The purpose of this narrative is to provide a broad historical overview of LGBTQ people in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and to provide guidance in identifying potential historic sites and sources relevant to the state’s LGBTQ heritage. Since this initiative represents the first such effort to uncover and document Kentucky’s heretofore largely invisible LGBTQ past, it should not be viewed as exhaustive, instead serving as a baseline that future researchers can refine, revise, and extend. The collection of stories from LGBTQ Kentuckians’ past is the first step toward identifying more LGBTQ historic places and in particular those eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or deserving of other forms of recognition. Due to space constraints, not nearly all of the stories generated in this research project—partial as they still are—could be included. For that, we look to the future.
LGBTQ history is an umbrella term that captures the stories of strength and struggle of diverse individuals, cultures, and communities that have been considered nonnormative. It is the story of movements for justice; of moments of triumph and tragedy that people we now understand as LGBTQ have faced—and often continue to face—in our daily lives and demands for the right to live, love, and thrive. View this resource from the National Park Service here.
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo, or because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more comfortable.
Another glossary is available from Lambda Legal, as well as a glossary from Johns Hopkins.
PRIDE has provided a guide to all of the pride flags.
Since 2016, Making Gay History has been bringing the largely hidden history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement to life through the voices of the people who lived it. We’ll be back in October 2020 for our eighth season, which will draw from the Studs Terkel Radio Archive. Till then, we hope you enjoy—and find inspiration in—our earlier episodes.
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month in the United States. As part of our observance this year, the National Museum of the American Indian invited Native friends to share what they understand about how LGBTQ people were regarded in their traditional culture. Read the article here.
This is a timeline of notable events in the history of non-heterosexual conforming people of African ancestry, who may identify as LGBTIQGNC (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, third gender, gender nonconforming), or related culturally specific identities. This timeline includes events both in Africa, the Americas and Europe and in the global African diaspora, as the histories are very deeply linked.
InterACT provides a helpful guide to intersex Frequently Asked Questions.