Kentucky Equality Federation has hailed legislation filed by Representative Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville) to overturn Kentucky’s same-sex marriage, civil unions, and the domestic partnerships ban.

Marzian, a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives since 1994 told United We Stand News™ that she filed the legislation “to let Kentucky’s LGBT citizens know that there are people in the General Assembly who believe that all Kentuckians deserve justice and fairness.”

Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer stated that if the bill passes both the Kentucky House and Senate and voters ratify it, lawmakers would then be able to legislate domestic-partnerships, or civil unions, such as the new domestic partnership law in the state of Washington.

Hoping to avert a religious debate, Palmer also stated a compromise with domestic partnerships or civil unions could be reached with lawmakers. (source)

Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky started an online marriage petition in an attempt to persuade lawmakers to undo Kentucky’s five year old Constitutional amendment. Kentucky Equality Federation had planned on presenting those signatures to lawmakers in 2011, or 2012. (source)

“We have a lot of new, young voters since the same-sex marriage ban was passed more than five years ago,” Kentucky Equality Federation Treasurer and Board member Nick Herweck told United We Stand News™.

“People who hadn’t reached voting age in 2004 when the amendment passed can vote now, and the younger generation overwhelming approves of complete equality,” stated Herweck. “Five years of younger voters have been added to the electorate.”

The proposed legislation may never reach voters, and Kentucky Equality Federation has been criticized that the timing isn’t right. Responding to those claims, Palmer responded to United We Stand News™ by email:

“No one is ever assured of victory, but the possibility of defeat cannot stop people of good conscience from perusing justice. When will the timing be right, in 5 years, 10 years? The important thing in any political battle is that you fight it in the pursuit what’s right. The gay rights movement would not have reached the new heights it has today if everyone waited until victory is assured; victory is never assured, but even in defeat people of good conscience will fight again until the battle is won. We can no longer hide from the issue of domestic equality in Kentucky.

Patrick Henry wasn’t assured of victory against the most powerful empire in the world when he said ‘Give me Liberty, or give me Death!’ and though they suffered defeats along the way, the end result was the birth of our republic.”

The likelihood of the legislation passing the Republican controlled Senate is unlikely.  Calls to the Senate Republican leadership seeking comment on this issue have not been returned.

Kentucky Equality Federation is currently the only gay rights organization to comment publicly about Marzian’s legislation, and the only statewide organization to endorse Marriage Equality Kentucky’s collection of signatures. Palmer stated that other organizations had been invited but didn’t sign-off on it.