The thought of growing up gay in rural Eastern Kentucky would make many Louisvillians cringe. But how much of that reaction is rooted in stereotypes we hold about rural Kentucky? Whit Forrester spent some of his childhood in Leburn, Kentucky—a town in Knott County, with a population of around eight hundred people. Whit says when […]
Category Archives: Defining Fairness
Beyond Pink and Blue: Rebecca Grant, Defining Fairness
Rebecca Grant was a Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard. Twelve years into her military career, a fellow soldier found and circulated a picture of her wearing a dress. The Army took issue with the photo because she had enlisted and had been serving as male—her biological sex. Rebecca is now the president of […]
Chosen Families and the Ballroom Scene: Jaison Gardner, Defining Fairness
Jaison Gardner describes ballroom shows as “akin to fashion shows, akin to a talent shows,” and says they started with LGBTQ people of color, mostly gay men and transgendered women, in 1970s and 80s Harlem. Gardner was one the founders of our local ballroom community—but if you haven’t heard of it, he’s not surprised. “The […]
LGBTQ Community More Than Black & White: Tiff Gonzales, Defining Fairness
Tiff Gonzales is a fourth-generation Mexican American, native to Texas, who identifies as queer both in gender identity and sexual orientation. Tiff moved to Louisville five and a half years ago for work. She says when we talk about race in Louisville, we’re generally only talking about black and white. Latino issues re rarely part […]
Bringing Faith to the LGBTQ Community: Maurice “Bojangles” Blanchard, Defining Fairness
Maurice “Bojangles” Blanchard was born in Promised Land, South Carolina, the son of a Southern Baptist Minister, and says, “I grew up in church as much as I was in home.” He was given his nickname at the age of three, when his grandfather noticed his ability to replicate any dance move he saw. When […]
Defining Fairness: Diane Moten
Years before the city of Louisville offered legal protections to residents based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, Diane Moten was fired by her employer for being a lesbian. She told her story to the Board of Alderman and was part of the Fairness Campaign in its infancy. Diane Moten told her story to […]
Defining Fairness: Walter W. Walker II
Walter W. Walker II has lived in Louisville since his family moved here in 1986. Here’s how he describes himself: “Honestly, I would say I’m Walter. I think that everyone is different, everyone has their own identity, everyone’s unique, and I think that I’m a unique person. I do consider myself an African American, a […]