Posted on

Louisville Pride Foundation announces Festival Theme and Opening Date for Community Center

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.

Posted on

The Sixth Louisville Pride Festival is September 17, 2022

 

The Sixth Louisville Pride Festival will be Saturday, September 17, 2022! The Louisville Pride Festival is a free LGBTQ community celebration on Bardstown Road in Louisville, KY. The Pride Festival features entertainment on two stages and street fair with LGBTQ businesses and nonprofits, artists, and food and drink.

Crowd favorites like the Wellness Zone and Community Stage will return to the Louisville Pride Festival this year. The Louisville Pride Festival is presented by Ford and UAW, with additional support from Norton Healthcare, Churchill Downs, Derby City Gaming, Kroger, the U of L School of Nursing, Republic Bank, US Bank, and the Asia Institute Crane House.

Vendor registration is open, and there are still sponsor opportunities available!

 

 

Posted on

Clothing Swap

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.

Posted on

Name Change Clinic

This Pride month, we are hosting the Lou Name Clinic to assist folks with obtaining a legal name change. We are offering free legal support from caring volunteers to assist Kentucky residents with filing legal name change petitions. At the clinic, we will have volunteer attorneys, paralegals, notaries, and law students onsite for consultations and to assist with completing the necessary forms. Volunteer attorneys will file the petitions and represent clinic clients at any necessary court proceedings on their petition. If you, or someone you know, is in need of legal name change assistance, please scan the QR code below and complete the linked survey.

 

 

Posted on

The Louisville Pride Center

The Louisville Pride Center will be…

A safe and affirming gathering spot

The Center will be a hub for the LGBTQ+ community; an all-ages, accessible and inclusive gathering spot that is open to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. The Center will host a wide range of activities, such as game nights, film screenings, community dinners, book clubs, support groups, and classes.

A backbone for an empowered community

The Center will support people and organizations doing good work for the LGBTQ+ community to prevent burnout, promote collaboration, and ensure continuity. The Center will have multiple rooms for meetings and events, co-working and office space, networking opportunities, administrative and technical support, and professional development opportunities.

A trusted point of entry to critical services

The Center will partner with existing providers to build trust and reduce barriers to accessing critical services, such as mental health counseling, financial coaching, a food pantry, income tax assistance, benefits navigation, legal assistance, and wellness checkups.

The Center is scheduled to open for regular operation in June 0f 2022.

Posted on

Meet the Board: Hanh Kimball-Pham

Meet Board Member Hanh Kimball-Pham (she/her/hers)!

Hanh Kimball-Pham was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam until age 8 and is a first-generation naturalized Vietnamese American woman. She has participated in fundraising events in the past that were created by U of L’s International Student Association and Vietnamese Student Association as well as those hosted by Fairness and ACLU. Hanh believes awareness drives participation, which drives fundraising and community support. She is currently working as an advertising executive for El Toro, an ad tech company. A passion for Hanh is helping to create events that reach a larger Louisville audience. She believes in creating a safe place, providing guidance and counsel for those that, just because they are LGBTQ+, are without someone who understands or who will listen. In their spare time, Hanh and her wife like to go to the park with their dogs Beau, Kinsey, and Effie, and watch DIY shows while fixing up their home.

We are so grateful to have Hanh on the Board of Directors at the Louisville Pride Foundation!