A personal message from Jordan Palmer; share your story with us!

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM KENTUCKY EQUALITY FEDERATION PRESIDENT JORDAN PALMER - SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US!

Today, Kentucky Equality Federation joined a coalition with Marriage Equality USA*, Bond Magazine, and Freedom to Marry to encourage Kentucky’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) citizens share their personal stories related Kentucky’s anti-gay marriage law and how it affects their lives.

“Six gay couples here in Kentucky have made us aware of their plans to travel to California to get married,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. “We have a place on our website they can visit to share their marriage plans with us; these couples realize once they get back to Kentucky, the Commonwealth will not recognize their marriage.”

Palmer also stated this was the beginning of a long-term strategy to repeal Kentucky’s 2004 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and that marriage should be gender neutral.

Since the California Supreme Court ruling, Kentucky Equality Federation has received 147 emails either from its primary website, or on social networking sites asking one question: “When will it be legal for me to marry my partner in Kentucky?”

“Kentucky’s LGBT population is tired of constantly being on the defense; though we recognize formidable defense measures are critical, we also realize an equally impressive offense must be coordinated,” stated Palmer.

Gay couples can share their stories at http://www.marriagestories.org/.

LGBT People Protected Again in Kentucky Government

BREAKING NEWS:
Governor Steve Beshear today signed an executive order restoring equal opportunity employment to all state employees and prospective employees. Under the order, no one can be hired or fired based on race, age, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status.

Click here to read our official blog, United We Stand for the latest updates.

RELATED NEWS:
Kentucky Equality PAC will release support and/or endorsements of political canidates on July 16, 2008. Visit http://www.kyequalitypac.org/ for additional information.

Kentucky Gay Civil Rights Leader Elected to the Board of a National Organization

Jordan Palmer, co-founder and president of Kentucky Equality Federation has been unanimously elected to the Board of Directors of Marriage Equality USA. Marriage Equality USA was founded in 1998 and has chapters operating across the nation.

Jordan Palmer, co-founder and president of Kentucky Equality Federation has been unanimously elected to the Board of Directors of Marriage Equality USA. Marriage Equality USA was founded in 1998 and has chapters operating across the nation.

Marriage Equality USA seeks to "secure legally recognized civil marriage for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation."

Marriage Equality USA has made headlines in recent years for their fight to legalize equal marriage rights for the LGBT citizens of California, whose case is currently before the California Supreme Court arguing for the equal right for LGBT people to marry in California. Marriage Equality USA is using a 1948 court ruling (Perez v. Sharp) that overturned a law prohibiting interracial marriage, concluding the right to marry the person of your choice is a "fundamental right of citizenship."

Palmer will be working alongside an army of national activists, including celebrities who are members of the Advisory Board to the Board of Directors of Marriage Equality USA, including Jason & Demarco, Ari Gold, and Brian Kent.

Some of Marriage Equality USA's other activities to date include:

1. The first organization (joint effort with Lambda Legal) to institute a comprehensive grass roots marriage and media training program for activists.
2. Began the Valentine's Day/Freedom to Marry Day Marriage License Counter demonstrations across the country; same-sex couples ask for marriage licenses from their city hall and county recorder's offices.
3. Obtained support of our Marriage Declaration from council members, clergy, community boards, mayors, and other key people throughout the United States.
4. Sponsored the first-ever Same-Sex Wedding Expo in New York, garnering solid support from gay and non-gay businesses.

"I think Kentucky Equality Federation's strategic alliance with Marriage Equality USA, as well as my appointment to their national Board of Directors is the first step toward repealing Kentucky's 2004 anti-gay amendment, as well as garnering additional support for non-discrimination laws, hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples, and other laws to bring complete equality to Kentucky," stated Palmer.

Palmer's appointment to Marriage Equality USA's Board of Directors is for two years. For additional information, visit www.marriageequality.org, or www.kyequality.org.