🌪 The Problem In small towns across Kentucky like mine—Morehead—there’s a growing cruelty that people don’t always see. It’s not just politics. It’s personal.
People in our own communities go out of their way to make LGBTQIA folks feel unwelcome. Friends of mine are harassed in public at community events; they were ambushed, called an abomination, and threatened. All while claiming to represent Christian values.
This isn’t an isolated story. This is a pattern—one that’s getting worse. Trans people are being stripped of their rights and access to care. And I fear for the next generation of queer youth who are being pushed to the edge with nowhere to turn. If we stay on this path, we’ll see even more violence, trauma, and isolation in communities like ours.
🏠 Why This Hits HomeAs a queer woman in rural Appalachia, I’ve experienced both sides. I’ve felt deeply respected—when people see me not just as “the queer one,” but as Donna. A neighbor. A contributor. A leader.
But too often, that’s the exception—not the norm. In a small town like mine, there aren’t many of us willing or able to stick our necks out. The emotional toll is high, the resources are low, and it’s exhausting being part of the same five people pushing for change over and over again.
💡 Why the Council MattersWhen I joined a Zoom meeting with the LGBTQIA Council, something shifted. Even through a screen, the energy was electric. These were people like me—ready to fight not just for representation, but for transformation.
This Council isn’t about performative pride. It’s about building power. It’s a place where I can finally scale my impact beyond just my town—one vote, one candidate, and one conversation at a time. I’m not here to sit back. I’m here to work. To show up. To help others rise with me.
✊ Your Part in ThisIf you’ve read this far, I need you.
Whatever you can give—$5, $25, $100—it goes directly toward the work of building this movement. Not just for me, but for every young queer person in a small town wondering if they matter.
We’re organizing for political power. We’re elevating LGBTQIA leaders. We’re reclaiming our humanity in places that try to erase it.
If that moves you—stand with us.
Donate now. Join the Council. Or reach out to me. Let’s build something bigger than any one of us could do alone.