Queer-friendly healthcare providers highlight services and resources for LGBTQ+ Kentuckians
By Clay Wallace
April 24, 2025 at 9:13 PM EDT
The 2nd Annual Kentucky LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Fair is Saturday, April 26th from 10-4 at Bluegrass Care Navigators. Offerings will include free and anonymous HIV testing, a name change clinic, and walk-in office hours with the Kentucky Health Justice Network.
As federal and state authorities roll back established protections for LGBTQ+ people, limit access to gender-affirming care, and defund HIV prevention programs, many queer Kentuckians worry about how to access healthcare that doesn’t discriminate against them.
“A lot of people have questions and they don’t know where to turn," said Shannon Ashley, a Lexington LGBTQ+ advocate and healthcare professional.
"I’ve been in healthcare 33 years. I have a lot of people always asking me, 'Shannon, do you know of a provider that’s LGBTQ friendly, or somewhere I would feel comfortable going to?' And I say, 'Well, here’s who I know of…'"
But word of mouth only reaches those within earshot, and there are tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ Kentuckians.
“I started thinking, we need a one-day, one-stop-shop of healthcare providers who are LGBTQ friendly and want to reach out to our community."
So, last April, she organized the first Kentucky LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Fair. Now in its second year, the fair will bring over 40 explicitly queer-friendly health and medical providers, community resource networks, and wellness partners under one roof.
The event kicks off Saturday morning at 9:30 with an outdoor yoga session with Sol Fitness. At 10, tabling opens indoors.
“One of the organizations that will be there on Saturday is the Kentucky Health Justice Network," said Ashley. "They’re going to have their trans health advocacy program, and their representatives are going to be there doing walk-in office hours during the event."
AVOL will be offering free HIV testing from their van outside. There will also be a gender affirming name change clinic staffed by local attorneys (preregistration required).
“A lot of people have questions and they don’t know where to turn," said Shannon Ashley, a Lexington LGBTQ+ advocate and healthcare professional.
"I’ve been in healthcare 33 years. I have a lot of people always asking me, 'Shannon, do you know of a provider that’s LGBTQ friendly, or somewhere I would feel comfortable going to?' And I say, 'Well, here’s who I know of…'"
But word of mouth only reaches those within earshot, and there are tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ Kentuckians.
“I started thinking, we need a one-day, one-stop-shop of healthcare providers who are LGBTQ friendly and want to reach out to our community."
So, last April, she organized the first Kentucky LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Fair. Now in its second year, the fair will bring over 40 explicitly queer-friendly health and medical providers, community resource networks, and wellness partners under one roof.
The event kicks off Saturday morning at 9:30 with an outdoor yoga session with Sol Fitness. At 10, tabling opens indoors.
“One of the organizations that will be there on Saturday is the Kentucky Health Justice Network," said Ashley. "They’re going to have their trans health advocacy program, and their representatives are going to be there doing walk-in office hours during the event."
AVOL will be offering free HIV testing from their van outside. There will also be a gender affirming name change clinic staffed by local attorneys (preregistration required).