In 2023, Kentucky passed some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the country. These laws included bans on gender-affirming care for young people, prohibiting LGBTQ+ topics in public schools, and restricting the use of restrooms based on gender identity. Amidst these challenges, Rebecca Blankenship became Kentucky's first openly transgender elected official in 2023 when she joined the Berea Independent School District's board of education. Blankenship emphasizes that despite laws, kindness cannot be banned. Blankenship underscores the importance of communities supporting each other to create a better future for all. She believes, “We can achieve a new kind of community and a new kind of politics that works for everybody.” #Queer Up Gay Culture