Kentucky Senate Passes Ban on DP's / Rally for Equality and Fairness.

January 30, 2008 - The Kentucky Senate passed SB-112 today to ban domestic-partner benefits at all Kentucky public facilities (all political subdivisions of the Commonwealth). Senate Bill 112 passing was no surprise; the real battle is yet in come….. in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

With more than 560,000 of Kentucky’s 4,173,405 citizens living without health insurance, taking coverage out of anyone’s reach indicates health insurance is only a commodity for the rich.

“Every Kentuckian knows when a bill is filed to stop universities from offering domestic-partner benefits, it is actually a bill to discriminate against a specific group of people – gays. Even the question of denying them is homophobic.” - Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.

Bluegrass Fairness of Central Kentucky and the Kentucky Equality Federation are sponsoring the first LGBT lobby day of this session on February 12; Equality. Fairness. Nothing more, nothing less. This shall be the day we take the fight for equality and fairness directly to our Capitol.

We need your support as the opposition has the voices and numbers that we fail to get to the Capitol. Pro and/or friendly LGBT policies are the minority, but we need to drum enough support to seem like the majority.

We have two exciting events planned for you; you may register for one or both events:

• Speak to your elected officials from 9:00AM - 1:00PM
  
• Rally in the Capitol Rotunda from 1:00PM - 2:00PM

We plan on having many guest speakers; including Senator Ernesto Scorsone, and Representative Kathy W. Stein.

Why do we need you to stand with us on February 12th? Look at what we are fighting! This comments are from your elected officials!

It's OK to fire someone if they're gay. Historically, homosexuals haven't suffered. - Representative Joseph Fischer (October 2006)Homosexuality is aberrant behavior. - Senate President David Williams (January 2008)

The University of the Cumberlands stands for what is positive . - Senate President David Williams (August 2006)I don't want to entice any of those people into our state. Those are the wrong kind of people. – Senator Dick Roeding (July 2006)

The Log Cabin Republican Club of Kentucky, a gay GOP group, "are nothing but a bunch of queers." - Senator Dick Roeding (July 2006)

I wouldn't think that there would be a lot of support in the General Assembly for giving benefits to people that were involved in same-sex relationships. Doing so would be bad public policy. - Senate President David Williams (July 2006)

I am committed to protecting traditional marriage. I proudly supported the Same-Sex Marriage Amendment proposal in Kentucky in 2004 and was pleased to see it pass with 74% of the vote. - U.S. Representative Geoff Davis [part of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation] (July 2006)

Support Senate Bill 55 - LGBT Non-Discrimination Bill.

January 11, 2008 - Senator Ernesto Scorsone had filed Senate Bill 55 to "to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity." This non discrimination bill would bar discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in employment, housing public accommodations, insurance coverage, and credit (if passed into law).

No one should lose a job, a home, or a seat in a restaurant due to LGBT prejudice!

Click here to Support Senate Bill 55! Please forward this to your friends, family, etc. for action!

Senate Bill 55 Text: Amend KRS 344.010 to include definitions for "sexual orientation" and "gender identity"; amend KRS 344.020, relating to the purpose of the Kentucky's civil rights chapter, to include a prohibition on discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity; amend KRS 344.040, 344.050, 344.060, 344.070, and 344.080, relating to prohibited discrimination in various labor and employment practices, to include sexual orientation and gender identity; amend KRS 344.025, 344.100, 344.110, and KRS 18A.095, relating to the same, to conform; amend KRS 344.120 and 342.140, relating to prohibited discrimination in places of public accommodation and advertisements therefor, to include sexual orientation and gender identity; amend KRS 344.170, 344.180, 344.190, 344.300, and 344.310, relating to the state and local human rights commissions, to include prohi bition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the scope of their powers and duties; amend KRS 344.360, 344.680, 344.370, and 344.380, relating to prohibited discrimination in certain housing, real estate, and other financial transactions, to include sexual orientation and gender identity; amend KRS 344.367, relating to prohibited discrimination in certain insurance sales, to include sexual orientation and gender identity; amend KRS 344.400, relating to prohibited discrimination in certain credit transactions, to include sexual orientation and gender identity; and make various technical amendments.

Bring in the new year by promoting tolerance in Southern Kentucky!

Bring in the new year by promoting tolerance in Southern Kentucky! This message is sent on behalf of Mr. James-Clifton Spires. James-Clifton Spires and his partner, Robert Cox, live in Middlesboro, KY. He is a retired professional journalist and currently is a freelance writer and employee of a private contractor that handles federal contracts. James is the father of two sons --- and serves Kentucky Equality Federation as political advisor to the president, and is a member of the General Advisory Council.

From James-Clifton Spires: As you probably know, gay rights and gay culture is an important interest in my life. In the year and a half Robert and I have been living together in Middlesboro, Kentucky, we have been fortunate to make many friends who are either gay or gay-supportive. Some of you who are receiving this may identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Some of you have beloved family members who fall into one of these categories, and still others identify as just plain gay supportive, or "friends of the family."

In my life before moving to Middlesboro, I was involved in several different branches of PFLAG, a nationally recognized support group with an acronym that stands for Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. After giving the matter some thought and prayer, and after discussing it with Robert, I have come to believe it is time that a Middlesboro/Cumberland Gap Region chapter of PFLAG was started to serve the diverse GLBT people of this area and their families and friends.

According to PFLAG's mission statement, the organization "PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity."

I am hoping that some members of Kentucky Equality Federation may be interested (or know people who may be interested) in helping organize a local PFLAG group in or around Middlesboro, KY.

The PFLAG - Berea Chapter assisted Kentucky Equality Federation during our community reception for the Soulforce/Equality Ride visit to the University of the Cumberlands on March 27, 2007 (pictures). Kentucky Equality Federation sponsored the Soulforce - Kentucky visit, and paid for their lodging.

To send James an email, click here, or copy/paste his email address: jamescliftonspires@commonwealth-equality.org.