FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 24, 2007

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

STATEMENT: KENTUCKY FAIRNESS ALLIANCE CONDEMNS RUDOLPH'S CALL TO BAN FAIR HEALTHCARE

Frankfort --- Lieutenant governor candidate Robbie Rudolph on Monday called on Kentucky lawmakers to ban healthcare benefits for unmarried employees of state agencies, saying the issue may appear on the agenda of a special legislative session.

Christina Gilgor, executive director of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, released this statement:

"University of Kentucky and University of Louisville employees asked for fair healthcare, and their respective boards of trustees responded. Seven out of 10 Kentuckians say they support a fair workplace for their gay neighbors, but our elected officials are frantic with fear of special interest groups. With more than a half million Kentuckians lacking health insurance, we should be looking for ways to expand access, not restrict it.

"Robbie Rudolph says he wants to ban fair healthcare in a special legislative session, which is a classic case of campaign panic. Ernie Fletcher is scared he won't win the Republican nomination for governor, so his running mate has gone for the tried and tired strategy of using gay families as a wedge issue. Two months ago Fletcher said he trusted his appointees on university boards to make their own decisions. Now he seems to have flip-flopped to appease his party's extremist wing.

"We work, go to school, buy groceries, pay taxes. The couples enrolled in the University of Louisville's benefit plan are as ordinary and unique as any other family in Kentucky. Providing them the simple security of health insurance is more than just the smart thing to do. It's the right, and fair thing to do."

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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.