by Sara Hughes

The following is an opinion piece and reflects the views of the author, not those of Queer Kentucky. Our op-ed section exists to uplift diverse LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives across the state. We publish these submissions as part of our mission to encourage cultural critique, thoughtful commentary and dialogue that matters to our community.

Being queer in Northern Kentucky has always felt complicated. This region is home, full of family ties and familiar landmarks, but it can also feel isolating when you’re LGBTQIA+. Sometimes it seems like our stories exist in the shadows, rarely reflected in local politics, media, or even in the casual conversations of daily life. 

Being out in Northern Kentucky has meant combating the stigma, the side-eye, and the hate. What has stood out the most to me, though, has been the many wonderfully supportive and loving humans I’ve met along the way. We’ve created community through music, art, and play. Being loud and proud in public and the privacy of our homes, we’ve helped each other feel safe and seen. Still, I wondered if I’d ever find a space nearby where I could show up fully as myself for the support I needed to keep showing up strong for others.

That’s why it’s worth it to make the trip across the river to Cincinnati for NAMI Southwest Ohio’s LGBTQIA+ Support Group at Transform Cincinnati. It’s been a joy throughout my life to be that rock for friends, family, and our community, and sometimes it’s nice to let someone else be the rock for me.

Support groups might sound simple on the surface. People gather, share stories, and listen. But in a place where queer and trans people are often told—sometimes subtly, sometimes outright—that we don’t belong, walking into a room where your identity is celebrated without question can feel radical.

Our group is open to anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, and the conversations are as diverse as the people who attend. One night, folks might be talking about how to navigate healthcare systems that too often fail us. Another night, we might be unpacking the strain of family rejection, or celebrating a member’s first Pride, or laughing about the small joys of queer culture in the Midwest. What connects every meeting is the understanding that no one has to explain or defend who they are.

As someone from Northern Kentucky, this space matters because it bridges distance and difference. Our facilitators have sat alongside trans folks from rural counties, queer parents raising kids, BIPOC leaders carving out visibility, and young adults just beginning to name their identities. Each person adds to the mosaic of what it means to be LGBTQIA+ in this region, and hearing their stories reminds me that queerness here is both resilient and expansive.

The urgency for spaces like this cannot be overstated. In recent years, both Kentucky and Ohio have seen a wave of legislation targeting LGBTQIA+ people, especially trans youth. At the same time, mental health challenges in our community remain disproportionately high. According to The Trevor Project, more than 40% of LGBTQIA+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year. 50% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it. Local adults face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation compared to the general population. Against this backdrop, an affirming space to connect and heal isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential.

NAMI Southwest Ohio’s group is also intentional about intersectionality. We know that queerness doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it intersects with race, disability, class, geography, and more. By centering those voices, we build a stronger, more authentic community.

The group meets at Transform in Cincinnati, and it’s free to attend. For me, crossing the river from Northern Kentucky is a small act of care for myself and a reminder that I don’t have to do this alone. 

In a world that too often tells LGBTQIA+ people to shrink themselves, NAMI Southwest Ohio’s support group is a place where we can expand, connect, and breathe. That kind of space doesn’t just change individuals—it transforms entire communities.

To anyone reading this who’s hesitant to come (maybe because you’re not out, or you’ve been burned by exclusion in other spaces) I want to say this clearly: you already belong. There’s no “right way” to be queer or trans, and there’s no requirement other than showing up as you are.

 

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group

For LGBTQIA+ adults who have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.

2nd and 4th Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

This support group is done in partnership with Transform Cincinnati

6839 Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45236.

 

Author Bio:  

Sara Hughes (she/they) is a queer Northern Kentuckian, musician, artist, designer, and the Marketing & Communications Manager for NAMI Southwest Ohio. They are passionate about mental health advocacy and building welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ people in the Midwest to fully express themselves.