows a thing or two about supporting and advocating for the transgender community.

 

Chris Hartman — Hartman is easily the most prominent LGBTQ+ activist in Frankfort during the legislative session. The Executive Director of the Fairness Campaign can typically be found holding lawmakers’ feet to the fire with fiery testimony against bills. Mason Kalinsky — Kalinsky was a key figure during the fights against some of the nation’s worst anti-transgender legislation in 2023. He remains an activist for the community.

 

Mason Kalinsky — Kalinsky was a key figure during the fights against some of the nation’s worst anti-transgender legislation in 2023. He remains an activist for the community.

 

Oliver Hall — As the Director of Trans Health for the Kentucky Health Justice Network, Hall is another prominent face in and around Kentucky political issues and advocacy networks. 

 

Jacks Gilles — Gilles, a psychologist and leader of the Mandala House in Louisville, Gilles was one of the first activists to testify in Frankfort against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation this session.

 

Jordan Clay-Tucker — Clay-Tucker came highly recommended from another activist on this list for their work at Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates.

 

Lawmakers

Sen. Keturah Herron (D-Louisville) — Herron is Kentucky’s first openly LGBTQ+ woman in the state Senate, so of course she made the list.

 

Senate Minority Floor Leader Gerald Neal (D-Louisville) — The top Democrat in the state Senate, Neal is also the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 102 which would enact a statewide fairness ordinance.

 

Sen. Karen Berg (D-Louisville) — After losing her transgender son Henry a few years ago, Berg has been an incredibly vocal legislative advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, she is sponsoring Senate Bill 94 to permanently ban conversion therapy.

Rep. Lisa Willner (D-Louisville) — The psychologist and Louisville Democrat tends to back pro-LGBTQ+ measures. She’s sponsoring House Bill 426, which is the House’s attempt to ban conversion therapy this year.

 

Rep. Adrielle Camuel (D-Lexington) — Camuel is countering a GOP push to require public schools to make almost all of their bathrooms single-sex by sponsoring House Bill 270, which would require single-user bathrooms in schools.

 

Rep. Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville) — Marzian just returned to public office after a term off. She’s sponsoring House Bill 235, which would also enact a statewide fairness ordinance.

Groups

• ACLU of Kentucky — The ACLU of Kentucky is a regular face in Frankfort, advocating not just for LGBTQ+ rights but other social justice issues that intersect with the community.
• Fairness Campaign — This is the group to follow if you’re focused strictly on LGBTQ+ issues in the state Capitol. They’ll keep you updated about calls to action and when you should show up in Frankfort.
• Louisville Youth Group — LYG was one organization suggested by other folks on this list as one to watch. As their name suggests, they focus on LGBTQ+ youth in Louisville. 
• Kentucky Youth Law Project — Another one that came highly recommended by the others. They provide free legal help to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ youth in the commonwealth. 
• LGBTQIA Council for Kentucky Democrats  — This group focuses on advocacy, education and collaboration to bolster the LGBTQ+ community. 
• Queer Kentucky — Don’t mind us including ourselves on this list. Queer Kentucky is covering all of the key pieces of legislation impacting y’all, so stick with us for stories, social media updates and a regularly updated bill tracker.