About Us
Mission: SOKY Alliance fosters community, builds support, and promotes advocacy for our local LGBTQ+ community through programming, educational opportunities, and resource connections.
Background
Being authentically YOU.
As a mom of two teens, I noticed a lack of centralized resources for LGBTQ youth in Bowling Green as I set out to find space for them to just connect with others without having to commit to a specific skill or activity. I’m the administrator at First Christian Church, which was supportive of my vision to establish a social group for teens and has provided the perfect space for the group to exist since August 2021. BG Teen isn’t a faith-based organization, but it exists with enthusiastic support from FCC.
It has been my vision that with growth and engagement beyond BG Teen we could have a Pride/Alliance organization so our region can grow as an inclusive community and foster the support and development of its LGBTQ+ members. In June 2023, we partnered with FCC to hold the community’s first Pride Worship Service. Also that month, we organized a Pride Family Picnic. In fall 2023, we expanded programming to young adults with a group called Gen Q, which functions with the same idea as BG Teen.
With the expanding programming, it became clear it was time to evolve, and from that comes SOKY Alliance. Its inaugural leadership committee formed in March 2024 to provide oversight of current offerings and to vision and guide the organization into the future. We hope SOKY Alliance becomes a solid source of community, support, and resources for the area’s LGBTQ+ members through social programming, education and advocacy.
— Crystal Akers, Founder/Director
