OutFit Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized to serve and benefit the LGBTQIA+ community of Paducah, KY and its surrounding areas. Offering year-round support, education, and resources, our mission is to help queer individuals in our region fit in a community that stands out! 

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The dream of OutFit was born through our founder, Sam Bussey’s, lived experiences after coming out in college. What originally began as an idea to aid in the search for identity affirming clothing and care has far evolved. While we have remained true to Sam’s original goal, our work has been broader, meeting the needs of individuals in every corner of our community. 

 

Since our launch in June of 2024, we have been able to serve countless individuals. We’ve hosted multiple events, including self-defense training courses, identity affirming workshops, a resource fair, and more! Through the help of community partnerships, we’ve been able to serve folks facing hardships, filling more than 30 local Blessing Boxes (also known as Tiny Pantries) last year. However, our most successful initiative has been OutFit APPROVED — a membership program that helps identify safe, affirming businesses, organizations, and service providers in our area. A complete list of participants can be found in the OutFit APPROVED section of our website. 

 

Our hope is that, through our work, Paducah will become a safer, more welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ people and our allies. Thanks to the help of our amazing supporters, we’ve already been able to make huge strides in achieving that goal, and we are eager to see how far we will go! 

 

If you’d like a deeper dive into our story, check out our March 2025 feature by Bazooka Reloaded!