On Monday, June 1st, we conducted our weekly COVID-19 update which has now changed to a biweekly meeting. Our next conversation will occur on June 15th at 4pm, tentatively. We have changed the meeting occurrences due to a seemingly decrease in need. However, if you need access to resources, please don’t hesitate to visit our LPF resource page, or contact us.
Our major update this week was from David Allgood at the Center for Accessible Living. The center has received a 700k grant from the government to help people with disabilities. The Center is working on determining how to disburse the funds and details will follow. Any disability recognized by the Social Security Administration will likely qualify.
Finally, in light of protests happening in Louisville, the group had a candid conversation on how to pivot available resources to organizers and protesters. We discussed changing the name and mission of the group to Community Resource group or Resource Allocation group. We will follow up with any changes and continue to provide updates to resources.
We hope you are all staying safe, and wearing your masks.
The vision of Louisville Pride is to bring communities together. We believe in providing leadership through service, and do not generally speak out on controversial political issues. We prefer to let our actions speak for us.
However, there are times when a clear and forceful statement is needed. The escalating situation following the death of Breonna Taylor at the hands of the Louisville Metro Police Department is such a situation.
We stand with those who call for justice for Breonna’s family, and we stand with those who call for long overdue, significant structural reforms to prevent this from happening again. We are not the leaders in this fight, but we are in it, as LGBTQ people and allies, as people of color and allies, and as Louisvillians.
Police abuse is an LGBTQ issue. Moreover, police abuse affects LGBTQ people of color disproportionately. Systems must be implemented to hold police accountable and restore the trust in the community. We support the calls for reform and proposals put forth by the ACLU, the Fairness Campaign, and the NAACP. We support Black Lives Matter Louisville and Showing Up For Racial Justice for the work they are doing in speaking up against racial injustice and their efforts in community organizing.
Louisville Pride will continue to hold anti-racism as a core principle in our work, which is to bring communities together through collaboration, empowerment, and celebration.
Syimone and Leah Halston will co-host the new show
Following the success of the four-week UAW Local 862 Virtual Drag Show, the Louisville Pride Foundation is launching the Republic Bank Queens in Quarantine Variety Show on Saturday, May 30th. This free, weekly series will be live-streamed at 9:00 PM on the Louisville Pride Facebook page and available on YouTube as well.
The show invites viewers to laugh with two of Louisville’s top drag performers, Syimone and Leah Halston, as they spill the tea on life in quarantine. The show features special segment with guests including drag queens, musicians, local celebrities, and people from the LGBTQ community. Viewers can expect sketch comedy, cocktails, and lots of laughs.
Victoria Syimone Taylor is a Louisville native with over thirty years of experience in the entertainment industry, including working at legendary establishments like The Connection Complex , Red Lounge and The Pink Door. Victoria is known and loved throughout the community for her tireless work to ensure that people are seen, heard, and respected. She has been in the Best Of Louisville for her work as a showgirl and DJ. On dealing with quarantine, she says, “You cannot control much in life, but you can control your attitude and your eyebrows.”
Originally from Houston, TX, Leah Halston has toured nationally and won numerous pageant titles during her 28 year career. Known for celebrity impersonations such as Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and Dionne Warrick, Leah has been performing at Play Dance Bar since 2012. Leah’s advice to the audience is, “Watch, Drink, Laugh, Repeat.”
Queens in Quarantine will be free, and viewers are encouraged to make donations that will support local LGBTQ organizations, including the Louisville Youth Group, Sweet Evening Breeze homeless shelter, the Fairness Education Fund, the U of L LGBT Center, and more. In addition, the program provides much needed income for out-of-work performers. The UAW Local 862 Virtual Drag Show raised over $1000 for the One Louisville COVID-19 Relief Fund and provided over $1000 in direct payments to performers who are out of work. The program will highlight a different charitable partner each week, raising awareness about the important work these groups do.
“Louisville Pride brings communities together through collaboration, empowerment, and celebration,” said Mike Slaton, the Executive Director of Louisville Pride. “COVID-19 has changed how we do our work, but it hasn’t stopped it.” During COVID-19, the organization has stepped up to serve the community by delivering programming online and coordinating the sharing of information and resources within and beyond the LGBTQ communtity.
Digital Pride also includes the Community Conversations interview series. Louisville Pride Executive Director Mike Slaton has interviewed guests on a wide range of topics, including homelessness in Louisville, the arts in a virtual setting, and how Community Ministries, Dare to Care, and Metro Government are dealing with COVID-19. Additional Digital Pride programming includes Queer Game Night and Wellness Wednesdays. More information can be found at www.lousivillepride.com.
Digital Pride is sponsored by Republic Bank, Norton Healthcare, UAW Local 862, Caperton Realty, Connally Law Offices, Evo Mortgage, the ACLU of Kentucky, and Heine Brothers Coffee.
