Emma Curtis

@emmacurtis.bsky.social

12073 Followers 309 Following

Councilwoman 🏛️ Trans Kentuckian 🏳️‍⚧️ Punk/Metalhead/Elder Emo 🤘 Running for re-election to continue serving the people of Lexington’s 4th District 💙 https://linktr.ee/emmacurtislex

A photo of Emma smiling in downtown Lexington with a graphic that reads “Proudly recognized as a Mental Health Now Candidate”
A graphic that reads “VICTORY! Animal Care Ordinance passes with unanimous support” alongside a photo of Emma and her dog, Benny
Emma poses outside The Lyric Theatre with Bluegrass DSA President Noah Cornett, Laborers Local #189 Political Director Jeremy Jenkins, and data center regulation advocate Erin Petrey
A Note on Data Centers Like many of y'all, I was frustrated to learn that DartPoints, a data center developer, had purchased a portion of property formerly owned by LexMark with the intention to expand existing data center infrastracture on the property to support a new, larger data center. City leaders, including my fellow Councilmembers and I, were not involved in or made aware of this proposed development ahead of time. I learned of this the same that the general public did: through reporting by the Lexington Herald-Leader. I find this development alarming for many reasons. As I said during the GGP Committee's Al discussion on Tuesday: "Our constituents have legitimate concerns about the rapid proliferation of data centers across our commonwealth and our country. I share their concerns. That is a part of this conversation that we are anticipating having in the near future. It is my hope that we will choose to protect our people and our resources." I said that at the time, because Council was already set to discuss how data centers should be defined in our Zoning Ordinance during our July GGP meeting. I want to be clear with you about where I, personally, stand: I do not support the construction of hyperscale data centers in Fayette County and I do not support allowing the expansion of existing data center infrastructure at this time. As of now, Mayor Gorton has confirmed that the project will not receive any city funding and added that she supports "tight controls" because data centers "do not produce many jobs, and have the potential to increase utility costs on local residents." I am continuing to have conversations about what the most effective and impactful next steps are on this front and it is my hope that we will act sooner rather than later to protect our people and our resources.
Emma marches in the Lexington Pride Parade with Rep. Adrielle Camuel
A photo of a very young Emma smiling in a chair next to her mom
A graphic featuring a photo of Emma promoting her endorsement by the Central Kentucky Building & Construction Trades Council
A photo of Emma, wearing a suit and smiling, in downtown Lexington. Next to her are graphics highlighting her endorsement by Everytown for Gun Safety and recognition as a Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action.
Emma and Jacqueline Coleman at Pikeville Pride in 2024
A graphic from LiUNA! Local 189 highlighting their endorsement of Emma Curtis for Lexington City Council District 4
Emma speaks at UCW-UKY’s rally against the Integrate Blue initiative. Standing behind her are Councilmember Amy Beasley and LIUNA Local 189 President Jeremy Jenkins.
Emma stands behind a podium, wearing a red blazer, addressing a rally in front of the United States Capitol
A graphic from Christopher Street Project advertising Emma as a guest speaker at the Trans Day of Visibility rally in Washington, DC on March 28 at 11am.
Emma poses for a photo with Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Gov. Andy Beshear at the 2026 Kentucky Young Democrats convention.
Councilmembers Tyler Morton, James Brown, Lisa Higgins-Hord, Emma Curtis, and Tom Eblen attend a Pre-K for All event at The HILL in Lexington.
Emma holds the Global Lex banner and poses with marchers, mostly wearing green, for a photo at the 2026 Lexington St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
A Valentine’s Day card with a photo of Emma that reads - “Roses are red, violets are blue, I love ALL of my neighbors and that includes you”
A crowd marches through downtown Lexington to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Graphic, which reads: COUNCILWOMAN EMMA CURTIS LEXINGTON'S 4TH DISTRICT STATEMENT ON ICE PRESENCE IN LEXINGTON When I see the pain that ICE is inflicting on cities and on families across the United States, I feel heartbreak and anger in equal measure. Law enforcement agents swear an oath to keep our communities safe, not to terrorize them. Yet, that is exactly what we see masked ICE agents doing day after day after day. Whether it's in the cruel and inhumane treatment of those held in concentration camps like "Alligator Alcatraz" or in the brutal murder of Renee Good, it's clear to anybody watching that ICE doesn't bring public safety-it brings terror and fear. There is no home for that terror and fear here in Lexington. In our city, we understand that "love thy neighbor" has no exceptions. While we cannot abolish ICE at the local level, we can ensure that our city's laws protect the safety, freedom, and liberty of all of our residents to the fullest extent. In the coming weeks, I will be introducing legislation to ensure that we do just that. There can be no safety, freedom, or liberty in the shadows-only in the light.
Emma smiles for the camera at the Fayette County Clerk’s office, just after signing her paperwork to appear on the 2026 ballot
COUNCILWOMAN EMMA CURTIS FAVORITE SONGS OF 2025 MORNING PERSON ARM'S LENGTH PARACHUTE HAYLEY WILLIAMS BOTTOM OF A BOTTLE JULIEN BAKER & TORRES MODIGLIANI LUCY DACUS I WANNA KNOW YOUR NAME THE MOCK-UPS CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE LAMB OF GOD FML MILLINGTON COLD AT NIGHT THE MOUNTAIN GOATS SPIKE ISLAND PULP CATCH THESE FISTS WET LEG
Emma smiles while wearing Christmas pajamas and a Santa hat, laying on the floor with her dog Benny
A graphic from the KY AFL-CIO that reads— WORKING PEOPLE WON. Gary Clemons, a union member, veteran, and President of United Steelworkers Local 1693, has been elected State Senator for Kentucky's 37th District. Below it, a picture of Senator-Elect Gary Clemons.
A graphic from the ACLU displaying the Trump administration’s list of words prohibited for use by Head Start programs
Rep. Lamin Swann poses with a smile and thumbs up next to Emma at the Lexington St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2023
Emma accepts a microphone from Andrew Shayde before she speaks at the 2025 Kentucky AIDS Walk.
Emma and her dog, Benny, pose for a photo together on a porch in the Kentucky sunset
Emma speaks into a microphone outside the courthouse in Lexington, holding a formal proclamation recognizing TDOR in Lexington.
All of the women members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council and the Louisville Metro Council pose together for a photo
Emma speaks with a member of Leadership Lexington’s Class of 2025
Emma and Rep. Anne Gay Donworth hug amidst a crowd of supporters moments after they were both elected on November 5, 2024.
Emma stands in her office, holding up the proclamation from Gov. Beshear that she has been commissioned a Kentucky Colonel. She is extremely geeked.
Emma sits outside of Third Street Stuff and Coffee in downtown Lexington, dressed as the Log Lady from Twin Peaks for Halloween, next to a sticker-covered travel mug full of fresh black coffee
Emma poses for a photo with staff at Southern Elementary School, all dressed in Halloween attire
Emma poses for a photo with Rep. Rachel Roarx, Rep. Joshua Watkins, Blake Gerstner, and Belle Townsend inside IBEW Local 369.
Emma sits behind the horseshoe in council chambers, smiling to herself as she finishes speaking
A graphing reading “Shanah Tovah!” and featuring an apple, a jar of honey, and a fig. Below it, “Councilwoman Emma Curtis, Lexington’s 4th District”.
Emma poses with BCLC President (and 8th District Councilmember) Amy Beasley at the BCLC Labor Day picnic. They each hold an AFL-CIO sign that reads “IT’S BETTER IN A UNION.”
Emma smiles, a butterfly perched on her arm, while walking with colleagues on a farm in Fayette County.
Photo 1: The audience at Sayre Christian Village’s Playing With a Greater Purpose event Photo 2: A sign reserving Emma’s seat at the same event. Caption: Playing With a Greater Purpose I attended Sayre Christian Village's "Playing With a Greater Purpose" event to reaffirm my support for their mission, as well as our city's commitment to continue working alongside them to ensure that our seniors and older adults are able to age in place and with dignity.
Emma and her Legislative Aide, Sarah, speak with a School Resource Officer at Southern Elementary
Emma stands in front of the stage at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, wearing a My Chemical Romance shirt, before the bands performance during the “Long Live” The Black Parade Tour.
Emma poses in front of the “Welcome back SES!“ display in front of Southern Elementary School.
Emma leans on a fence in the woods, sipping coffee while “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers plays. Next to her, graphics pop up, reading: My bitin’ list: 1. Absentee landlords and out-of-state corporations who exploit lexington renters 2. State legislators who don’t want to fix Nicholasville Road 3. Billionaires and union busters 4. LGBTQ folks and “allies” who think trans rights are up for debate 5. Elected officials who don’t take constituent services seriously 6. S*xual predators and those who defend them
Emma sits at a table outside a restaurant after a meal, smiling for a photo
Caption: Corridors Commission Commemorative Planting This week, we cut the ribbon a new commiserative planting installation at Lexington's Historic Courthouse. My colleagues and I on the Corridiors Commission worked hard to make this happen and to make this downtown treasure even more of a vibrant space for the community. Photo 1: Emma, Mayor Gorton, and members of the Corridors Commission cut a ribbon in front of the Historic Courthouse Photo 2: A stone marker in the ground which has engraved on it: Celebrating 250 Years LEXINGTON KENTUCKY FOUNDED 1775 A Commemorative Planting by Corridors Commission 2025
Caption: WHAT I DID LAST WEEK COUNCILWOMAN EMMA CURTIS LEXINGTON’S 4TH DISTRICT Image: Emma stands next to CM Tyler Morton, smiling and clapping