Month: September 2020

This is unsurprising bullshit. 

The grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case is not justice. To only bring three charges of wanton endangerment, none of them directly related to the death of Breonna Taylor, is just plain bullshit. 

While this decision is terrible, it is unsurprising. The problem is not that one officer or one grand juror is racist. The problem is that the entire system, top to bottom, is racist. This is the expected outcome of a criminal justice system which is rooted in white supremacy. 

In response to this decision, the Louisville Pride Foundation is immediately giving $1,000 in unrestricted funding from our Social Justice Fund to each of the following organizations:

• Black Lives Matter Louisville 
• The Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
• The Bail Project
• Change Today, Change Tomorrow

We invite you to donate to our Social Justice Fund, or directly to the organizations above. The Louisville Pride Foundation established the Social Justice Fund in June 2020 to support social justice and human dignity, with a focus on anti-racist work. Donations can be made at www.facebook.com/louprideky or at www.louprideky.org/socialjusticefund. 

We had originally planned to hold two online Town Hall meetings this week regarding the ongoing project to open an LGBTQ Community Center. However, we have decided to cancel those meetings and we will reschedule them at a later date.

With the decision of the grand jury expected very soon in the Breonna Taylor case, Louisville is a city filled with anxiety and unease. We cannot have a substantive discussion about a community center when many people in our community cannot be emotionally present for it. To do so would be insensitive and ill-timed.

Louisville Pride continues to support Justice for Breonna. Police violence and systemic racism are LGBTQ issues, and LGBTQ people are a part of this struggle.  Last week, the Louisville Pride Foundation voted to formally endorse “Breonna’s Law.” This bill has been filed in the Kentucky General Assembly by State Representative Attica Scott and will ban “no-knock” warrants. Ending “no-knock” warrants will not end systemic racism and injustice in the United States, but it is a step in the right direction.

You are invited to join us for a Town Hall meeting on an LGBTQ+ Community Center in Louisville.

The purpose of this meeting is to present a proposal for a center for the LGBTQ+ community. This is part of a process led by the Louisville Pride Foundation, the Kentuckiana Pride Foundation, and the Louisville Youth Group, and facilitated by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. This process has built upon the work done by the Louisville LGBTQ+ Community Coalition in 2016-2017. The Town Hall will update the community on the process and lay out a plan for the final phase of this project.

The town hall will consist of:
– a 30 minute presentation (Facebook and Zoom)
– 30 minutes of break-out discussions (Zoom only)
– a 30 minute Q & A (Facebook and Zoom)

The meetings are identical, but are offered at separate times to make them more accessible. The Presentation and Q&A may be watched on Facebook Live, but participants must register on Zoom to participate in the breakout sessions. The breakout sessions will NOT be shown via Facebook Live.

Town Hall Number One

Wednesday, September 23rd

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

RSVP on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/624800984884598

Register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcuqvqDMsHtEbSLyxHct8-m5jCQQKDzuU

Most of the town hall can be watched on Facebook live, but Zoom registration is required to participate in the break out sessions.

 

Town Hall Number Two:

Saturday, September 26

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/668742060715527

Register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkd-yvqzMvE9Cwq0l6S8jmFuanoc6nIRn_

LGBTQ group organizes hands-on alternative after annual event cancelled due to COVID-19

The Louisville Pride Foundation is seeking volunteers for a Day of Service on September 19, the day that would have been the sixth annual Louisville Pride Festival. The Day of Service is the centerpiece of a “Celebration of Community” that will also feature a clothing drive, online trivia, wellness programming, and a virtual town hall meeting about an LGBTQ Community Center. This programming is made possible by the support of Norton Healthcare, Republic Bank, UAW Local 862, and Ford Motor Company.

“When we had to cancel the Festival, we knew that we had to replace it with something special, something that would allow people to be active,” said Louisville Pride executive director Mike Slaton.

Individuals and groups wishing to volunteer can sign up at https://louprideky.org/day-of-service-2020/. Organizations that would like to submit a project can do so as well. Team captains who register will receive a free Louisville Pride t-shirt and can be reimbursed for up to $25 in supplies and refreshments after their project.

“LGBTQ people know the value of community, so we are hoping for a really great turnout,” Slaton said. “We are encouraging neighborhood cleanups as a safe way to volunteer while social distancing, but people can organize other projects as well. We are also organizing a clothing drive for Clothe the West, which provides a no-contact way for people to give back.”

The Louisville Pride Foundation is a 501(C)3 organization that promotes Louisville as one community that celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion for all and embraces the LGBTQA community. The Foundation organizes the free Louisville Pride Festival on Bardstown Road every year. This year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Anyone interested in volunteering can visit www.louprideky.org or email [email protected].