Scientific American debunks the argument that trans girls should not be allowed to play on girls teams. From the article: “There is no epidemic of transgender girls dominating female sports. Attempts to force transgender girls to play on the boys’ teams are unconscionable attacks on already marginalized transgender children, and they don’t address a real problem. They’re unscientific, and they would cause serious mental health damage to both cisgender and transgender youth.”
A violent society hurts everyone
There is too much hate and violence in America, and the Louisville Pride Foundation joins others in our community in honoring the victims of the Atlanta shooting.
Violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (often abbreviated as AAPI) has seen a massive increase during COVID-19.
Violence against women remains a major problem that society won’t fully recognize and address.
Violence against people who are (or who are perceived to be) sex workers is unacceptable and targets some of the most vulnerable people.
Violence against anyone is an LGBTQ+ issue, for two simple reasons. First, LGBTQ+ people come in all shapes and sizes, including AAPI, women, and sex workers. Secondly, if one minority group can be targeted, then all minority groups can be targeted.
HUD accepting discrimination complaints
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is now looking at complaints and inquiries from the last year to see if they warrant further investigation. Anyone that experienced discrimination in housing in 2020 can still take action to have their cases heard.
Complaints can be filed here: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint or by calling 1-800-669-9777 or 1-800-877-8339.
Examples of what constitutes discrimination are:
- Shelters refusing access because of gender identity or forcing someone to stay in a sex-segregated shelter that doesn’t align with their identity.
- Rentals declining a rental application for any reason other than the prospective renter not meeting stated qualifications or lying about availability.
- Harassment- asking for sexual favors in exchange for rent or a landlord creating a hostile environment through harassing comments on a tenant’s appearance.
- Ads for housing that say things like “no same-sex couples” or marketing that is targeted to exclude certain communities.
- The directive also protects people who experience discrimination on multiple bases, such as race, familial status, and sexual orientation.
Louisville residents can also contact the Human Relations Commission for help with discrimination complaints.
“All Peoples” is an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation with Online Resources
All Peoples is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Louisville, formerly known as Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. All Peoples describes itself as a “Welcoming Congregation,” meaning, “we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.”
All Peoples talks about this commitment on their website, which includes upcoming events and a resource list. In addition, the Unitarian Universalist church hosts an online gathering for trans and nonbinary people every month, called UPLIFT. Expansive definitions of trans, nonbinary, and UU all apply, so check it out if you are curious.
Black Trans Louisville Virtual Community
There is a new group forming for Black trans people in Louisville! Black Trans Louisville is conducting a Community Needs Survey and also has created a Discord server for a virtual community. Click here to take the survey and request an invitation to the server.
You can also find the group on Facebook.
Trivia and Game Night
Trivia and Game Night returns February 1st!
There will be a mix of trivia and games, and of course fun, community, and prizes! Join us on the live video on our Facebook page at 7pm to register yourself or your team, and then we will provide you with the forms to submit your answers! Follow the Facebook Event to stay updated.
January 2021 E-Newsletter
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2021 Legislative Statement
The Louisville Pride Foundation Board of Directors has expressed support for the following state-wide initiatives:
- Ending no-knock warrants (House Bill 21)
- Banning conversion therapy (House Bill 19; Senate Bill 30)
- Making bars safer for all patrons (House Bill 173)
We encourage you to contact your State Representative and State Senator to express your support for these bills. Individual contacts from voters carry a lot of weight, and you should never assume that your legislator is for or against a certain bill unless they have said so.
If you are interested in getting more involved, or lobbying in Frankfort, we recommend working with one of several organizations that have decades of experience coordinating lobbying activity and tracking bills and amendments, such as the Fairness Campaign, the ACLU, or Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.
End no-knock warrants
House Bill 21 will ban no-knock warrants, an unsafe policing tactic that disproportionately impacts African-Americans. This bill is commonly known as “Breonna’s Law,” because ending no-knock warrants is a policy objective of the movement that emerged after Breonna Taylor was killed in her bed by Louisville Metro Police, following a no-knock warrant.
The Louisville Pride Foundation endorses HB 21 and we applaud Louisville Metro Council for banning no-knock warrants on the local level in 2020.
To learn more, visit http://www.kentuckyalliance.org/ or http://www.blackliveslouisville.org/
Ban “conversion therapy”
House Bill 19 and Senate Bill 30 will prevent licensed mental health providers in Kentucky from performing “conversion therapy” with a patient under 18 years of age. Conversion “therapy” is a dangerous and discredited practice known to produce lifelong damage to victims, with 42% of youth survivors reporting suicide attempts. This bill is also known as the The Youth Mental Health Protection Act.
The Louisville Pride Foundation endorses House Bill 19 and Senate Bill 30, and we applaud Louisville Metro Council for enacting a similar ban on the local level in 2020. To learn more, visit https://banconversiontherapyky.org/
Make bars safer for all patrons
House Bill 173 seeks to increase safety for patrons at all bars and similar establishments by requiring background checks and training for bouncers, and increasing accountability for off-duty police working as private security. This bill is also known as “Christopher’s Law,” because it was filed in memory of Christopher McKinney, a gay man who died after an altercation with security at a bar catering to LGBTQ people.
The Louisville Pride Foundation endorses the spirit and intent of HB 173. Because the bill requires pre-employment background checks, we encourage the sponsors to consult with the ACLU to avoid any unintended consequences.
To learn more, contact [email protected].
Center Campaign Kick Off
With your help, we can finally open the Community Center that LGBTQ+ people in Louisville need and deserve.
We need a Center that is safe and welcoming for all people. We need a Center that supports our community through programs, events, classes, and more. We need a Center that brings people together and connects them with the resources they need. Help us make this dream a reality.
Please make a Day One Donation as we launch our Community Center Campaign on Giving Tuesday.
Every donation between now and December 2nd counts, and as an added bonus…
- All Day One Donors will have their names listed on our website and displayed at the Center
- All Day One Donors will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win three (3) passes to the Louisville Pride Suite at the Galt House for the next Thunder Over Louisville.
- All Day One Donors who give $50 or more will receive a free Louisville Pride T-Shirt.
You can make a tax deductible donation on our website, on Facebook, or by Cash App, or Venmo. Every amount helps and we are very grateful for your donations! On behalf of the Louisville Pride Foundation, we thank you in advance for your donations and your continued support.
The “Day One Donor” Campaign has ended but you can still support this project with a donation!
Community Response Network
The Louisville Pride Foundation and the Fairness Campaign coordinate the Louisville LGBTQ+ Community Response Network.
The Community Response Network is a monthly conference call between LGBTQ+ organizations, social service providers, and other community leaders to share information and resources regarding the challenges facing our community. The began in March 2020 in response to COVID-19, and we see it as a permanent resource for the community. We hope to build relationships that will be beneficial in tackling future problems.
The Network meeting is on the third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 PM, via Zoom.
Click Here to join the Louisville LGBTQ+ Community Response Network.