Today, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that same-sex partners could not get health benefits in government or public universities because of state’s 2004 constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage. This decision is important to the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s LGBT population because conservative groups and lawmakers in Kentucky have been closely monitoring the Michigan Supreme Court case. The Michigan Supreme Court’s 5-2 decision affirms a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling. Up to 20 public universities, community colleges, school districts and city governments in Michigan have benefits policies covering at least 375 gay couples. Some of the plans began as far back as the early 1990s.After the appeals court ruled in February 2007, universities and local governments rewrote their policies to try to comply with the gay marriage ban (similar to what the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville did after the Kentucky Attorney General issued a legal opinion on this issue in 2007).Former Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo referenced the Michigan court case, in addition to the Michigan Attorney’s General opinion in his 2007 legal opinion.Michigan’s anti-gay law, which passed 59 percent to 41 percent, says the union between a man and woman is the only agreement recognized as a marriage "or similar union for any purpose."
Many have suggested the Family Foundation of Kentucky decided not to peruse their threat to sue the University of Kentucky and Louisville to stop domestic-partner benefits until the Michigan Supreme Court issued their ruling. Kentucky and Michigan’s 2004 constitutional amendments against gay marriage are nearly identical, as are their policies toward local governments and public universities.
We will keep you advised of new developments. 
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Students at the University of Louisville are really excited about establishing the university's Office for LGBT Services and making its new home in the Red Barn on the Belknap Campus. Already, it's becoming a vibrant place where students gather to work on issues and projects and guests can stop in for help or information.
Would you like to help? Their vision includes a working resource library with books, DVDs, and other materials students can check out or use. But, in a time of budget cuts, they have no funds to purchase materials. So here's how you can help...
- Would you consider donating anything from your own library that you aren't using anymore? Books you've already read, movies you've watched a hundred times, etc? Anything LGBT-themed that would be useful to students or even just entertaining.
To make it easier to deliver any donations, the university's Human Resources Department has offered to serve as a drop-off site.
For directions to HR, go here: http://louisville.edu/hr/contact/directions.html
Lexington, KY April 10, 2008 -- The Kentucky Equality Federation is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic coalition alliance with the Libertarian Party of Kentucky to bring equality and fairness to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Libertarian Party is the largest of the Third Political Parties in the United States, claiming more than 200,000 registered voters and more than 600 people in public office, including mayors, county executives, county-council members, school-board members and other local officials. It has more people in office than all other third parties combined.
“We can work together to promote equality in Kentucky, we definitely have a long road [ahead],” stated Libertarian Party of Kentucky Chairman Ken Moellman.
“We’re very proud and honored to be working with the Libertarian Party of Kentucky,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.
Kentucky Equality Federation is also in negations with the Kentucky Log Cabin Republicans, and well as the Kentucky Stonewall Democrats.
