FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 23, 2007

Contact:
Christina Gilgor, Kentucky Fairness Alliance Executive Director, (859) 420-6677

HUNDREDS RALLY FOR A FAIR KENTUCKY: PERSONAL STORIES AND POLITICAL ACTION FEATURED

Contact:
Christina Gilgor, Kentucky Fairness Alliance Executive Director, (859) 420-6677

Frankfort --- The Kentucky Fairness Alliance and the Fairness Campaign welcomed hundreds of allies to the Capitol Rotunda Thursday for Kentuckians Value Fairness. More than 100 fair-minded Kentuckians lobbied their legislators in the morning, and over 200 joined the afternoon rally for a fair Kentucky.

Rally speakers told the assembly about their personal experiences with discrimination. Among them, Jennifer Crossen of Lexington talked about being shut out of her partner’s health insurance, Andy Frueh of Elizabethtown recalled being denied an apartment rental because of his sexual orientation, and Rev. Todd Eklof of Louisville – a straight ally – shared his experience of being fired from Kentucky Farm Bureau after he took a public position supporting marriage equality.

“Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression is real and alive in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Fairness Alliance Executive Director Christina Gilgor. “The stories we heard at the rally serve as painful evidence of how badly we need legal protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied Kentuckians.”

Gilgor closed the rally by announcing the Kentucky Fairness Alliance’s selection by the national Equality Federation and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund for their statewide Political Action Committee Project. “Our selection into this program by two prominent national organizations says they see your work across the Commonwealth, and they know their assistance in establishing this new arm of your statewide organization will only grow and strengthen your efforts,” she said to cheers from the crowd.

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With over 10,000 members, the Kentucky Fairness Alliance seeks to advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through leadership development, public education and by encouraging participation in the democratic process.

The Fairness Campaign is a broad-based community effort dedicated to equal rights. Its primary goal is comprehensive civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Fairness Campaign accomplishes its goals through public education and advocacy, political activity, community building and reciprocal alliances with others in the social justice community.