Louisville, KENTUCKY, (July 29, 2020) – Kentuckiana Pride Foundation (KPF) has a long standing history of commitment and support in serving the LGBTQIA+ community with its involvement and outreach efforts. While Covid-19 has forced many organizations and businesses to cease operations, events, and other community gatherings, the KPF mission has not wavered and we are here to serve the LGBTQIA+ community.
KPF recognizes the challenges that our nation and our local communities are undergoing. Recently, KPF had to cancel the 2020 Kentuckiana Pride Festival and parade due to Covid-19. Although this cancellation came at no surprise, the opportunity to provide a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate our history and to gather suffered. Pride is attributed to many great community members of our past and we were unable to properly recognize those contributions during our traditional KPF Festival and parade due to its cancellation.
Many local gay-owned businesses and their employees are without work as Kentucky’s Govenor, Andy Beshear, tightened Covid-19 restrictions. Community members have become disconnected once again due to business closures. KPF recognizes the role that each person serves to the greater LGBTQIA+ community. If it were not for these safe spaces provided by our local gay business owners, the gay community would not have a place to congregate, meet new and old friends, and share our stories. The LGBTQIA+ community has held a long tradition of gathering in community spaces—those spaces have ranged from cafes, coffee shops, festivals, bars, and local parks.
Amidst the turmoil of Covid-19, a major conversation is on-going in our nation and local community concerning the significance of Black Lives and People of Color. As our local community continues to push for justice for Breonna Taylor, KPF stands with our brothers and sisters of the Black community.
We must all recognize that it was because of People of Color that a major conversation in the United States took place concerning the LGBTQIA+. Marsha P. Johnson, a member of the Black Trans community, fought for injustice in 1969 during the Stonewall Inn riots in New York. Also, Sylvia Rivera, a member of the Latino Trans community joined this worthy cause and fought for equality for us all. We thank these incredible LGBTQIA+ community members and activists for their contributions. KPF firmly supports the current and on-going conversations taking place about Black Lives and People of Color and want to recognize that we hear, see, and stand with those members that are a part of our community.
The KPF board and its committees are devoted to working with and engaging with the community. In the weeks ahead, KPF will undergo significant transformation in executing against its mission to better serve the LGBTQIA+ community. Dialogue will begin taking place across multiple social media platforms with diversity and inclusion central to its purpose. Panels will be established to learn more about how KPF can bring awareness and education to the forefront of our conversations and learn how we best can serve the community. Look for more details to be announced.
The KPF mission is to provide a forum for creative expression and education related to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community in Louisville Metropolitan Area and to give back through charitable and in-kind donations.
