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 […]
Author Archives: Laura Ellis
Analysis of Louisville’s Next Budget and Tuesday’s Election Results
On Thursday, Mayor Greg Fischer unveiled his proposed city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. The mayor had warned that it would be an austere spending plan; metro government has been faced with a multi-million dollar shortfall. Phillip M. Bailey covered the story for WFPL and joined us Friday on Byline to explain […]
Author Pamela Steele and Poet Albert DeGenova Return to Louisville for Spalding Residency
This weekend marks the beginning of Spalding University’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program’s semi-annual residency. Alumni Albert DeGenova and Pamela Steele are in Louisville as part of the residency, and they joined WFPL’s Erin Keane and Rick Howlett on Friday’s Byline to talk about their work. DeGenova’s book, Postcards to Jack, is a […]
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 […]
Primary Election Preview; Spate of Shootings; Sustainable Energy: Today on Byline
1:06: We preview Tuesday’s primary election in Kentucky, with WFPL’s Phillip M. Bailey, KPR’s Kenny Colston, and Joe Sonka from LEO Weekly. 1:20: WFPL’s Devin Katayama and Phillip M. Bailey covered yesterday’s shootings in West Louisville. They join us to talk about what is known and what remains unknown about the incidents, and what’s been […]
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 […]
Byline: MSD and Louisville Water Consider Merging, Mayor Fischer Wants to Ban Encampments in Parks, Parking Authority Boots Legally-Parked Cars
Friday on Byline, Erica Peterson explained the possible benefits of a full or partial merger between MSD and the Louisville Water Company. Devin Katayama and Philip M. Bailey talked about the Mayor’s proposed ban on encampments in parks, and what it means for the Occupy Louisville Movement. And Devin also gave us an update on […]
Does Richard Lugar’s Defeat by Richard Mourdock Reflect Increasing Partisanship?
The long tenure of U.S. Senator Richard Lugar is coming to an end, following his defeat by tea party candidate and State Treasurer Richard Mourdoch. NPR’s Liz Halloran and WFPL’s Phillip M. Bailey joined us Friday on Byline to analyze the change and whether it reflects a shift in ideology & an increasing unwillingness to […]