Headlines

KFA Religious Advisor Speaks Faith To Fairness

February 4, 2010

The Catholic Archbishop of Louisville has been heard from quite frequently on his staunch opposition to recognizing relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Kentuckians.  It seems to have become the Archbishop's task as of late to draw attention to his position.  In response, the following OpEd, which ran in Tuesday's Courier-Journal, was penned by Rev. Albert Pennybacker of Lexington to shed light on another religious perspective:

"With the current court challenge to California's Proposition 8 forbidding same-sex marriages, religious views are again surfacing. Some are blessed with insight, some with only clamor, bias and stridency. It is critical that religion's positive voice be heard.

"Why? It appears that the California case could be headed to the United States Supreme Court. A definitive federal judgment upholding the legality of same-sex marriage would result in striking down state prohibitions including here in Kentucky. Now is the time to sort out what we really believe."

Read the rest here.

KFA Board Meets in Regular Session

January 24, 2010

On January 23, the KFA Board of Directors met for their 1st quarter regular meeting in Lexington. The Board acted on several items including the re-appointment of Jody Cofer of Benton and Nick Wilkerson of Louisville, approved financials including the 4th quarter 2009 statements and their 2010 operating budget, and re-elected their 2009 officers (Travis Myles, chairperson, Mike Handley, vice-chairperson, David Corbett, treasurer, and Lee Etta Cummings, secretary) to serve again in 2010. The Board received a report on behalf of the Chairperson including information on the 2nd Statewide Fairness Summit and work by the Statewide Fairness Coalition. The Board discussed plans for their signature fall gala, Out & About, and established a workgroup to head those efforts. The Board received a report from Legislative Committee Chairperson Jody Cofer as to the work of the Committee and plans moving forward for during the 2010 General Assembly (including plans for this year's annual Kentuckians Value Fairness Day - RSVP here). The pending case before Supreme Court of KY was discussed, as was the recent ruling by the Court granting joint-custody between two women. The ongoing effort being made within the public higher education system to develop a Statewide Diversity Plan was discussed and plans for KFA to publicly comment were decided. The 2nd quarter Board meeting was set for April 17 in Paducah.

KY Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Ruling in Custody Case

January 22, 2010

Ruling in a custody case between two women, Arminta Jane Mullins and Phyllis Dianne Picklesimer, the Supreme Court of Kentucky reversed a lower court's ruling and granted joint custody to Mullins. It stated Mullins, while not being the biological mother of the child, did serve as a "de facto parent." The couple had the child in 2005, later filed joint custody, only to split up in 2006.

Read more about this from the Associated Press, via the Herald-Leader here.

State Equality Fund Awards KY Grant

January 18, 2010

The Tides Foundation’s State Equality Fund, a philanthropic partnership that includes the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Gill Foundation, and anonymous donors, has awarded the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition $30,000 to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality.  The Fund is programmatically staffed on behalf of the donors by the Gill Foundation’s Movement Building Center.

The Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition consists of the following organizations: Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; Fairness Campaign; Lexington Fairness; Kentucky Fairness Alliance Foundation; and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Foundation.

Read the media release here.

"Straightlaced" Showing Big Success

January 14, 2010

The January 9 showing of Groundspark's "Straightlaced" in Lexington was a huge success! Read about the showing here.

2010 LGBT Family Law Institute

January 11, 2010

The LGBT Family Law Institute is held each year as part of the National LGBT Bar Association’s Annual Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference.

The Institute, a joint venture of the LGBT Bar and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, allows experienced LGBT family law practitioners to share collective wisdom and to discuss cutting-edge legal strategies for representing members of the LGBT community on such matters as family creation, surrogacy from the clients’ perspective, ethics, interstate parentage issues, estate planning, collaborative law, transgender issues, dissolution of relationships, and elder law.

To find out more information about this opportunity, visit their website.

Top 10 Stories of 2009

January 1, 2010

The Time Tribune in Corbin, KY included Kentucky Fairness Alliance in their Top 10 Stories of 2009 for our pending legal case before the Supreme Court of Kentucky. The case involves state funding being allocated to the University of the Cumberlands, a private, religion-based institution. See the story here.

10 Year Nat'l. Snapshop of LGBT Fairness

December 17, 2009

The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and the Haas, Jr. Fund have completed a great report showing the progress made nationally the past 10 years for LGBT fairness. Read it here.

“Kentucky Fairness Alliance is a key member of our national network of state advocacy groups who are critical leaders in the movement for fairness across this country," said Travis Myles, KFA Board Chairperson. "This report shows that we must continue to invest in state and local work to bring about significant change for our community. We hope this report encourages fair-minded Kentuckians to continue the good work across the Commonwealth."

2010 Equality Agenda

December 9, 2009

New Project Launched to Address Intersections of Sexual Orientation, Race, and Gender Identity! Read about it here.

Out & About: A Success!

November 15, 2009

The KFA Board of Directors wants to thank everyone that attended and/or supported this year's Out & About gala held last night in Elizabethtown. Your continued support is very much appreciated as we plan for a busy 2010. Photos from the event are coming soon.

Read the E-Town News Enterprise's story on Out & About!

Inclusive Hate Crimes Legislation

October 23, 2009

Today, the U.S. Senate passed inclusive hate crimes legislation marking a historic day in our nation’s struggle for fairness in public policy and practice. 

“The passage of an inclusive hate crimes bill by the U.S. Congress is a great step for fairness across our country.  President Obama should move quickly to sign this historic legislation and make it the law of the land,” said Jody Cofer, Kentucky Fairness Alliance Board member.  “While Kentucky hate crimes law references orientation, a portion of the LGBT community is passed over.  This federal legislation brings our transgender brothers and sisters into the tent.  Sadly, prejudices still sometimes lead to awful criminal acts - it’s time for federal statute to acknowledge and curb that.

HUD to Ensure Fairness in Federal Housing Matters

October 22, 2009

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Wednesday, HUD is working to ensure fairness on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"The evidence is clear that some are denied the opportunity to make housing choices in our nation based on who they are and that must end," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "President Obama and I are determined that a qualified individual and family will not be denied housing choice based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

The proposed changes to HUD rules will include, among other things, 1) clarify the term "family" and 2) ensure that any FHA-insured mortgage loans be based on credit-related factors on not linked to orientation or gender identity.

2009 Statewide Fairness Awards

October 14, 2009

Kentucky Fairness Alliance has selected the 2009 fairness award recipients to be presented at the annual statewide fairness gala, Out & About. 

David Tachau
"Amper&and" Award

Kentucky Commission on Human Rights
Community Service Award

Find out more information here.

Fairness Before the KY Supreme Court

September 25, 2009

On Thursday, Sept. 24, KFA and other fair-minded organizations and individuals defended our case for fairness in public funding before the KY Supreme Court.

“Our biggest issue is that taking taxpayer dollars and funding private institutions is not legal,” said Michael Handley, vice-chair. “As a member of the LGBT community, I don’t want the state to use my tax dollars to discriminate against me.” 

Checkout the Bluegrass Politics blog from the Herald Leader for more information.

Fair-Minded Organizations Join KFA to Urge KY's Congressional Delegation on ENDA

September 11, 2009

Kentucky Fairness Alliance (KFA) and seventeen other fair-minded organizations released a letter to members of Kentucky’s Congressional delegation urging the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

View the letter here.

The Labor & Education Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to hear ENDA on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Stay tuned for more information.

Kentucky Hate Crimes

July 22, 2009

The Kentucky Statistical Analysis Center released today their 2007 Hate Crimes Report. It found that sexual orientation was the 2nd highest category for such activities in our state. Read the report here.

NEA Supports LGBT Fairness

July 13, 2009

Last week, the National Education Association (NEA) passed a resolution through their General Assembly opposing discrimination of same-sex couples and supporting "obtaining, preserving, and strengthening basic civil and human rights under law."

Further, the resolution states, "NEA will support its affiliates seeking to enact state legislation that guarantees to same-sex couples the right to enter into a legally recognized relationship pursuant to which they have the same rights and benefits as similarly-situated heterosexual couples, including, without limitation, rights and benefits with regard to medical decisions, taxes, inheritance, adoption, and immigration."

KFA applauds NEA's leadership on these issues in the education community and we call on Kentucky's educators to do see same (read here).

Kentuckians Remember Stonewall

July 3, 2009

From WKMS 91.3's website: One week before the Fourth of July, when we as a nation celebrate our independence, an American minority group commemorates another declaration of freedom. 40 years ago this week, gay men took a stand at New York City's Stonewall Inn, planting the seed for the American gay rights movement. Western Kentuckians and people across the nation celebrated Pride Day in remembrance of Stonewall. Jacque Day talks with three generations of area residents about what it means to them. Listen here .

KY Commission Hosts Public Hearing

June 9, 2009

On June 17 , the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) will host the first ever educational program by a Kentucky government agency on sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. This public hearing will be held in Richmond where local efforts are underway to pass Kentucky’s fourth local fairness ordinance. Ordinances are already on the books in Lexington/Fayette County, Louisville/Jefferson County, and the City of Covington.

A Fair Future For Kentucky:
A Call For An End To Discrimination
on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
June 17, 2009 – 6:00 p.m. (EST)
City Hall Commission Chamber - Richmond, KY

The KCHR is conducting a series of advocacy hearings across the state. Each hearing focuses on a particular group that is protected under the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. While the Act has not yet been amended to include protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, KCHR unanimously endorsed the passage of a statewide fairness law through formal resolution last year. 

The hearing will include invited panelists/speakers Jody Cofer of Murray, Jennifer Crossen of Lexington, Rev. Don Smith of Covington, and Carla Wallace of Louisville. The program will also include brief remarks by KCHR Executive Director John Johnson.
The program will be filmed and broadcast on local access television in Richmond.

Please make plans to join us and other fair-minded Kentuckians for this historic program.

Support the Reuniting Families Act

June 1, 2009

This month, U.S. Congressman Mike Honda will introduce The Reuniting Families Act (H.R. 6938), a landmark immigration bill that ends harmful practices - such as long visa wait times and discrimination against LGBT families - that prevent loving families from being together.

In an historic move, Congressman Honda has included lesbian and gay people as part of this remarkable legislation . . . marking the first  time in Congressional history that lesbian and gay couples have been included as part of a multi-issue immigration bill.

Urge your Kentucky Congressman to co-sponsor this legislation.

Act Now to Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

March 9, 2009

Last week, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) introduced legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and ensure that all qualified Americans can serve openly in the military regardless of sexual orientation. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act will replace the current law with new provisions prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Help make sure the Military Readiness Enhancement Act passes through Congress and reaches the President's desk. Write to your representative now and ask him or her to co-sponsor it by clicking here!

UPDATE: Congressman John Yarmuth has signed on as a co-sponsor of repealing DADT. KFA sends a big thank you to the Congressman for thinking about fairness!