Keturah Herron on becoming Kentucky’s first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected to the state Senate

“Keturah Herron [Leading with Conviction™ 2019] made history in 2022 as Kentucky’s first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected to the House of Representatives, and again in 2024 as the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected to the Senate. She also carries the identities of being Black, raised in a single-parent household in Richmond, and having a family impacted by the opioid crisis and the criminal justice system. Herron’s journey from court-designated worker to policy strategist, and ultimately, to legislator, reflects both personal growth and an unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and the vision of a better world.

Who I am makes me qualified to represent Kentucky.

“In 2016, Keturah Herron worked as a court-designated worker for the Administrative Office of Courts, where she was tasked with processing young people involved in the justice system. She had the lowest rate in the office for referring youths to court. When asked in a staff meeting about her success, she wasn’t quite sure how she had that outcome. So, she laid out her approach, which included reaching out to the families of the youth before doing anything else. She thought this was common sense, but she came to learn this was a strategy no one else in the office employed. This led to a change in the Administrative Office of Courts policy statewide, which was the first piece of policy Herron shaped.

“A few years later, while speaking at an event about the effects of parental incarceration, Herron shared a personal story about the impacts on her own family. A representative from the ACLU approached Herron, urging them to bring their story to Frankfort and speak directly with lawmakers. That invitation sparked a deepened commitment to political advocacy, a shift that ultimately propelled Herron into the halls of power.

“When Breonna Taylor was tragically murdered in 2020, Herron was working with the ACLU on policy reform. The heartbreak and injustice of that moment ignited a deep sense of disruption within them, compelling Herron to take their advocacy to new heights. Fueled by a sense of urgency, they joined forces with community members to push for change, ultimately leading the effort to get the Louisville Metro Council to ban no-knock warrants. Their work culminated in the successful passage of ‘Breonna’s Law,’ a pivotal step in the fight for justice.

“Today, as one of only nine Black LGBTQ+ women in state legislatures across the United States, Herron carries the weight of representing Kentucky and these intersecting identities with both pride and pressure. ‘I’m Kentuckian. I mean, I’m literally drinking my water out of a mason jar,’ they say, summing up their connection to the land and people they serve.

“But even as they embrace the pride of representation, the expectations are palpable. In a state where marginalized communities have long been silenced, Herron’s presence is an act of resistance and hope. For Herron, these identities aren’t just a set of labels; they’re the foundation of their work. ‘Who I am makes me qualified to represent Kentucky,’ they say. …

“On the day of the 2025 Inauguration, Herron remains unwavering in their belief that progress is still possible, even if the road is difficult. ‘No matter who’s in office, the work is the same. The strategies are different,’ they say.

“But the work is bigger than state politics; it’s about building a whole new world. ‘We can’t constantly be fighting against,’ Herron explains. ‘When you’re fighting for something, you’re automatically fighting against something. I urge people to find out what that thing is that they want to fight for.’”

Read the full story at QueerKentucky.com.