Last week, Western Kentucky University’s “employee benefit committee” voted 8 to 6 against allowing benefits for both same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried partners. According to school officials, only about a handful of university employees would actually qualify for the “domestic partner” benefits if the university was to offer it. The issue was first brought up last year after resolutions were passed by the Student Government Association and University Senate.

In a series of condemnations and action alerts to raise public awareness of bad legislation, Kentucky Equality Federation, now joined by the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group condemned House Bill 350. With Kentucky’s economy in ruins, additional human services are expected to be cut by lawmakers before the end of the 2010 legislative session.

Kentucky Equality Federation’s Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and School Bullying Committee released a letter commending Radio Shack Corporation for its response to a discrimination case. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) 2010 Buying Guide however, Radio Shack Corporation scored near the bottom of the list along with Wal-Mart, Office Depot, and Meijer.

With one openly gay candidate running for Lexington’s top government position, organizations in Louisville have invited candidates running for Louisville Mayor to a public forum on February 02, 2010.

If ever there were a roller-coaster year, 2009 was it. 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.

Major media outlets have largely ignored Darlene Price, as well as Maurice Sweeney, the only black person running for U.S. Senate to represent Kentucky.

Earlier this week, Garrard County resident Roger Ayres filed to run against Representative Lonnie Napier (R) in the 36th District because “U.S. President Obama saying the United States is no longer a Christian nation made my blood boil.”

Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray, an openly gay politician who has been critical of the Newberry Administration in the past, confirmed today that he is running for Mayor in 2010 against incumbent Jim Newberry.

Data released by the FBI shows that hate crimes in the United States has reached a seven-year high, yet another increase from 2005’s report. 64 hate crimes related to sexual orientation or gender identity happened here in Kentucky.

This year the Kentucky Fairness Alliance decided not to hold their annual fundraiser in Lexington, Louisville, Covington or any of the “usual” prospects for large cities in Kentucky. Instead, they held the event in Elizabethtown, a central city that allowed more people to participate.