About Us

Kentucky Black Pride Inc.

Kentucky Black Pride was established in December 2016, under the leadership of Shawn Ka'Ron Bumpase. Our mission is to promote unity, pride, self-awareness and positive visibility within Kentucky's QTPOC community.

Annual Pride Activities:

Women & Girls Health Summit

Kentucky Black Pride host our Annual Women & Girls Health Summit every 2nd Saturday of March. This event is for all women and young girls ages 15 -up. Various local panelists share their health stories during lunch, followed by an annual health fair with local healthcare providers and nonprofits.

John G. Bentley Feed the Homeless

John G. Bentley better known as Janel "Queenie" Claiborne was inspired on his 50th birthday to give back to the community. So he reached out to "Open Door Ministry" to help feed the homeless around his birthday in June. John passed away in February 2020. As part of his legacy we assist his family in continuing the legacy of feeding the homeless every Second Tuesday of June each year.

Our Story

September 14-17, 2017

First KBP Festival

The first Kentucky Black Pride Festival was held in Lexington, Kentucky the weekend after Lexington's Roots and Heritage Festival. Over 200 people gathered at Woodland Park for entertainment and socializing. The board of Kentucky Black Pride chose Woodland Park area to host it's pride annually. Woodland Park is historically known for hosting "Negro Review" at the Auditorium. "Negro Review" were events that hosted black drag queens to perform during a time that they weren't allowed in local clubs or bars. These events are dated back to the early 1930's (according to UKnowledge).