During this, our 50th anniversary year, we’re sharing 50 reasons to celebrate Center for Neighborhoods — roughly one reason each week. The posts come from different stakeholders in the organization, representing our past, present, and future.

This week’s post is written by Johnique Ison, Senion Neighborhood Liaison

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As we head out of PRIDE month. It would be unlike us to not celebrate being who we are to communities. Let’s dive into the history of LGBTQ+ in Louisville. 53 years ago, the Stonewall Riots happened in New York City, but it started up LGBTQ movements in a lot of other cities. Louisville made some movement starting in July 1970. That year, the Louisville Gay Liberation Front was founded. This organization was based off gay women, who felt underrepresented, collaborating with gay men to start fighting for better treatment. In that same year, two women by the name of Marjorie Jones and Tracy Knight sued for marriage equality in Jefferson County. In 1971, the police raided the Gay Lib House, which was home to the Louisville Gay Liberation Front. The group split between the years 1974-1979 because most of the women were still not getting the same rights as men. 

1982 is when Louisville started to take a turn and had its first pride picnic in Otter Creek park and even started a gay hotline. Since 2001, Kentuckiana (Indiana & Kentucky) has been having yearly pride festivals that also include a parade. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled on Marriage equality. 

As you know, we are 50 years in at CFN and the Stonewall riots were 53 years ago. CFN has always been committed to working with underrepresented groups and neighbors to help them create the changes needed to make their life experience what they need it to be. Today, CFN has almost half of its staff identifying among the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Get to know who they are below:

John-Michael Alderson – Development Director (not pictured)

Tahjena Muldrow – Neighborhood Liaison (not pictured)