Part love letter, part invitation, Queer Kentucky’s Northern Kentucky Special Issue spotlights the people and places shaping LGBTQ+ life across Covington, Newport and beyond. Inside: a welcome from Executive Director Missy Spears; essays on “radical joy” in a red state; a tour of NKY street art; The Carnegie’s queer-centered season; a candid conversation with drag icons Penny Tration and Molly Mormen; and a practical guide to LGBTQ+-affirming businesses- from bookstores and bars to creative spaces and vintage bourbon. Anchored by photography and first-person voices, this issue maps a living, breathing community and points you toward experiences like Bourbon & Belonging. Use this as your starting point for the people, places, and parties that make NKY feel like home.