We Want to Hear From You
Pitch Us
Queer Kentucky is the only dedicated LGBTQ newsroom in Kentucky. We cover policy and government, public health, and arts and culture for LGBTQ+ communities across the state. Our reporting keeps a largely rural and at-risk population informed, connected, and seen.
We welcome pitches from journalists, community members, advocates, and emerging storytellers. We have two pathways: funded assignments with pay attached to specific projects, and open submissions for op-eds, commentary, and event press releases. Both use the same pitch form. Read what we are looking for below, then pitch.
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Read the guidelines below for the type of pitch you are sending: general submission, funded opportunity, or event press release. |
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Fill out the pitch form. Be specific about your angle, your sources, and why you are the right person for this story. |
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We will follow up within 3 business days. Funded opportunities may take longer during active cycles. |
General Submissions
We accept op-eds, commentary, and press releases for LGBTQ+ events on a rolling basis. General submissions are unpaid. If you are not sure whether your idea fits, pitch it before you write the full piece.
What We Publish
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What We Don’t Publish
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On AI: Your submission must be written by you. We do not accept pitches, outlines, drafts, or stories where AI was used at any stage of the process, including research, writing, outlining, or fact-checking. Basic spellcheck and grammar tools are fine. The idea, reporting, structure, and argument must be entirely your own. Submissions that appear to use AI at any stage will be declined.
Topics of Interest
Kentucky legislation and LGBTQ+ policy. Trans healthcare and safety in the South. Rural organizing and community building. Queer life outside major cities. Faith and LGBTQ+ identity. Education, book bans, and youth advocacy. Labor, housing, poverty, and mutual aid. Arts and culture through a queer lens. This list is not exhaustive.
Format
| Length 500 – 800 words |
Format Google Doc (editable link) |
Photos 1 – 3 required; high-res with credits |
| Include Suggested headline + 2 to 3 sentence bio |
Response time Up to 3 business days |
Payment Unpaid |
Event Submissions and Press Releases
We receive far more event submissions than we have the capacity to cover or publish. Submitting does not guarantee coverage. When we have to make choices about what to share, we work to represent a diverse range of events, communities, and regions across Kentucky.
To be considered, submit a complete press release. A press release is a short, factual document written in the third person that gives an editor everything they need to understand and share your event. Think of it as a news summary, not a promotional flyer. It should tell us who, what, when, where, and why it matters.
Your press release should include:
- Event name, date, time, and location
- Event description (150 to 300 words): What is this event, what will happen, and who is it for? Write this in plain, factual language as if you are describing it to someone who has never heard of it.
- Why it matters to LGBTQ+ communities in Kentucky
- A quote from an organizer
- 1 to 3 high-quality photos with photo credits. We cannot publish without images.
Funded Opportunities
We have active funded assignments across three projects right now. Each one has its own focus, eligibility requirements, and pitch brief. Read the full brief before pitching.
Rural Kentucky: HIV, Harm Reduction, and the Gaps in Care
We have funded assignments for experienced journalists ready to cover HIV and AIDS in Kentucky. This project is focused on closing the reporting gaps that exist for rural queer communities across the state, including BIPOC queer people in rural and Appalachian Kentucky. This is reported journalism, not awareness content.
Experienced journalists
Rural focus required
Help Humanize LGBTQ+ Health Data
Queer Kentucky co-publishes the only longitudinal health survey of LGBTQ+ Kentuckians, with data from over 4,100 respondents across 76 counties. We have more stories in that data than we can tell alone. We are looking for writers who can take research and make it human. No journalism degree required. Excellent writing required.
All experience levels
Cincinnati Trans Youth Magazine: Tell Your Own Story
The City of Cincinnati has retained Queer Kentucky to produce a print magazine written entirely by Cincinnati trans and nonbinary youth. We are looking for trans and nonbinary writers between 18 and 24 who live in Cincinnati. You do not need a journalism degree. You do not need clips. You need a story worth telling and the drive to report it.
Trans/nonbinary writers only
Ages 18 – 24
Cincinnati residents only
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Ready to Pitch?
One form covers everything: funded assignments, op-eds, and event press releases.
Questions before you pitch? Email [email protected].
