The National Tea Party is also reportedly furious over his decision to attend a fundraiser hosted by GOP lawmakers who voted for the 2008 Wall Street bailout.

The GOP primary was a battle for the direction of the party, and Paul won it with his platform of requiring balanced budgets and complete opposition to bailouts, said his campaign manager, Jesse Benton.

“Dr. Paul accepts financial support from anyone who wants to support his ideas of limited government, term limits, balanced budgets and real reform but makes it clear to them that money will not influence his votes or positions,” Benton said.

The Lexington Herald-Leader Reported:

“I am deeply disappointed that he did that,” said Warren Scoville of London, an attorney who served more than 20 years in various positions with the state Republican Party. “I voted for (Paul) because of where he was, and now he’s not where he was.”

Others, however, argued that Paul has not turned his back on his principles, but rather is doing what is necessary to win so he can put those principles to work in office.

Kentucky Senator Tom Jensen (R-London), and Senator Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) said the fund-raising event won’t cost Paul any support.

Kentucky’s Tea Party, led by the president of the anti-gay American Family Association of Kentucky, Dr. Frank G. Simon, has an anti-gay platform. (previous story)

Meanwhile, multimillionaire Steve Forbes is holding a fundraiser for Paul in New York City. Paul campaign manager Jesse Benton says the $1,000-per-person event is set for Monday.

Forbes is a wealthy publisher who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000. He campaigned on a platform that included a flat tax, medical savings accounts, parental choice of schools and term limits.

Paul raised $1.1 million in campaign cash during a three-month reporting period that ended June 30.

John Yarmuth, U.S. Representative from Kentucky's 3rd District

Not a single member of Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation has co-sponsored U.S. House Resolution 3567, the Respect for Marriage Act. It was quickly placed in Committee, where it has remained buried since October 19, 2009 despite having 111 co-sponsors.

The Commonwealth’s U.S. House Delegation currently includes Ed Whitfield (R), Brett Guthrie (R), John Yarmuth (D), Geoff Davis (R), Hal Rogers (R), and Ben Chandler (D).

Resolutions, like the one passed by the Kentucky Senate stating that “no discrimination in the Commonwealth is acceptable,” however do not carry the force of law unless passed by both chambers and signed by the chief of state (the president or governor respectively).

Irony does not begin to describe the fact that the Kentucky Democratic controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution imposing Christian values on the Commonwealth (previous story), while the Republican controlled Senate says no discrimination is acceptable.  (previous story)

U.S. House Resolution 3567 was sponsored by the Honorable Representative from the State of New York, Jerrold Nadler:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Respect for Marriage Act of 2009″.

SEC. 2. REPEAL OF SECTION ADDED TO TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE, BY SECTION 2 OF THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.
Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed, and the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to that section.

SEC. 3. MARRIAGE RECOGNITION.
Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘Sec. 7. Marriage
‘(a) For the purposes of any Federal law in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State.

‘(b) In this section, the term `State’ means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States.’.

Curtis Morrison, a former candidate for Jefferson County Judge Executive stated: “Should we change the name of the [Louisville] Fairness Campaign newsletter to the Congressman John Yarmuth Re-election Propaganda Piece? I appreciate what he’s done, but he’s had over a year to join over 100 U.S. Representatives in the co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act and he has failed to do so. Those that settle on our behalf, are our enemies.”

Morrison Continued: “My post was not about who the best candidate was, but the rather frustration with the [Louisville] Fairness Campaign’s lack of focus on it’s noble mission, and respect for federal law regulating their 501(c)(3) corporate status. The ends, do not justify the means. Not only are we giving Yarmuth a pass for not supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, but the [Louisville] Fairness Campaign, and the Kentucky Statewide Fairness Coalition, refused to even ask him. That’s called internalized homophobia.”

Halyn Roth, the Southern Kentucky Regional Director for Kentucky Equality Federation, which sponsors Marriage Equality Kentucky, has a Facebook page titled “I bet we can find 15,000 Kentuckians who support Gay Marriage.” Currently, the group has gathered more than 7,000 members without any media attention or publicity.

PASSING THE LAW COULD HAVE OVER 1.5 MILLION IN LEGAL FEES FIGHTING MASSACHUSETTS

The coat of arms is encircled by the Latin text "Sigillum Reipublicæ Massachusettensis" (literally, The Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts). The Massachusetts Constitution nevertheless designates the name of the government as Commonwealth, not Republic.

By passing U.S. House Resolution 3567, the United States Government could save nearly $1,685,000.00 (estimate) in legal fees defending itself from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who says the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act overreached and infringes on the sovereignty of the states.

The Obama administration has decided to fight Massachusetts however, in a decision that will ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.  (previous story)

On July 08, 2009 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sued the United States Government for infringing on the sovereignty of the Commonwealth with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because marriage is “an exclusive prerogative of the states.”

Louisville Democratic Senator Gerald Neal introduced the resolution during the 2010 special session.  It was adopted without objection in the predominantly Republican chamber.  Senator Neal said that Paul’s extreme beliefs have made Kentucky “a laughing stock.”

However, did Senate Resolution 31 include gay and lesbian couples?

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Section 1. The Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky finds discrimination in any form to be inconsistent with American values and stands firmly behind the principles of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966.

Section 2. The Senate of the General Assembly rejects any attempt to retreat from the guarantees provided by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966, and urges all residents of the Commonwealth to do likewise.

Though not law, it does show how embarrassed Kentucky’s Republican Senate is with Kentucky’s U.S. Senate Candidate, Rand Paul.  Kentucky Equality Federation, Louisville Fairness Campaign, and Kentucky Fairness Alliance have tired to get the Kentucky Senate to pass a non-discrimination law to protect LGBTI people in employment, housing, credit, and accommodations for years.

Paul’s comments have drawn fire from Governor Steve Beshear, as well as House Speaker Greg Stumbo. (previous story)

Tea Party Movement Grows

Republican Rand Paul is leading Democrat Jack Conway by 51% to 45% percent in the race to fill the senate seat being vacated by the GOP’s Jim Bunning, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted May 25-27 for the Louisville Courier-Journal/WHAS11. The margin of error is 4.2 points.

The new poll says in addition to strong support from conservatives and Tea Party activists, Paul has big leads among whites, regular church-goers, gun owners, those earning more than $50,000 a year and those opposing abortion.

45% of voters say they are either neutral in their view of the Tea Party movement or have no opinion. 36% see the movement favorably while 19% regard it unfavorably.

Only 4% say they are active Tea Party movement participants with another 41% saying they are not active but agree with the movement’s views.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

On July 08, 2009 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sued the United States Government for infringing on the sovereignty of the Commonwealth with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because marriage is “an exclusive prerogative of the states.” (previous story)

Massachusetts fought back by suing the United States Government for not recognizing legally married same-sex couples in Massachusetts.

“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

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley continued:

“The federal Defense of Marriage Act interferes with the right of Massachusetts to define and regulate marriage as it sees fit. The 1996 law denies federal recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.”

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, argues the act “constitutes an overreaching and discriminatory federal law. ”

Obama Administration Defends the rights of the federal government to deny gay marriage

Yesterday, the Obama administration defended its right to define marriage as a heterosexual union before a federal judge considering the constitutionality of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA), the AP reported.

The Massachusetts Office of Attorney General has no intention of backing down.  Massachusetts is challenging the section of the law that denies married gay and lesbian couples federal benefits such as income tax credits, employment and retirement benefits, health insurance coverage and Social Security payments.

Massachusetts Attorney General Representing over 15,000 Gay Couples; Massachusetts Attorney’s  General Office Slams the Obama Administration

Representing the nearly 16,000 gay couples who have married in Massachusetts since gay marriage became legal in 2004, Assistant Attorney General Maura Healey argued that the right to define marriage has always been the sovereign jurisdiction of held by the states.

“Never before has the federal government told a married couple that they are married under state law but not under federal law,” Healey said, adding that states “have always had exclusive control over defining and regulating marriage.”

DOMA also allows states to ignore legal gay marriages performed in other states, but the attorney general is not challenging this section of the law. A win then would only affect states that have legalized such unions.

Christopher Hall, a U.S. Justice Department lawyer, argued the federal government has the right to define marriage and set eligibility requirements for federal benefits.

Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Healey also argued that DOMA “forces Massachusetts to discriminate against its own citizens” because it interferes with the state’s authority to regulate marriage.

Hall disagreed, saying the law doesn’t forbid states from legalizing gay marriage.

In a brief submitted to the court, the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General also states that the law “codified an animus towards gay and lesbian people.”

First Time a State Has Sued the U.S. Government over Gay Marriage Rights; Activists believe all hope of striking down the Defense of Marriage Act is in the hands of Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts suing the United States Government is the first time an actual state has sued the federal government over same-sex marriage.

According to The National Law Journal, and the National Legal Scholars Council, all hope of striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1996 which prevents the federal government from recognizing marriages performed within states resides with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

“If you’re looking to effect legal change, you’re looking for plaintiffs who have been harmed, a lawsuit reasonably well-funded, and the legal expertise to take it up [to] the appellate process,” said Arthur Leonard of New York Law School, an expert on gay and lesbian legal issues. Of the four current lawsuits against DOMA, the suit filed in July 2009 by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, is well-focused, well-financed, highly lawyered, and an infringement on the sovereignty of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If you listen to the Massachusetts Attorney General Press Conference, you will become convinced as well.”

Commonwealth Vs. United States Government is likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

2009 Press Conference:  Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sues the U.S. Government over DOMA (part 1 of 2)

2009 Press Conference:  Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sues the U.S. Government over DOMA (part 2 of 2)

A child holds a sign reading "Will I Have To Pay In A Negro League." Photo: Ed Reinke / AP

On May 22, 2010 however, the tables turned against Paul at Kentucky’s Republican Party headquarters in Frankfort at a rally organized by the Kentucky Republican Party to rally the Commonwealth’s GOP behind Paul after a bitter primary campaign in which much of the Republican party backed his opponent, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

About 30 demonstrators used Saturday’s meeting as an opportunity to blast Paul for misgivings he expressed about the 1964 Civil Rights Act.  He told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Wednesday that he abhors racial discrimination, but suggested the federal government shouldn’t have the power to force restaurants to serve minorities if the business owners don’t want to.

“It’s fundamentally un-American to oppose the Civil Rights Act,” said University of Louisville student Perry Green, flanked by a fellow protester carrying a placard declaring: “Rand The Klan’s Man.”

Paul, a Bowling Green eye doctor and son of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, didn’t mention the civil rights flap in brief remarks to supporters inside GOP headquarters. He refused to take questions when he left Republican headquarters and drove past the demonstrators standing across the street.

Hundreds of Paul supporters gathered in Frankfort on Saturday to show their support for the first-time candidate. He pledged to hammer on one key message in the general election campaign against Democratic nominee Jack Conway.

“I will call for one simple thing,” Paul said. “Let’s not spend more money than we take in.”

Kentucky’s U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, the highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate, who had endorsed Grayson in the primary race, called for Republicans to unify behind Paul in the general election and to reach out to Democrats.  “Dr. Rand Paul’s message can win this election,” McConnell said.

Demonstrator Perry Green, left center, talks with Rand Paul supporter Jason Durda as they meet across the street from a Republican Party unity rally in Frankfort, KY, Saturday, May 22, 2010. Photo: Ed Reinke / AP

Despite a bitter primary, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson praised Paul at the rally.

“If you are a Kentucky Republican, a Kentucky Democrat or a Kentucky independent, and you know we have to get our fiscal house in order, there’s only on choice for you in the fall; it’s Dr. Rand Paul,” Grayson said.

TreyGrayson.info, was established to smear Grayson in the primary election, claiming Grayson was Republican “in name only” among other things.

Democrats have seized on some of Paul’s comments since Election Day, including his criticism of U.S. President Barack Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill, calling it overtly anti-business.

Paul isn’t the first politician to criticize the government’s handling of the oil spill, but few have dared defend BP in the aftermath of last months’ explosion at the offshore rig that killed 11 workers and spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

But the comment about the Civil Rights Act was what most rankled Ashley Courchene, a retired registered nurse.

“I’m ashamed,” said Courchene, a Frankfort Democrat. “This makes me sick to my stomach that we, as an educated country, would consider electing someone with a Klan mentality to a public office.”

Governor Steve Beshear (D) issued a press release Wednesday calling for Democratic Party unity to defeat Rand Paul in November’s general election. Lieutenant Governor Dan Mongiardo still hasn’t pledged to work on Conway’s behalf. And until he does, that could freeze large numbers of Democratic voters who are faithful to Mongiardo.

RAND PAUL INTERVIEW ON CBS MORNING NEWS:

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. and Copyright © 2010 United We Stand – Kentucky’s LGBTI News. All rights reserved.

Curtis Morrison, an openly gay candidate for Jefferson County Judge Executive lost his campaign, though he received a respectable 19.10% of the vote, or 11,266 votes for a campaign run entirely from a Facebook page. (exclusive interview)

Mike Slaton (D-Louisville) lost in Kentucky House District 41 to the incumbent, Tom Riner (D-Louisville). Slaton received 38.66% of the vote, with 1,501 votes.

No openly gay candidate has ever been elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives or the Kentucky Senate. Former Senator Ernesto Scorsone (D-Lexington), didn’t announce his true sexual orientation until after he was elected and did not seek re-election.

Scorsone was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge by Governor Steve Beshear as a Circuit Court Judge, thus, the Commonwealth’s tolerance of electing a gay lawmaker has yet to be gaged.

In Lexington, openly gay Vice Mayor Jim Gray will face incumbent Mayor Jim Newberry in November. Newberry won 43.68%, of of the vote, with 21,648 votes. Gray closed behind the incumbent with 35.72% of the vote, with 17,703 votes.

Most of the increased Republican turnout across Kentucky was contributed to the anti-gay Tea Party movement.

The Tea Party movement that emerged in 2009 through a series of local and nationally-coordinated Tea Party protests are in response to the 2008 bailouts, the 2009 stimulus package, a large an intrusive federal government, and the Democratically-sponsored 2009-2010 health care reform bills.

According to the Wall-Street Journal, the wave that started last year is continuing to gain velocity, size and force. This week’s elections confirmed what the evidence has shown since last summer: U.S. President Obama’s agenda is a political killer and his endorsement is of little help.

A Republican now holds the seat of the deceased pro-gay rights U.S. Senior Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy. No Republican had held that post for nearly 50 years. (previous story)

Leaders of the House Democratic and Senate Republican majorities have met and exchanged proposals this week.

The Kentucky Senate however dealt a fatal blow Wednesday night to a bill strongly backed by the  Governor and the  First Lady that would increase Kentucky’s high school dropout age from 16 to 18.

Senate Republican leaders sent the measure, House Bill 301, back to the Senate budget committee, a move that effectively kills it for this year’s legislative session. 

First Lady Jane Beshear’s  Communications Office had no immediate comment.

Mr. Speaker and Mr. President: “Can you Spare some ‘change’ from your 3.5 billion in road projects to save lives?”

Currently, the new budget has no funding for the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program, but an effort led by Kentucky Equality Federation effectively killed House Bill 350, a bill that would have dismantled the education and prevention efforts performed by the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Branch, a unit of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

In addition, House Bill 350 would have removed the requirement that podiatrists, physicians, acupuncturists, physician’s assistants, athletic trainers, chiropractors, dentists, dental hygienists, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, physical therapists, laboratory personnel, and social workers complete HIV/AIDS education and training as a condition of being licensed to practice in the Commonwealth.

At the last moment however, House Bill 350 was attached to Senate Bill 127. “This is an underhanded technique used at the end of sessions to move pieces of legislation that haven’t moved before by hiding them in other places,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.

By attaching a Senate Bill to a House Bill, the Kentucky House of Representatives had to concur, they did not, effectively killing amendments and attachments to Senate Bill 127.

Lawmakers have ignored pleas from a coalition led by Kentucky Equality Federation to restore the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which is the only way people with HIV/AIDS without medical insurance can receive the medication that saves their lives.  The coalition was outraged that the Kentucky Senate wanted nearly 3.5 billion in new road projects, but couldn’t allocate any funds to save people’s lives.

Coalition members included the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group, AVOL, Kentucky HIV/AIDS Planning and Advisory Council, COLAGE (Children Of Lesbians And Gays Everywhere), Northern Kentucky Chapter, United We Stand – Kentucky’s LGBTI News®, The Wings Clinic, House of Ruth, Moveable Feast, GLSO, University of Kentucky OUTsource, and the University of Kentucky Gay-Straight Alliance. (press release)

House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg), said in a statement that House Democrats offered the Senate a proposal that “accomplishes the goals of being fiscally responsible and creating jobs and opportunity across the Commonwealth.”

And the midnight Thursday deadline is firm. The Kentucky Constitution requires that during 60-day sessions in even-numbered years the session must end no later than midnight April 15.

Two years ago a frantic House and Senate unplugged the clocks in their chambers and continued working for another hour. But a lawsuit stemming from that episode produced a Franklin Circuit Court ruling that said any action taken by the General Assembly after midnight on April 15th is invalid.

Yesterday, House Speaker Greg Stumbo entered into closed-door talks with Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville), a day that started with President Williams pronouncing a budget deal all but dead.

The Democratic controlled House of Representatives would not include any new road construction projects, a deal breaker with the Republican controlled Senate. House Democrats an additional $1 billion in school, water, sewer, and other projects, but Senate Republicans refused.

House Democrats also refused the Senate’s proposed cuts for schools and to the Medicaid program.

Since lawmakers waited until the last minute to pass a budget, Governor Beshear could veto all or part of it, and lawmakers would be unable to try to override it since the session must end at midnight tonight.

A 150-day period to gather signatures to place the question on the ballot ended on Monday.

Restore Equality 2010 says it fell short of the 695,000 signatures needed by yesterday’s deadline to put the measure on the ballot.

“We have a large team of volunteers that are interested in working on marriage equality,” said Sean Bohac, chairman of the state advisory panel and San Diego coordinator for Restore Equality 2010. “We’re holding our heads high and proud of the work that we’ve done to keep marriage equality in the public consciousness.”

Two of the states largest organizations — Equality California and Courage Campaign, did not participate in the 2010 effort.  Since Prop 8 passed and same-sex marriage was overturned by the people, more than 15 new gay rights organizations formed across California, blaming Equality California, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, and Marriage Equality USA for the defeat.

Courts and state legislatures have legalized same-sex marriage in five U.S. states and the District of Columbia, but popular votes have always rejected such unions, which are illegal in the vast majority of U.S. states.

Many gay organizations are hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will rule bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. This however is unlikely since the U.S. Supreme Court has already interfered in the 9th Circuit Court’s decisions.  (previous story)

Stanford University Professor Gary Segura, a national political scientist testifying on behalf of supporters of same-sex marriage said in January that gays and lesbians have little political power and can’t count on most of their friends in high places, including Governor’s or U.S. President Obama.  “Gays and lesbians do not possess a meaningful degree of political power. They are not able to protect their essential interests,” said Segura, who heads the university’s Chicano studies program and co-directs its Center on American Democracy.

In the meantime, Assemblyman John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), was elected earlier this year as Speaker of the California Assembly, the states lower chamber, and assumed office on March 1st. (previous story)

Last September, the court rejected Lambda Legal’s lawsuit filed against Jackson Memorial Hospital on behalf of Janice Langbehn, ruling that no law required the hospital to allow her and their three children to see her partner, Lisa Pond.

Langbehn and the children were kept apart from Pond by hospital staff for eight hours as Pond slipped into a coma and died.

Today, Lambda Legal, its coalition partners, and officials from Jackson Health System (JHS) released a statement announcing the hospital’s improved policies that are more responsive to the needs of the LGBT community. Lamba Legal noted that the new policies still do not provide as much protection as may be needed in critical situations.

This is the same sort of problem Kentucky Equality Federation and Louisville’s Fairness Campaign have been trying to prevent in Kentucky.

This year the Hospital Visitation Bill passed the Kentucky House of Representatives, but Kentucky Senate President David L. Williams declined an appeal from Kentucky Equality Federation to pass the legislation in the Kentucky Senate.

In his letter to Senate President David L. Williams, Palmer stated:

Mr. President, this bill is important to the LGBTI community of the Commonwealth. You have a unique opportunity with this bill to show the LGBTI community that Kentucky’s Republican Party does not consider us second-class citizens as it has appeared in the past.

By passing this bill, the LGBTI community may look more favorably on the Republican Party as a political party capable of working with us, and willing to hear our concerns; as it currently stands, the LGBTI community is so dissatisfied with Republican Leadership in both chambers that there is no longer a Log Cabin Republican Chapter in Kentucky.

Mr. President, I personally urge you, and ask you on behalf of our members to pass House Bill 118. I do not think, nor could I imagine this bill would draw criticism from your more conservative constituents; it would however be a large jester of bipartisan government and possibly send a signal to Kentucky’s LGBTI community that the Kentucky Republican Party will at a minimum listen to our concerns.

As perhaps expected, the letter to Senate President David L. Williams fell on deaf ears.

Dean Byrd, Kentucky Equality Federation’s Board Secretary and Treasurer added:

Debates and disagreements are one of the things that makes our Commonwealth and our Union great; unfortunately, the Republican Party of Kentucky has completely alienated the LGBTI community and will continue to do so until they signal that they will at least hear our voice.

Perhaps that was the very reason for the appeal, to have it rejected, further exposing the Kentucky Republican Party’s bias to gay and lesbian people♦.

Republicans are barely hanging on to the Kentucky Senate, with 20 Republicans, 17 Democrats, and 1 Independent.  Democrats have picked up two additional seats since the 2009 Legislative Session.

“For ten years the Kentucky State Senate has been controlled by a Republican Majority. And for ten years progress in this state has been blocked by this body,” stated Young Democrats of America Vice President Colmon Elridge. “Lead by Senate President David Williams – the ‘Bully from Burkesville’ and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell protege – the Kentucky State Senate has denied Democratic proposals that would create jobs, protect education and assist Kentucky families in these difficult economic times.”

♦ This is an opinion of the Kentucky Political News Editor and other contributors.

It’s that time of the year again.  Actually, it’s that time of the decade again!  Yes, the census is back and this is the chance for every citizen to be counted.  The census is important, as it determines the number of seats our state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Additionally, the census provides vital information for advocacy, researching markets, locating pools of workers, and so much more.  In short, the census is critical and we hope you will all participate.  But, how can we ensure the LGBT community is represented in this year’s census and those in the future?

You should have recently received a census form in the mail. With ten easy questions, which the Census Bureau claims can be completed within ten minutes, you can make a difference.  If not turned in by April, you may receive a visit from a census employee who will ask you the questions in person.  Either way, you can represent the LGBT community in the census.  Starting in 1990, the option of designating yourself as an unmarried partner was added to the questionnaire.  This has provided valuable information for LGBT advocacy groups in help furthering the causes important to the LGBT community.

One group helping to further LGBT representation was formed by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.  Queer the Census is working to ensure the LGBT community is participating in the census.  You can identify yourself as an unmarried partner, or you can choose to refer to you and your significant other as spouses (it’s all up to you!).

According to Adrienne Critcher of PACE, a Louisiana-based LGBT organization, “Same-sex couples who are married, or consider themselves to be spouses, can identify one other adult as a ‘husband or wife.’ Other same-sex couples may instead decide to use the term ‘unmarried partner.’ In general, people who identify as unmarried partners are in a close personal relationship but are not married or do not think of themselves as spouses. Census data are based on how individuals self identify. This includes same-sex couples who live somewhere their relationship is not recognized.”

Even though you may identify yourself as a spouse or unmarried partner, Queer the Census is working to ensure that the next census in 2020 will include questions allowing citizens to identify their sexual orientation.  This information will provide accurate and detailed analysis of the LGBT population in the United States.  With this, policies and laws affecting our community can be advocated and lobbied more effectively, having critical and accurate data to utilize.  As the organization states, “LGBT people are basically invisible in the census, which is THE survey that is designed to accurately reflect the diverse reality of America’s population. Beyond being downright ridiculous, it’s also a big problem. The data collected has a direct impact on issues that are critical to every American – issues like health care, economic stability and safety. When LGBT people are not counted, individuals, families and communities suffer.”

So, as you open the census form you recently received, know that you have the right to represent yourself and your loved ones as you choose.  Whether you see yourself as single, living with an unmarried partner, or living with your spouse, it is truly in your hands.  However, you can assist with making the census more comprehensive and update it to include  the LGBT community.  Change takes time and now is the time to start.

For more information regarding ways to change the census, visit www.queerthecensus.org