Full Transcript for Building Lexington Pride with Jason Schubert!

00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:23.680 Um and sitting on those like foldable church chairs, they were not designed to be sat on for 12 hours. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:25.680 So that was that was that was the hardest part. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:31.199 So like four o'clock, I was like, it hurts to stand, it hurts to sit, but I can't like lay down on the floor. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:32.240 That would be unprofessional. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:34.000 So we were just we made it through that. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:34.479 It was great. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:36.800 I love doing that stuff and it's fun to do for a day. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:46.240 So take me back to Pride because first of all, when I found out that you had up Pride, I had assumed that was like your full-time job that you were paid for that. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:46.479 Yeah. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:50.159 And you're like, no, no, this is volunteer-based, which is wild to me. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:52.879 So, like, I think a lot of people might have the same question. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:58.319 It's like, we have a Pride Center here in Lexington and our like, what does that include? 00:03:58.479 --> 00:03:59.199 Where is it? 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:00.800 What do I get when I go? 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:02.000 And then how does that volunteer? 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.800 How does that differ from like the volunteers that run like the Pride Festival? 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:05.599 Yeah, absolutely. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:11.280 So the Pride Center is uh Kentucky's longest continually operating LGBTQIA plus focused organization. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:15.840 We were founded in 1977, so we're celebrating our 50th anniversary here in 2027. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.199 So we're excited for that. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:23.040 Um, we are on Waller Avenue by the Jimmy Johns and where that railroad crossing is kind of in that area. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:23.680 Oh, okay. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:25.360 Yeah, we've been there for 30 years. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:28.639 Um, so since 1996, that has been our location. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:31.600 Um, it is, you know, just an office strip mall type thing. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:35.680 So it's not necessarily the most welcoming or the most inviting place, but it's a place. 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:40.319 Um, and you know, we're actively looking at what does it look like to expand or move or change that location. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:42.560 But don't have some historic like downtown. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:45.120 Real estate, of course, is very expensive. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:45.920 So that's a whole thing. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:47.519 Yes. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:47.680 Yeah. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:48.079 Yeah. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:49.680 So um that's our location. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:52.480 Um, it's great for what it is, and we really enjoy, you know, that we have there. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.279 We have a great relationship with the landlord, so

that's wonderful and all that. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.839 Um, we have two full-time staff positions right now. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:04:59.279 So we have an executive director. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.639 That position is currently vacant. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:04.000 We're doing a search right now to select our next next executive director. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.439 Um, so hopefully we'll have some of that final. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:06.879 And you wouldn't consider it? 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:08.240 No, I like doing it for fun. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:08.720 Okay. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:08.959 Yeah. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:09.519 Okay, gotcha. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:12.399 Um, so we have an executive director and then we have a food pantry manager. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.560 Um, so we run the People's Market, which is a grant funded food pantry here in Lexington. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:20.560 So that's funded through the ESR grant, uh, which is operated through the city. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:25.199 So GOS Pantry, Movable Feast, a couple other organizations get these grants from the city. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:30.319 Um, so that grant supports the salary and some of just the like the general facilities maintenance for the food pantry. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:33.199 Um, we are the only food pantry in town that does delivery. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:37.680 So that's one of our like stakes in the ground of what we're very proud of and how we differentiate ourselves. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:44.160 Um, we average about 70 to 80 households per week, which equates to around 200 to 225 individuals per week. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:45.600 And it's all run on donations. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.360 We're connected with the Gods Pantry Network. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:58.000 So we have volunteers that go out to Walmart and Kroger and Starbucks and Target and places and pick up the things that are either past their Best Buy or approaching their Best Buy date or just a variety of canned goods and things like that. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:06.720 Um, and then our food program manager and our couple volunteers package those up into bags that weigh about 25 pounds and then hand those out or deliver those uh to the community. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:12.959 And then we've got two volunteer positions right now, an office coordinator and a volunteer, an events and fundraising coordinator. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:14.720 Um, so they've been with us for about a year. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:18.319 We're of course looking to expand into full some more full-time, part-time positions. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:20.240 Um, but you know, it's all a work in progress. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:22.160 So that's the Pride Center. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.839 Um, our main activities are we have programs and groups that meet. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:28.879 Um, some of them meet once a month, some of them meet meet every week. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:36.959 It just depends on the group, ranging from a GSA for high school kids to a um board game group to Trans Kentucky. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.879 Um, Trans Kentucky generally averages over 50 people in attendance every month. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:45.439 Um, we're one of the only trans-focused kind of community support groups in Lexington. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:52.000 So we have folks that will drive two to three hours once a month to come to Lexington to be at the Pride Center to have that community. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:54.399 Um, so we're always looking for ways to expand the programs. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:57.199 We also want to make sure that those programs are meeting a community need. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:00.959 You know, we don't want to have someone sitting there to facilitate a group that no one shows up for. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:01.839 That's not useful. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.920 So if you have an idea, if you want to do a group, you know, you can reach out to us and work with us. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.399 Um, we also have a library with over 2,000 books. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:13.199 We have an event space that you can use if you need to do a community meeting or something like that. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.199 Um, and then we have a computer lab as well. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.839 So that's the Pride Center in a nutshell. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:25.120 Um, and it's um I joined the board in August 2024, um, and then became board president in January 2025. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:31.199 So um finishing out my first term on the board here during the summer, and it's been um really fun jumping in. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:32.639 We've got a great group on the board right now. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.240 Really enjoy working with them a lot. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:34.720 Yeah. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:36.959 So are you gonna be continuing to be on the board? 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:40.399 So I'll continue on the board and continue as board president um for another two years. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.519 Our terms are two years. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:41.920 Okay. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:46.639 So are you tasked as board president for putting on the Pride Festival? 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.040 I have been, but it's not the way it should be set up. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:51.120 So, because that's a lot, a lot on me. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:52.959 My shoulders are broad, but they're not that broad. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:53.120 Yeah. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:55.519 And I I love doing the event stuff. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.079 It's great, but I also understand that like I can't do all of it. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:01.920 So it was more of just it happened the last two years, it kind of just became my thing. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:02.319 Sure. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:17.439 So um, we're we've got um a couple of folks that have been on the Pride Committee, the Pride Festival committee the last couple of years that are stepping up to do more, and then

one of our festival committee members is joining the board full-time or full-time volunteer to head up the Pride Festival, be that main person. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:19.439 Um, but I'll still be involved with it, of course. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:24.319 So, what does it take to put on a Pride Festival here in Lexington, Kentucky? 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:25.920 Like how early did you start planning? 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:29.040 Yeah, so um, we'll do a little more context on the Pride Festival. 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:36.240 So um in the 80s, there were some community picnics throughout the 90s, early 2000s, different community picnics, kind of community-led things. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:43.360 Um, at the time, the Pride Center was called um Pride Community Services Organizations, and before that was the Gay and Lexington Services Organization. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:45.039 They did Pride Weeks and things like that. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.559 So there are different things that happened. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:50.799 And then in 2008, the Pride Center really like took on the Pride Festival full time. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:52.799 So 2008 was the first Pride Festival. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.120 It was at the Fifth Third Pavilion downtown. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.759 It's a different name then, I'm sure, but that's where it was. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:01.519 And then it moved to the Courthouse Plaza and I think 2010, 2011. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:06.879 We were inside Central Bank Center 23, 24, and then 25, 26, we were outside at Oliver Lewis Way. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.559 And our plan is to continue being there. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.080 Uh I think it's a great spot. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:11.759 Yeah, I think it was smart. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:12.240 Yes. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:14.320 I, you know, obviously I wish there was shade. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.159 I can't plant 30-year-old trees. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.759 That's just beyond my abilities. 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:19.759 Come on with the budget and all. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:21.039 Talk to the director. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:24.080 You know, it would be great to be back downtown, but we're just too big. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:24.879 There's not enough space. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:27.600 There's no And was that the reason for the move to rub? 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:33.679 Yes, that was that was the main reason for the move to central bank center, is that it's just too crowded down there at that Corkhouse Plaza. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:34.240 Gotcha. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.879 Um, and it it is a great space, but it's not the most accessible, it's not flat ground, it's hard to set up vendor booths. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:39.200 Sure. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:42.320 Um, so yeah, the move to central bank was partly precipitated by that. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:47.360 And in 2022, which is kind of the first year back after COVID, it was like so freaking hot. 00:09:47.440

--> 00:09:48.559 I don't know if you were here. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:56.240 So that was, you know, it was the lack of space, the lack of accessibility, and the temperature kind of all collided to like, okay, we need to do something different. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.879 So did you like having it in Central Bank Center? 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:00.240 Like, why the move to Cover Lewis? 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.919 There were so Central Bank Center. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.919 Um, there were a lot of perks, you know. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.840 It was it allowed us to do different things. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:12.960 Like we had an 18 plus room, we had a quiet room, you know, we had game rooms, we had all these different spaces that we can't necessarily do outside. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:13.600 Sure. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.279 Um, the main reason moving back outside was number one, the community wanted it. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.960 You know, we're we're responding to the community. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.279 We want to make sure that they're having a good time at the Pride Festival. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:23.759 Folks wanted to be a back outside, they wanted that element. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.519 Um, and frankly, the cost. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:28.240 It's expensive to rent out the entire central bank center. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.720 Um and central bank center, they were great partners. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.279 They worked with us, they were super supportive, they loved having us. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.879 Um, but they're a business just like we are. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:37.120 And at the end of the day, they have a bottom line just like we do. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:40.879 And so um, we moved back outside to Oliver Lewis Way in 2025. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:43.679 We've been very happy with the location and had great support from the city. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.720 It's just so cool too. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:51.519 And like for anybody who's listening that might not have attended Pride the past couple of years when it's been on Oliver Lewis, it's like it's a really cool loop. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.919 Like you can do because it's on both sides of this boulevard. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:55.919 It's a mile long, so it's really two miles. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:56.720 It's crazy. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.360 Yeah, yeah. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:05.440 So you walk it down one way and you have the stage right in the middle, or almost in the middle, and then you can just walk the whole thing back the other and just keep like looping around. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:06.240 Oh, genius. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.200 Yeah, yeah. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:07.519 Yes. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.039 Um, so yeah, two miles of space. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:12.000 And this year we were running out of space for our vendor and sponsor booths. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:13.039 We had so much, which is great. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.559 You know what I loved this year? 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.240 There were so many churches. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:16.799 Yeah. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:29.039 So many churches that really that created their own swag that wanted to be there, like wanted to be very much a part of the it, it was it was more than I think that I've ever seen at a Pride Festival. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.720 I think that's been very strong. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.120 Um, so in 2024 is my first year with the Pride Festival. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.559 I was the vendors coordinator that year. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:35.440 And that's what I noticed. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:36.559 I was like, there's all these churches. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.120 And like as a festival attendee, I didn't really notice it. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:44.399 Um, but then managing the vendors and seeing all of it, you know, we had all the vendors and then we had two churches that were sponsors. 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:50.000 Um, Christ Church Cathedral has been a consistent sponsor year over year, and then the Unitarian Church was a new sponsor this year. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.960 Um, they've been, you know, donating in different ways throughout the year. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:56.399 So we kind of bumped that to that sponsorship level this year for recognition. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.759 Yeah, yeah. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:02.320 So what are the like what are the issues with getting on pride? 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:02.960 I want to know. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.200 Like what what's what's like the challenges? 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.000 What's difficult? 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:09.519 Um, so I think back to like maybe the question you first started with when do we start planning? 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.480 So when do you start? 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:15.200 Yeah, pride, um, targeting that early June timeline again, late May, early June for next year. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.960 So we'll start meeting in August. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:20.159 Um, and August and September are kind of general meetings for folks. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:25.759 Like, let's come, let's talk about the Pride Festival, what went well, what didn't go well, what did you like, what ideas do you have? 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:28.960 Um, and then at the September meeting is when we kind of decide our position. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:35.679 So we've got, I think, if if there's someone for every position, we've got, I think, 15 different positions, how we've broken things out. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:38.559 Um, so we assign those positions in September. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:43.440 Um, in October is when the Pride Center sets our budget because our fiscal year starts October 1st. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:47.120 So by the October board meeting, we're able to kind of have the final numbers of the previous year. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:53.200 We can set that budget, and then that directs the Pride Festival

committee of what they are able to spend and what our budget limits are. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:57.919 Um, so November and December were kind of laying the groundwork, and then we really hit the ground running in January. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:01.679 So January, February, March, April is really the main planning period. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:07.840 Um, you know, we want to be as planful as we can, but also we can't, you know, recruit a vendor in November for something it's in June. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.120 Not everyone plans ahead that way. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:13.120 We can't ask a drag queen in November, hey, save this random date in June, you're gonna be there. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:16.320 Because like that love drag queens, but that's not how they work. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:16.799 Yes. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:17.919 Sometimes day to day. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:34.960 Yeah, so it's it's um, I think that's probably maybe one of the hardest parts is the balance between being as planful as we can be, but also understanding that no matter what we do ahead of time, like the last three weeks of May leading up to the festival are gonna be crazy because you're gonna have people, oh, can I change my music? 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:36.399 Oh, I didn't realize the vendor app closed. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:36.960 Can I apply? 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:38.080 Oh, I want to do the parade. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.159 Oh, I have a sponsor that wants to do a special thing. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:43.440 Like all of these last minute things that pop up, and that's just part of it. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.639 That's just part of the fun, I think. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.799 I'll see your friends out like in May. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.840 And I'm like, where's Jay's? 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.039 And they're like, Pride Erica. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:51.519 I was like, they're like, you won't say him till June. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:53.120 I was like, oh yeah, I forgot. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:53.519 Yeah. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:55.440 If he's not running, he's running pride. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.080 Exactly. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.879 Yes. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:00.159 So this year you had Lexi Love. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:00.559 Yes. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:00.879 Right. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.159 And that was like a huge get. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.120 And for anybody who doesn't know, that's like a major drag from Kentucky. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.000 From Kentucky, yeah. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.919 So she used to be a performer at the bar complex. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:09.519 Well, um, it was actually really sweet. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:18.240 Her after her first number, um, she got on the mic and she was talking of like, I used to perform at Pride as like this like Lexington Pride as like a regular entertainer. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:22.320 And so for her to have that full circle moment, for us to have that full circle moment was really great. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.440 Um, and it was great. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.759 The we got great media coverage leading up to the festival. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:39.120 And so there was a hero leader article that talked to Lexi and Scarlet Envy, and then Mystique Summers Madison was at the bar complex Friday night before Pride, just talking to them about what it means to be a drag entertainer in the current state of the world and what it means to be performing in Kentucky. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:43.039 Um, so yeah, the Lexi Love piece was you know, that was some feedback we got after last year. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:46.000 People wanted more drag queens and they wanted a big headliner. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:54.000 And so um it was just a cold outreach to someone had like the email, and so we reached out um and they responded. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.960 We texted back and forth, we emailed back and forth and got it all figured out. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:01.919 Um, and then after we announced Lexi Love, we got an email from Scarlet Envy or maybe our Instagram message. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.320 I don't remember which one it was, but she was like, Hey, I'm in Louisville. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.120 Can I come perform too? 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.399 We're like, Yeah, sure. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.440 So it ended up working out. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:09.360 We had two headliners, they were great. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:13.200 Um, and that really helped draw a lot of people to that evening show. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:18.879 Um, that was another thing we changed this year was we shifted it instead of 11 to 9 from noon until 10 p.m. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.600 We wanted to capture more of that golden hour time period. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:27.440 Folks wanted to have that cooler, you know, it's different when you're experiencing drag in that like 8 p.m. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.879 timeline as the sun is setting. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.840 That's a very magical time. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.039 Golden hour. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.519 Yeah, absolutely. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.159 We love it. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.320 So um there was a huge crowd there for that. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.200 It was absolutely great. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:39.120 We had a stacked show, so many local queens, um, which we really wanted to showcase. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.480 And it's all just so family friendly. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:40.960 Exactly. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.840 Yes, that's always the goal. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:52.000 Like, yeah, you're really hitting all the different like demographics of people who want to come, especially keeping it at Pride and it maybe not being at the bar, nothing wrong with the bar complex, but that's definitely like a 21 and up type thing. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:56.720 And that's what um, you know, back to when we were inside, we had 18 plus rooms and we could do

different things there. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:04.799 So when we moved back outside, we talked to the city about it, and they're like, you can do it, but you have to have like a tent with four walls, you have to have a bouncer, it has to be a secure location. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.679 We're like, that sounds like a lot of work for some volunteers. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.159 So that's why we have that pride after dark event series. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:15.279 So that's like burlesque or drag at Blue Stallion, Strippers at Crossings, the Rocky Horror Picture Show. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:26.159 You know, we're continuing to expand that to allow folks, you know, we pride should be family friendly and we want it to be family friendly, but we also understand that for those of us that are 18 up or 21 plus, pride should mean something different. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:30.799 And we want to make sure that we have that space for pride to mean that for those people that are of that age. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.399 That's great, amazing. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.440 Well done. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.000 Congrats. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:39.039 I mean, it was like a really I mean it's always good, but like this past one was like very, very good. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.000 But we're very happy with it. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.320 Yeah, the whole team is a big old pat on your back. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:42.799 Yeah, yeah. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.000 No, no, no, I know it's not just you. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:46.720 Yes, oh yeah, yes, you, I'm sure you have an incredible team of volunteers. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.879 Tell me about frontrunners, yeah. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:53.200 Um, more gay things checking down the list. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.960 Uh yeah, so Frontrunners is an LGBTQ walk run group. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:00.399 Um, we trace our roots in Lexington at least back to the 1980s. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:04.640 Um we started in the 80s, and frontrunners were part of an international organization. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:08.160 So there's about 135 chapters around the world. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:11.839 Um, it was started in the 70s in in San Francisco, shocking. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.680 Um, and it kind of grew from there. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:19.519 Um, so yeah, we started in the 80s, um, and I think it kind of just like fizzled out by the 90s here in Lexington. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:26.960 And then um Roy Harrison, who had lived in DC and had lived here and moved back here, kind of restarted it around 2019. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:29.200 Um, COVID happened right after that. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.480 That took a major hit to us. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.880 So kind of came back in 2021. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:43.599 And I remember like when I first started on a Wednesday night in, you know, using the winter, because that's always our lowest time because it's cold, you know, it would be like five of us Wednesday night at Ecton Park. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:48.319 And now we're regularly seeing 30 people on a Wednesday night in the middle of winter at Ecton Park. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:51.599 Like last week we had probably close to 50 people at our Wednesday runs. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.960 We have 80 registered members. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:56.000 So we've grown significantly since then, which is really great to see. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:02.559 Um, and with it being kind of an international group, you know, as I travel and people travel to different cities, they get to go to the frontrunners. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:06.960 So I've ran with the Chicago, the DC, the New York group, the Boston group. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:09.359 Um we've had friends that ran with Philadelphia. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:13.119 Um, I don't know if we've like touched the international groups yet, but like would love to. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:19.680 Um, and one thing that I'm really proud of that is that we definitely punch above our weight in terms of what our organization does compared to some of the other frontrunners. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:22.000 You know, Lexington is a small community. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:27.279 Um, and you know, we can compare ourselves to like New York has over a hundred, a thousand registered members. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.079 We're not gonna get there. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.480 Sure. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.599 Um, you know, but some of the bigger cities I feel like don't do as much as we do. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.839 We're very out in the community, very active in that. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.079 Yeah. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:39.519 Um, so we have our Pride Run that I talked about that raises money for scholarships and grants that we hand out every year. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:52.000 Um, so a cornerstone is that is we do two um$2,500 scholarships to graduating LGBTQ seniors that are going off to trade schools or higher ed or for just some sort of higher education. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.880 Doesn't matter what it is. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.079 We'll give you$2,500. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:19:00.079 Um the last couple of years we've been able to do three because we've gotten a donation from the Valvine Prism Resource Group. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.920 Um so they give an extra$2,500, which allows us to do a third scholarships. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:14.480 Um and then we do grants to AVOL, to the Pride Festival, to Richmond Pride and Capital Pride, Kentucky Black Pride, all the different organizations here in town to kind of support central Kentucky. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.759 So that's our big our big event. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.440 We have the Pride, the Pride Run. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:23.359 Um we're active in the street safety stuff, so making sure that our streets are safe for pedestrians, for runners, for walkers. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.160 Um, we've done several different drag show fundraisers.

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:33.039 Um, so this spring we did a get out the gay vote um, where we had the primary candidates were there. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:35.759 We had legal women voters there that were registering voters. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.599 They said they didn't register a single voter. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:41.359 All the gays were very civically active, which is great, but it's good to have them there still. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:46.160 Um, and then in that night, we raised$2,000 that was then split with Kentucky Health Justice Network. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:50.640 And then in the fall, we're gonna do the same show and split that with the Kentucky Youth Law Project. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:58.000 So using those fundraisers, um, we coordinated in 2023 when the statehouse was looking at passing a lot of anti-LGBTQ bills. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:02.880 We did um a Lex Hab Pride initiative that really got a lot of focus on city council. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:09.039 We delivered a petition to city council that over 5,000 signatures from local businesses and individuals around the city. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:13.680 Um, we had speakers, we had the first drag show in the council chambers with Uma Jules performing. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:22.480 Um, so that was that petition was a list of demands for our state, our local, our state, and our federal elected officials in terms of what they can do to protect the LGBTQ community. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:22.640 Yeah. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:25.039 Um, and of I think we had five demands for Lexington. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.559 I think all five of them were implemented. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.200 That's great. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.799 Um, so we continually do that. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:33.519 We run a track program, we're doing a couch to 5K program right now to get folks ready for the Pride Run. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:37.759 That would probably be where I would like if you had me. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.480 Whether you've never ran before, you're an experienced runner. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:42.640 Not in love unless it's like Torta Brownie. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.759 You know, yeah. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:49.839 So yeah, that started uh this week, but you can still join at any point that goes up until a pride run in September. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:55.279 Was one of these things that you were recently being auctioned off as like in a bachelor auction? 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:55.839 What was that? 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.640 That was for Avol. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.519 That was for AVOL. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.000 Okay, cool. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.559 Yeah, cool. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.279 How did that go? 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.000 That was fun. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.880 Who got you? 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.839 Uh my boyfriend. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.200 Oh, cheater. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.799 I signed up for that when I was still single. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:09.759 Um, so like technically what I think it was him plus a couple other friends contributed funds. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.119 Yeah. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:13.200 I think I think I went for$400, maybe. 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:13.759 Oh my god. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.720 I was not the highest bid. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.599 You're worth more than that. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.119 Oh, don't I would rather the boyfriend spent money on me? 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.680 I love it. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.160 Yeah. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:22.640 Okay. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.599 I have questions for you. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.319 Oh, oh boy. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.119 Okay, you ready? 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.759 I love it. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:29.279 Um, what's the most used app on your phone? 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:32.640 Oh, um Instagram and the weather apps. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.920 I I love the weather. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.839 Love I'm very love the weather. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:38.319 I just I um shocking. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.720 I'm very type A, very organized, like to know what's coming next. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.079 I like I like an agenda. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:44.000 I like to know what's happening, I like a plan. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.759 Oh, because your life's so organized. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.599 Yeah, so love looking at the weather. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.480 And then Instagram, I'm trying to like break that addiction, but it's it's hard. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.279 It's so hard. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:53.440 Yeah. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.640 Are you on TikTok too? 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.599 No, I had to delete that because I got like too far too far in the addiction. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.400 Exactly. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.359 I know. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.400 I hear you about it. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.920 I didn't know you love the weather. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:08.319 Like, are you do you consider yourself like a bit of a meteorologist, like a budding meteorologist? 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.359 Not really. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.240 You're not checking like the NAM model. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.799 No, well, like weather.gov is like the best place to go. 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:18.640 Like that's a bookmark on my phone because that like all the weather apps pull from weather.gov. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.200 Oh. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.880 Um, so that's kind of the base model of their of all their layers. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:23.279 Okay. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:28.319 Um, but then another side hustle, I do um events in the summer for an event production company. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.839 It's essentially like professional marching band. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:31.279 It's called Drumcore International. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:33.279 And so a large part of that, they're outdoor events. 00:22:33.440 -->

00:22:34.400 We have to be aware of the weather. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.880 So we have teams of meteorologists that support our events. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:40.240 So like it's always fun to work with them and see like the models. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.079 So there's like four layers in the atmosphere. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:47.680 And the models that we have are normally only looking at like layers one, maybe layer two, but like they're full-time meteorologists. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:57.920 So they're looking at all four layers so they can see a lot more, which is sometimes when like your weather app says, like, oh my god, it's gonna rain, they look at all four letters with sorry, all four layers, and they're like, No, it's actually not going to. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.359 It's just like a weird blip on the radio. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:03.359 There's secret info out there that they're not giving the well, that didn't talk me. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.519 No, this is not a conspiracy. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:11.519 This is the cost of the of like scanning all four layers for a free app. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.160 I see. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:17.119 I thought like everyone just knew, and they're like, nope, we're not telling them no, no, this is not a conspiracy to hide the weather from Eric. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.480 Go talk to the birds about that. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:24.160 So, does that mean that you were actually in a marching band? 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:24.960 I yes, I was. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.000 What was the instrument? 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.160 I was a tuba player, was my primary instrument. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.039 Tuba? 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.799 I would not have guessed you for tuba. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.920 No, most people don't. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.160 Yeah. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.759 What do most people think you'd be? 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.799 Most people say trumpet. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:34.960 Okay. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:38.640 Which is what I started on, but I couldn't get my like lips tight enough to make a sound. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.200 So they just like kept shoving me down the bigger instruments, and then I landed at tuba. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.799 And you liked the tuba. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.559 Uh I enjoyed band. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.119 Yeah. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.680 I did not like playing the tuba, nor was I very good at it. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:52.960 So is there any footage of you out there playing the tuba? 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.839 Oh, I'm sure there is. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.079 Yeah. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.640 Let's find that. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:54.880 Yeah. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:57.359 There's some pictures of me like in the Wildcat marching man at UK. 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:59.440 Oh, I didn't know you marched for UK too. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.240 Okay, sorry. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:04.319 I thought this was like a high school thing that was then like did high school, yeah, high school and then undergrad too. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:06.079 I started as a music major in undergrad. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:14.000 So did you like I've always wondered because my daughter's about to go into like marching bands, so like there, that foot placement that is like hardcore. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.440 Like whenever they're I'm not sure. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.640 It's like muscle memory. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:18.559 Yeah, you yeah, you build it up over time. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:18.960 Yeah. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.519 Okay. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.160 Absolutely. 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.400 Yeah. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:20.720 Okay. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:25.599 So were you like a bona fide like band nerd back in the day, or were you like, yeah. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.279 Yeah. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:29.039 I love it. 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:32.240 Like the band nerds, I mean they had like a strong camaraderie. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.640 Oh, yeah. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.680 I was like a theater nerd. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.599 So like it was just like a different exactly. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:35.839 Yeah. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.880 Same thing, different font. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.039 Yeah. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.440 Exactly. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.400 Same name, different form. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.680 Exactly. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.680 Um, had no idea about the tuba. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.480 Amazing. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.519 Um, if you were a woman, what would you carry in your purse? 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.079 Oh. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:49.039 Um so this is when you texted me beforehand. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.599 I did. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.839 I was like, I'm only telling you two of my questions in a chance. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:54.880 One of my friends Evan, he has my favorite purse ever. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:59.440 It's literally like big enough to hold like a chapstick and maybe a bottle of poppers, too. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.240 And that's it. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:03.440 So that's what I would carry because my man is going to carry everything else. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:05.759 It's just like, and like, what do you need besides chapstick? 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.319 Yeah, no, you don't. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.680 And like my phone can go in my pocket. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:07.920 Yeah. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.039 Yeah, or or poppers. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.079 Do women do those? 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.720 I don't know. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.720 Think about how much you can like carry in a tuba. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:15.119 I mean, you're going from a tuba to a teeny tiny. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:17.839 I did not Did you put anything in your tuba? 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.880 Oh, you can't. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.519 You know, because that's like

that would block the air if it goes. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.400 Darn it. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.000 I mean, you could, you just wouldn't be able to play. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:26.160 That would be the all right, fine. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:31.519 What is your worst pet peeve when it comes to like traffic, specifically Lexington traffic? 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.720 Oh, I'm a little bit. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:36.240 I mean, you've already kind of gotten into this, like hitting pedestrians is like. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:39.119 Well, hitting pedestrians is obviously like a more than a pet peeve. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.839 It's like that's awful. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.079 Right. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.960 No, the cry. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:48.240 The the drivers here that like like you should only enter the intersection if you know you can exit the intersection. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:58.079 And so, like, when you're in like slow traffic and the like the light is green, sure, but they go into the intersection, but then you're like stuck in standstill traffic, and then the light changes and you're still stuck in the intersection. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:00.079 Like blocking the people that now have to go. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.200 Now it's go the other way. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.319 Yeah, don't block the box. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:05.200 Like you should not enter it without being able to access the box. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.079 Don't block the box. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.519 Yeah, that's a good driver side. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.799 Completely agree. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:15.279 Mine is slow turners, like when you're behind somebody and they're going so slow to turn that makes you come to like a it just drives. 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.799 You have to accelerate through the turn. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.440 Absolutely. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:19.759 Yeah, we want fast turns. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.920 It's usually always like older people. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.079 No comment. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.960 I think old people are the worst on the road. 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:29.440 Okay, favorite restaurant in Lexington. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.799 And what do you order? 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.839 Um, I want some. 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.440 I love I love Kentucky Native. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:35.119 Oh, and the menu changes a lot. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:37.039 So like it depends on which what you're there for. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:39.759 Um, I love they have like a kale. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.720 Love kale. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.000 There's like some kale salad. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.319 Of course you. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.640 Oh, he runs like 20 miles a day and eats kale. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.440 There's like a spicy peanut salad that's really good. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:51.680 There's a couple different like potato salad things. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:55.200 Um, like a bagel with locks is always a good choice there. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.480 They've got lots of different things. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:00.640 Oh, the in the spring they have like a strawberry thing, like strawberries and cream. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:03.680 Oh, burrata or like cheese. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.680 Maybe they have the strawberries and burrata. 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.480 Maybe that's right. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.200 That's really, really good. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.720 But cream is really great too. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.039 Yeah. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:14.400 Our friend Zach told me a story about how when you were traveling with him, you were just eating straight butter at one point. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.640 Yeah. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:17.440 Because you were like, I was in the midst of I had ran 16 miles that day. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.039 So that's so you're like, I deserve it. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.759 I'm hungry. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:22.000 I ate half a chicken and then I was still hungry. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.359 So you just had like the butter at the top. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.000 Yeah, it was left. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.039 I mean, we had finished all the bread. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.319 So, like, what else are you gonna do with it? 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.599 Absolutely eat the butter. 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.799 Yeah, absolutely. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.240 Eat the naked butter. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.440 I love it. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:35.039 Um what was your best subject in school? 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.839 Uh social studies history. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.359 Yeah, my man. 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:41.119 We like some history down here. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.680 Very good. 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.720 What was your worst? 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.680 Uh, math. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.240 Same. 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.920 I hate it. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:48.160 I hated there's no like true, yeah. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:50.000 There's always like one right answer. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.960 I hated that. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.960 So I guess we kind of maybe already covered this. 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:54.160 Guilty pleasure food. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.119 Are we gonna say butter? 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.319 I mean butter. 00:27:56.400 --> 00:28:02.079 Yeah, I mean like when I'm baking and there's like extra like if you use seven tablespoons, I just eat the eighth tablespoon for the stick of butter, you know. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.720 Gotcha. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.039 Yeah. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.240 Oh, that's right, because you bake. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.799 I bake a lot. 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.039 Yes. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.680 You bake. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:07.039 Tell me about your baking. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.720 Uh yeah, I love doing it. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.440 It's lots of fun.

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:09.759 Yeah. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:13.200 Um that's the thing I think you post the most on Instagram that I've noticed. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.160 You're like, yeah, lots of baking. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.039 Yes. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.240 I would bake lots of bread. 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.480 Yes. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:16.880 Yes. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:22.000 Um, no, I got um, I mean, like I grew up in a family, both my parents cooked and baked a lot. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.359 So like grew up doing that. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.920 And then in college, kind of got into it a little bit. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:32.799 Um, and then really like in the last couple of years, I've really got into it and really explored like baking bread and cheesecakes and all these other things. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:42.160 Last year I did um watch parties for Great British Bake Off, and we did, like, or not we, I would bake the technical every week with the full recipe. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.039 Wait, what does that mean? 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:43.599 The technical. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:48.160 So in bake off, there's three challenges there's the signature, the bake off, and the showstopper. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:53.920 And so the technical, they get the recipe like that day, and it's like a stripped-down version of it. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:59.359 So instead of like, you know, it doesn't tell you the amounts, it just says like mix flour, sugar, and water to do this. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.640 Like it's very basic stuff. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:03.680 So, but when you follow online, they'll like post the full recipe. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:08.240 So I would make the technical, or if it was something like really gross, like when they do their like meat pies, I'm not. 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:12.720 Yeah, there's a lot of like yeah, like sometimes there's a lot of blood sometimes, too. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:18.640 Like there was one this year, it was like hard-boiled eggs wrapped in pork inside a meat pie. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.920 I was like, We're not, we're not doing it. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:24.559 So I just but no, I love baking. 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:25.359 Baking's lots of fun. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:27.039 Yeah, and you are do you dabble? 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:30.319 I mean, I know you're into the bread, but and you've mentioned cheesecake, but like into desserts as well. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.440 Like some pieces. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.680 Um make birthday cakes a lot for friends. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:36.000 Um, have lovlovas are always great, those are super easy. 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:38.640 They're just like egg whites and sugar. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.920 Um, and you just whip it up. 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:42.319 Um, cakes, cook cookies are okay. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:44.400 They're very temperamental, so you have to be careful with those. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.039 Are they? 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:49.680 Uh, but like breads and loaves and cheesecakes and yeah, everything. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.160 I love it all. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:52.319 Do you like a crispy cookie or a chewy cookie? 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.039 Uh chewy. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:53.599 Same. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.599 We have so much in common. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:57.440 Okay, except for the running. 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.720 Um get you there. 00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.759 Favorite, right? 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.440 From couch to 5K. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.119 There she goes. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:06.400 Um, favorite types, favorite type of music. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.680 Uh, country. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:10.400 It's my country and classic rock are like the best. 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.799 My favorite. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.240 And you know what? 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:20.799 I think that lately Lexington is such a good scene for like, because I'm sure by country you don't mean like Nash, or maybe you do, like very like high-produced national. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:24.559 No, I mean like 1990 through 2010, primarily women. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:24.799 Yeah. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:32.880 Um, since 2010, some of the women are okay, but also like since then I've drifted far more into the like the like bluegrass folk, Americana. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.319 Totally that outlaws. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:40.720 Well, it's because country has done this amazing thing lately where it it's just so multifaceted with like all of its sub-genres. 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.039 Yes. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:45.359 And it's definitely like moving in and out of different genres in and of itself. 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:50.799 And so, and Lexington, I think, is really picked up on the fact that like this area has a want for that. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:58.240 And like I think the Burl does such a good job of bringing in like almost getting to the point where like like you trust certain actors. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:02.480 Like, I don't know anything about this movie, but I'll go see it because Meryl Streep's in it or whatever. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:02.640 Right. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.920 It's like that's how I feel about the Burl. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:13.119 I'm like, if you're playing somebody, like I trust your judgment enough, like you're bringing in these up and coming, and they they have like pretty, I mean, they've had people on their stage that have gone on to be like huge. 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.680 It's like, I don't know, it's a good, it's a good spot. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.000 Absolutely. 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:17.759 Yeah, you know what's funny about the Burl too. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:31.039 I was there the other day and I was asking the bartender um when it's tough to be like a bouncer, or when it's like the when it was like the country shows are actually like like when the people are a little bit more

aggressive, yeah. 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.960 Which I was like, huh, that's so interesting. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:44.079 You'd think it'd be more like, I don't know, sometimes I had like harder rock or like a little bit more punk or whatever, but it's like the country shows bring in lots of different people, and apparently they're I'm like, well, Jason and I aren't, right? 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:46.160 I'm not fighting anybody outside the world. 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:50.079 No, no, no, not unless it's about ruining my manicure for that. 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.720 Never okay. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:55.599 Um favorite toy as a child. 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:57.359 Oh, uh that you play with. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.160 I loved Legos. 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.559 I just Legos and Hot Wheels. 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.200 Uh-huh. 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:01.839 Okay. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.400 That was fine. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:05.680 Did you build giant um cities? 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.319 Yeah. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:06.720 Yeah. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.160 I also like to build homes a lot. 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.039 That was like my favorite. 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:11.359 I wanted to be like an architect as a kid, so I would build homes. 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.240 Yeah. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:12.720 Yeah. 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:16.079 So was that like your dream like the entire time that you were a child? 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.440 Or did it change everything? 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:20.240 Like, uh, I mean, I went through like I want to be a marine biology phase. 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:20.880 Like, we all do. 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.000 We all or something. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.279 I think it was like fed to us. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:23.920 Well, you're young. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.480 How old are you? 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.279 I am 33. 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:25.839 Yeah, yeah. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.720 And I'm 41. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:32.480 So like we definitely have like, but there was something I feel like it was sometime in third or fourth grade where it was like, don't you love dolphins? 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.519 You should be a marine biologist. 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.000 And every kid. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.680 And you can't say I don't love dolphins. 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:36.480 Exactly. 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.880 It's like, what third grader's gonna say this? 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.200 Yeah. 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:39.599 Yeah. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.319 I don't know. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.640 Yeah. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.359 That's so funny. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:46.960 So an architect and a marine roller coaster designer was another like well, you're doing all those things now with pride. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.160 I'm creating spaces. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:50.799 Yes, you are. 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.079 Yes, you are. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:52.319 Yeah.

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.119 Absolutely. 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:55.359 Okay, well, so what else is going on with you? 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:58.079 Um, I'm going to DC Pride this weekend, which I'm very excited for. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.039 So tell me more. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.119 Is that like the national pride? 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:03.680 I don't think there's like a like world pride. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:07.680 But it's like, I wouldn't say there's like a national pride in the play. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:08.720 Like an e- Okay. 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:08.960 Yeah. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.359 Good to do. 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:14.160 So it's just so um the prior sorry, the parade is on Saturday and then the festival's on Sunday. 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.599 And what does that entail? 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.400 Um I don't know. 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.039 I've never been. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:22.720 So my boyfriend lives in DC for eight years, so I'm excited to like get more of the tour from the local and see what it's like. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:27.200 And tell me what you were saying before we started recording about how you can't help but go to these events. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:27.759 Oh, yeah. 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:34.640 Like, I mean, I love going to big events, they're fun, but also every time I'm there, I'm just like, okay, let me open up my notes app, let me take some notes, see what they're doing, what I like, what I don't like. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:44.640 Or I'm just like constantly thinking about like, okay, there's this many workers and this many porta potties, and the police cost this, and the streets and roads cost like you're just like, yeah, what is yeah, I I guess I do sometimes. 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:46.000 Yeah, I was gonna say you're using the math. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.720 Simple math. 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:47.920 Simple math. 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:52.000 Um, but yeah, but that's also part of like figuring out it's just like a big puzzle. 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:54.480 That's I think why I like the Pride Festival and other things. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:58.079 It's just putting together a big puzzle and finding all the different pieces that could fit. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:06.400 What have you heard about going to DC with the political climate that it is right now and our president, how he feels about like, is there what's the hubbub around that? 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.759 Um, I don't know if there's too much. 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:14.559 I went to DC in April 2024, or no, April 2025, after he was inaugurated. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.719 And it really like the vibe wasn't that different at that time. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.599 It was still early. 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:20.639 Um, but yeah, I'm interested to see what happens this time. 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:27.440 I think it will be a lot more of like like having it a common enemy and antagonist, like it makes things stronger. 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:32.559 So I think pride is going to be stronger, and I think people are gonna be out louder and prouder and doing more things because of that. 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:37.119 So, and I like the local government, the DC government is very supportive of it. 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:39.119 Um, so I'm not too worried about it. 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:39.679 Yeah, yeah. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:47.599 On the flip side of that, whenever the it's strong in that sense, is the opposition as equally as strong, do you think? 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:54.480 Like in terms of like protesting against um no, because like pride protesters are not organized or like committed to the bit, you know? 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.760 Like we really go on. 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:57.599 We had like uh I we had I saw them. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:00.719 Yes, we had a few protesters at our pride this year, like three or four. 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:02.000 And they left it four. 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.199 Yeah, they left at like 1.30. 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:04.400 They got tired and went home. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:11.199 Um last year we had one protester and he rode the free shuttle that we provided that went from downtown Lexington to the festival crowds. 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.159 I love that story. 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:18.159 Um obviously, that is not like you know, that is one story that is not true for all the prides. 00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:28.320 Obviously, like we saw in Corbin that they are having significant issues down there with um the white supremacist organization that targeting the pride organizer and targeting the city. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:31.519 Like, don't you dare do a pride in our city, we'll come get you type of thing. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:33.039 So, like it's still very real out there. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:36.639 Like, I want to like we, I think in Lexington, we're a little bit, we're very lucky. 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:42.159 We're very privileged in that like we have the support of our local government and our local businesses and the people and things like that. 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:46.480 Um, and some of the smaller communities, you know, you don't, you're not that lucky, unfortunately. 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:52.320 And so uh, but we've been in contact with the Corbin Pride talking about it and how we structure things and how we work with our city government. 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:57.599 So um I think Queer Kentucky just posted something about they're still having their pride and they're going forward with it. 00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:58.800 So I'm excited to see that. 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:06.719 Um, but yeah, it's um I think the people that are so anti-pride, you know, there it's just a lot of keyboard warriors too, in some ways. 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:10.639 Um they're not like pounding the pavement and actually coming to these. 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:12.079 Yes, yeah, sometimes, yeah. 00:36:12.320 -->

00:36:12.559 Sure. 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.199 Yeah. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:20.000 Well, I thought it was really interesting, and it was I brought my daughter to Pride This Pat and I saw your the four protesters. 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:28.000 And at one point, they had wanted to protest and they like made a giant walk of going all the way down Oliver Lewis and all the way back up. 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:28.400 Yeah. 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:32.400 And they were holding, it was like you know, Bible verses or something. 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:40.719 And then as they're walking, they're kind of yelling things out, like not like in a hateful way, but just like, you know, I don't remember what it was. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:47.280 But you also had like pride participants who were like all in rainbow walking alongside them, like just very peacefully. 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:49.440 And they also had like some cops on either. 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:54.400 So it was like both sides walking together peacefully, just kind of saying what I mean. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:37:00.880 Obviously, I didn't like the opposition, but like the it was a way to do it, and like if you had, I don't know. 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:02.239 I thought it was really interesting. 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:04.000 And it was just very organic that happened, you know. 00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:05.039 We didn't stage that or anything. 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:09.199 No, of course not, and it looked organic, and there was like somebody with like a drum, yes, yeah. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.719 From the the March Madness March again. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:13.920 I can't even tell like who was who and what was happening. 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:22.079 It was like such a great conversation starter for me and my daughter to talk about like how how do we express ourselves, like how and in what ways do you protest? 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:22.480 I don't know. 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:27.519 It was it was it was very interesting, and it, you know, in ideal world, we wouldn't be able to have the protesters, we'd be able to kick them out. 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:30.960 But like the First Amendment or whatever that you know prevents that. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:36.559 And we've had back and forth with the city about what that means because we're reserving the street, like, you know, yeah, what does that look like? 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:44.719 So it's um from my perspective, it's not necessarily a settled issue, but I think from the city's perspective, you know, it's a public roadway, we can't limit access type of thing. 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:48.559 If it was a ticketed event, we could, but because it's not, we can't do that. 00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:48.960 Right. 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.760 And you don't want to ticket. 00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:50.639 Yes, yeah. 00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:52.719 We want we want pride to be free, open to everyone. 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:55.760 And it's just there's so many entry points we couldn't logistically do it. 00:37:55.920 --> 00:38:01.119 So um, but yeah, I mean, our our message is always, you know, there might be protesters, just ignore them. 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:03.440 You're there to enjoy yourself and have a good time and celebrate pride. 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:03.599 Yeah. 00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:05.199 If folks want to engage, that's fine. 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:09.199 But I don't think screaming at them, shouting at them, it's not gonna change their opinion. 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:12.639 They're setting their opinions, they're not gonna change their opinions, we're not gonna change ours. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:15.760 Just let them be and they'll get tired by 1:30 and go home. 00:38:15.840 --> 00:38:16.719 You know, that's that's what's going on. 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.199 Which they did. 00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:17.679 They did. 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:21.119 Yes, they'll catch the shuttle and they'll probably shuttle to be provided. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:21.840 Exactly. 00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.840 The gays love public transit. 00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:24.559 Of course. 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.199 I love it. 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:27.119 If they're not running, they're on public transit. 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:27.920 Exactly. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:28.320 Yes. 00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:30.960 Well, Jason, thank you so much for being on the podcast. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:32.000 I mean, it's such great. 00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:34.079 You just have such a like light about you. 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.440 Yeah, you're so easy to talk to. 00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:36.239 Yeah, great. 00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:36.480 Thank you. 00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:37.199 Thanks for having me. 00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:38.559 Bye.