About Louisville Pride Foundation
The Louisville Pride Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and advances equity and representation for all people. Our vision is that Louisville is a safe and affirming community where every person is empowered to thrive as their true, whole self.
We produce the Louisville Pride Festival, a free community celebration held in September on Bardstown Road.
We manage the Louisville Pride Center, an LGBTQ+ community center in Old Louisville.
Our Mission
The Louisville Pride Foundation celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and advances equity and representation for all people.
Our Vision
Louisville is a safe and affirming community where every person is empowered to thrive as their true, whole self.
Louisville Pride Board of Directors
Originally from Akron, Ohio, has been appointed as the interim Executive Director of the Louisville Pride Foundation. Embracing her identity as a black masculine-presenting woman, Cross aims to enhance the Louisville Pride Center’s accessibility for all community members. Her journey to Louisville was sparked by an online connection that blossomed into a lifelong commitment, both to her wife and the vibrant local community. Prior to her current role, Cross contributed to the foundation as an administrative coordinator, bringing a fresh perspective on accessibility, representation, and community support. Under her leadership, the foundation seeks to expand its programming and resources, emphasizing harm reduction, food security, and health education.
Erin Smith (they/them)
Erin is a born and raised Louisville native who graduated from DuPont Manual high school in 2009. After graduation, they attended Northern Kentucky University where they majored in Political Science and minored in Pre-Law. Upon receiving their bachelor’s degree, Erin returned home and later enrolled in the University of Louisville Women and Gender Studies masters program. Toward the end of their studies, they wrote and defended their thesis project on the division between the African American church and their LGBTQ congregation.
With the completion of their master’s degree, Erin began working for Safe Place Services as the Coordinator for Community Outreach. They later accepted a position as the Educational and Outreach Coordinator for the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission. Now Erin is the Executive Director for the Kentucky Health Justice Network. In their spare time, Erin enjoys hitting the gym, playing rugby, cooking, attending music and sporting events, and following U of L athletics as well as Louisville City FC.
As a trailblazing performer from Louisville, Kentucky, Syimone stands as a beacon within the LGBTQ+ community. Her journey, marked by authenticity and resilience, defies the constraints of societal norms. Growing up in the shadow of Churchill Downs, Syimone embraced her identity amidst an environment unfamiliar with the nuances of being trans. Her evolution into a renowned DJ and performer is a testament to her defiance against marginalization, using her platform to advocate for the visibility and respect of trans women of color. Syimone’s confrontational spirit, coupled with her commitment to education and empowerment, underscores her role as an unwavering pillar in the fight for equality and understanding within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community.
Michael Ringlein (he/him)
A Kentucky native, Michael returned home to Louisville in 2009 to complete his undergraduate at Bellarmine University where he completed his Honor’s Thesis studying the link between religiosity and homophobia. He then pursued his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Louisville and began his career at Humana in Supplier Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility. In his current role he is focused on process improvement and hopes to translate that discipline to serve both the Louisville Pride Foundation and the community. In his free time Michael likes to travel and explore nature with his partner Jared and dog Bindi, hit the gym, cook, go to concerts, and spend time with friends and family.
Hanh Kimball-Pham (she/her/hers)
Hanh was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam until age 8 and is a first generation naturalized Vietnamese American woman. She is the only openly gay, only female and only Asian District Manager of a premier AT&T Authorized retailer overseeing 8 stores in 3 states. Hanh co-sponsored Fairness and C-Fair fundraisers with my wife, Casey Kimball-Pham, who is Chair of the Board of Directors of C-Fair. She has participated in fundraising events in the past that were created by UofL International Student Association and the Vietnamese Student Association. Hanh believes awareness drives participation, which drives fundraising and community support.
Clay Schenger (he/him/his)
A born and raised Louisvillian, Clay has always been driven by the human potential. He has often shared his belief that it is only when everyone has a seat at the table that we can find common ground to build on. A graduate of DuPont Manual High School/YPAS, Clay went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Stephens College in Columbia MO. Clay now works in the financial industry as a Branch Manager, and also leads the Pride events for his organization throughout the city of Louisville and in Southern Indiana. In his free time, he loves to travel and be outdoors. You can typically find Clay either out on a hiking trail or kayaking throughout the state of Kentucky. He also enjoys spending time with his family on the lake. When Clay isn’t being adventurous outdoors, he’s at home spending quality time with his fur-iend, Bella the cat.
Augustus Seabrooke (he/they)
A Louisville native, graduate of Brown University, Augustus Seabrooke is a transmasculine individual excited and honored to be on the Board of Louisville Pride Foundation. He is grateful for his upbringing in Louisville, as the eclectic community has given him an appreciation of vintage fashion pieces, a taste for various cuisines, a strong sense of hospitality, and a deeply embedded principle of valuing community. He hopes to bring his experiences, both professional and unconventional, to provide a unique perspective for Louisville Pride Foundation and its celebration of diversity among the LGBT community.
Mollie Aleshire (she/her/hers)
Mollie is from a rural town in Virginia with a population of less than 5,000 and has resided in Berea and Lexington in Kentucky, Greensboro, North Carolina, and most recently Louisville, Kentucky. She believes her experiences as a sexual minority living in both rural and urban settings gives her a unique perspective and ability to relate to others whose life experiences have included both rural and urban experiences and influences. As a nurse for more than 20 years, within the healthcare system as well as other systems, Mollie continues to witness the reality of health inequities and has a particular passion for this as well as the intersectionality of health and other disparities in the Louisville community. Her background as a healthcare provider and health disparities researcher helps her to consider how we can best formulate partnerships among communities, organizations, and systems to inform and lead meaningful change that includes interventions at multiple socioecological levels to ensure equity for sexual and gender minorities. Previously, Mollie was nominated to serve on the Lexington Fayette County Kentucky Urban Government Board of Health and the Guildford County North Carolina Health and Human Services Advisory Board.
Meet the Staff of the Louisville Pride Center
