Author: Mike Slaton

The Louisville Pride Foundation has a message for the community: “Welcome Home.”

That’s the theme for this year’s Louisville Pride Festival, and also a celebration of a new permanent home for the community. The Foundation is pleased to announce the return of the beloved Louisville Pride Festival and the opening of a new resource for the LGBTQ community, the Louisville Pride Center.

“Being LGBTQ means being isolated at some point in your life,” said Executive Director Mike Slaton. “Our message to everyone is that you have a home with the Louisville Pride community. After two years of cancellations for COVID, the Festival is back. And we are now expanding that work year round with the Center.”

The Sixth Louisville Pride Festival will be held on Bardstown Road on September 17th. The free community event will be 11 am to 11 pm on Bardstown Road from Grinstead Drive to Longest Ave.

The Festival is presented by Ford and UAW and features two stages, over 100 vendors, the Norton Healthcare Wellness Zone, a Family Zone, and the Derby City Gaming VIP Lounge. Additional support comes from GE Appliances, Kroger, U of L School of Nursing, Republic Bank, US Bank Rounsavall Title Company, Tito’s Vodka, Yum Brands, Mix 106.9, Dinsmore and Stohl, the Asia Institute Crane House, Noodles and Company, Mandala House, and Aware Recovery.

The main stage lineup will focus on promoting Louisville artists, and features Kianna and the Sun Kings, Sheryl Rouse, Bryce Dalton, Pepper Mashay, and DJ Sam Gee. Two drag shows are planned on the main stage, featuring Rising Stars and Local Legends. The Community Stage features more drag queens and several local theater companies. “Our Board felt strongly that we wanted to promote and support local artists as much as possible this year after the stress of the last two years,” said Slaton.

The Louisville Pride Center Grand Opening is set for October 11, also known as National Coming Out Day. The Louisville Pride Center is located at 1244 South 3rd Street and will be open 12:00 pm- 7:00 pm Monday through Thursday. Additional hours are planned as the Center grows. The Center will be a safe and affirming gathering place for LGBTQ people and their friends and family, a backbone organization to support LGBTQ small businesses and nonprofits, and a point of entry for services. Center programs and services will include game nights, book club, movie nights, legal clinics, clothing swaps, mental health services, 12-step groups, support groups, co-working and more. The Louisville Pride Center is made possible by generous support from the Trager Family Foundation and proceeds from the Louisville Pride Festival.

The Louisville Pride Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization formed in 2014. Its mission is to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and advance equity and representation for all people.

The Louisville Pride Center is happy to host a CLOTHING SWAP from 11-3 on June 26th with the help of the Kentuckiana Transgender Support Network.  There will be partners from the community, including the Nearly New Shop, Dress for Success, and jewelry creator and artist Kendra Scott, who will be doing TWO raffles for jewelry at the event. Clothing Donations will be accepted at the Louisville Pride Foundation on Tuesday, June 21st from 12-6pm.

For the lead up to Give For Good Louisville, one of our Board Members, Kasen Meek, wrote a powerful op-ed in the Courier-Journal about the importance of the Louisville Pride Foundation. He writes, “As an openly transgender man, I know how important and healing the spaces LPF provides are to this community. In fact, I was literally moved to tears hugging a stranger at the Louisville Pride Festival. A man, standing in the crowd with a shirt that read “Free Dad Hugs,” opened his arms to me. I felt so loved and seen as we embraced one another that I wept. My experience is not unique. LGBTQ people have often suffered rejection and loss at the hands of those who swore unconditional love. LPF plays a vitally important role in the well-being of queer people in our community.”

Kasen says, “The need for an LGBTQ Community Center is long overdue. A city this size should have a central location where the queer community can gather, find resources, and solace.” Your contribution can help us open an LGBTQ+ Community Center in Louisville for the first time in 30 years.  Please make a donation for Give for Good to help us get across the finish line.

The Louisville Pride Festival is free, but we generally take in about $15,000 in donations. With this year’s cancellation, giving events like Give for Good become even more important!