If ever there were a roller-coaster year, 2009 was it.  Below is a brief recap if Kentucky’s 2009 LGBTI history.

January

Kentucky Equality Federation launched various outreach programs to “focus on educating the public about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) issues within specific communities – providing information and sharing our message in specific ways, as well as contributing information regarding each community to our statewide organization.”

February

Louisville’s Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Equality Federation, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, Lexington Fairness, the Libertarian Party of Kentucky, and many others gathered in the Capitol Rotunda for a gay rights rally in February. Unfortunately, the rally was among the lowest of those ever attended despite the fact that it was also endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of America, and various chapters of the Kentucky Young Democrats.

Marriage Equality Kentucky, a member of Marriage Equality USA, extended Marriage Equality USA’s “National Freedom to Marry Day – Marriage Action” to Kentucky. Organization’s around the Commonwealth participated. (event site and information)

The movie Milk was a major contender at the 81st Academy Awards, with Sean Penn taking Best Actor for his portrayal of the assassinated gay maverick (San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk), and Dustin Lance Black winning Best Screenplay.

March

Senate Bill 68, legislation to ban “unmarried couples” from serving as adoptive or foster parents died in the Kentucky House of Representatives after passing the Senate in a secret meeting.  Kentucky Equality Federation assured its members the Kentucky House of Representatives would not vote on the bill before the end of the legislative session but refused to reveal inside sources.  Kentucky Equality Federation was later attacked by the Family Foundation of Kentucky for calling the meeting “secret,” even though no public notice of the meeting was provided.

Prior to the Kentucky Legislature adjourning, an unprecedented amount of support indicated how quickly Kentucky’s LGBT community and its straight allies could be mobilized:

• Kentucky citizen Craig Cammock created a large Facebook group to stop the measure.
• Kentucky Equality Federation, Louisville’s Fairness Campaign, and Kentucky Fairness Alliance also issued action alerts to stop the measure with huge success; Kentucky’s action driven gay rights mobilized with great success.

Kentucky Senate President David L. Williams joins the Family Foundation of Kentucky in a rally at the Capitol Rotunda and demands an apology from Senator Kathy Stein (basically, for attending the gay rights rally held in February to stop Senate Bill 68).  Williams takes Stein’s comments completely out of context.  Stein refused to apologize.

April

April’s Miss USA 2009 pageant did not go as smoothly, as contestant Carrie Prejean and judge Perez Hilton had words over marriage equality. While Prejean went on grabbing headlines with news of her breast implants and sex tape, she also became a spokesperson for social conservatives, thanks to her one-man-one-woman worldview. Perez Hilton however suffered his own setbacks and condemnations from gay rights groups for calling the contestant foul names. (previous story)

May

Largely due to pressure from Louisville’s Fairness Campaign, a Louisville, KY McDonald’s agreed to “Training and Settlement” after an employee called gay customers anti-gay slurs.

Kentucky Equality Federation supports students protest at Franklin County High School after receiving reports that a Franklin County High official allegedly sent an email to teachers instructing them not to allow homosexuals to leave class to use the restroom. (press release)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton extended equal benefits for gay and lesbian American diplomats. “Historically, domestic partners of Foreign Service members have not been provided the same training, benefits, allowances and protections that other family members receive,” the U.S. State Department announced. “These inequities are unfair and must end.”

June

Marriage Equality Kentucky, backed by Kentucky Equality Federation, launched the Kentucky Marriage Declaration stating that “Civil marriage was a basic constitutional freedom,” despite Kentucky outlawing same-sex marriage in 2004.  That same month, Mary Lou Marzian (D), a Senior Representative from Louisville introduced legislation to overturn the Commonwealth’s ban on same-sex marriage, civil unions, and “other similar institutions.”  (previous story) Kentucky Equality Federation hailed the legislation but no other gay civil rights organization in Kentucky commented.

Ken Pagano, pastor of the New Bethel Church in Louisville urged his flock to bring guns to church. Pagano gave a sermon on “God, Guns, Gospel and Geometry.” Pagano invited his congregation of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary to “celebrate our rights as Americans!” (previous story)

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the U.S. Military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell‘ policy at the request of the Obama administration. (previous story)

July

Kentucky Equality Federation condemned $1.2 million in federal funding to the University of the Cumberlands. (story)

In related news, the University of the Cumberlands rejected assistance from the Broadway Baptist Church because of their stance on homosexuality; both Kentucky Equality Federation and Kentucky Fairness Alliance condemned the action and stated “the local community would suffer” since the Broadway Baptist Church was joining a group of national volunteers in the school’s Mountain Outreach program, which builds houses for disadvantaged people in the region. (previous story)

August

The LGBT community lost a valuable ally in the U.S. Senate with the passing of Senior U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy (D-Massachusetts). (previous story)

In a historic lawsuit, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sues the U.S. Government over DOMA. “In enacting DOMA, Congress overstepped its authority, undermined states’ efforts to recognize marriages between same-sex couples, and codified an animus towards gay and lesbian people.” – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (previous story)

A motivated supporter of Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky’s Marriage Declaration posted signs around Harlan County in Southern Kentucky to raise awareness of the declaration; the signs however were tore down, and the supporter’s life threatened. (previous story)

September

U.S. House Speaker Pelosi likens healthcare protests to anti-gay rhetoric, “I have concerns about some of the language that is being used, because I saw this myself in the late ’70s in San Francisco. This kind of rhetoric was very frightening, and it created a climate in which violence took place.” (previous story)

The long standing official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation, “United We Stand” is permitted to become an independent news organization, focusing on Kentucky’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender news.   Later incorporated as United We Stand Media, LLC.  the official name of the news site is called United We Stand – Kentucky’s LGBTI News™ with Michael Thomas becoming the editor and Casey Kurtis its first journalist.

October

Louisville’s Fairness Campaign launched a boycott of Woody’s Tavern. According to witnesses, a bar patron lifted the corner of a pool table to dislodge balls stuck inside, which prompted a yelling spree from Mr. Norton, who ultimately chased every patron out of his establishment. As he ejected them, he yelled after patrons, calling them “trashy faggots,” and then, referring to a group of African American patrons, stated, “Look at their skin color. You know what’s on the tip of my tongue.” October 2009 marked 10 years of the Louisville City Ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Kentucky Equality Federation condemned a Southern Kentucky publication, the “Mountain Shopper” after its editor printed an anti-gay article: The Fall of UK because of “homosexuals.” (previous story)

Andrew Sullivan called for the resignation of Human Rights Campaign (“HRC”) President Joe Solmonese. (previous story)

U.S. President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, which included provisions to continue an effort begun in the George W. Bush administration to end the nation’s HIV travel ban. Obama also signed the largely ‘symbolic’ Matthew Shepard Act. (previous story)

November

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a health care reform bill Saturday that recognizes gay unions and makes health care more affordable for gay families.

Hate crimes against gays increase 11% with Puerto Rico having one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. history. 64 hate crimes occur in Kentucky in 2008. (previous story)

Openly gay Lexington resident Matthew Vanderpool (D-Fayette) (pictured) announces he will run against conservative incumbent Stan Lee in 2010′s election. (exclusive interview)

December

Lexington’s openly gay Vice Mayor Jim Gray (pictured) confirms he is running for Mayor in 2010 against incumbent Jim Newberry. (previous story)

By the end of the year, the National Organization for Marriage, Liberty Counsel, and others have been successful in overturning or preventing same-sex marriage laws in 4 states.  Perhaps if 2009 has taught us anything, it is that national organizations play a very small part in our overall goal for equality; the National Organization for Marriage goes into states and gets support from existing organizations, including chapters of the American Family Association, local Baptist and Catholic Churches.  Supporting your statewide and local LGBTI civil rights organizations is critical to our success.

A we await the new year, Kentucky’s exhausted LGBTI civil rights leaders, as well as the thousands of activist, supporters, and allies enjoy some much needed downtime before it all starts again in 2010.