Kaila Adia Story, PhD, is a professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and of Pan-African Studies, as well as the Audre Lorde Endowed Chair, at the University of Louisville. She is also the cocreator, coproducer, and cohost of Louisville Public Media’s Strange Fruit: Musings on Politics, Pop Culture, and Black Gay Life, a popular, award-winning podcast. Her research examines the intersections of race and sexuality, with special attention to Black feminism, Black lesbians, and Black queer identity. In 2017, Dr. Story was named an LGBTQ+ community leader and change maker by NBC’s inaugural #Pride30. In 2021, she was recognized by Michelle Obama’s nonprofit organization, Reach Higher, for creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students in and out of higher education. Dr. Story was chosen as the 2022 Champion of Pride for the state of Kentucky by The Advocate magazine.
Author photo: Jessie Kriech-Higdon