Domestic Partner Benefits Still Threatened

Governor, under pressure from anti-fairness forces, to hold special legislative session challenging domestic partnerships

Last summer the University of Louisville Board of Trustees voted unanimously to extend health insurance to all coupled employees, regardless of marital status. The vote marked a huge step forward for GLBT equality in Kentucky. This April the University of Kentucky followed suit.

Predictably, the anti-fairness industry caused an uproar. But after a tough fight in the 2007 General Assembly, fair healthcare prevailed at UK and U of L. The Senate passed legislation to ban state agencies from providing benefits to employees' domestic partners. That legislation died in a House committee.

Still, the fight is not over. The administration of Gov. Ernie Fletcher persists in trying to use GLBT Kentuckians as a political tool. His running mate Robbie Rudolph said in a televised debate that the governor might add a domestic partner benefits ban to the agenda of a special legislative session.

Early in the domestic partner debate Fletcher took the wise position of leaving personnel decisions to individual Boards of Trustees. Now, facing re-election, he is threatening to bring the issue back before legislators.

Just this week another national anti-fairness extremist group intruded into the debate. The Mississippi-based American Family Association issued an Action Alert to its members. Here's an excerpt:

Subject: Help protect marriage in Kentucky

Thank Governor Fletcher for considering marriage protection in special session

On April 24, the University of Kentucky followed the University of Louisville’s lead and authorized the creation of a new legal relationship – domestic partner. This is in direct violation of the law – and, in particular, the Kentucky Constitution [...]

Send Governor Ernie Fletcher an email in support of defending the assault on marriage in the Special Session. Your action is needed today! The Herald-Leader and the Courier-Journal have “teamed together” and are already putting pressure on the Governor NOT to place this on the call of the Special Session.

The Kentucky Fairness Alliance will lead the fight against this renewed attack on unmarried university employees. But we need your help! Watch your email in the coming weeks for opportunities to speak out and contribute to our ongoing battle to build a fair Kentucky for everyone.