The Beshear Campaign snubbed the LGBTIQ community in an email tonight.  They completely ignored endorsements from the Louisville Fairness Campaign’s PAC: C-FAIR as well as the states deflated social organization, Kentucky Fairness Alliance who has over the past five years lost every chapter it had [which is happening now to Equality California].

The Beshear Campaign also snubbed Kentucky Equality Federation, the states largest all-volunteer civil rights organization which has in recent years leaned less on lobbying and become the states “bulling, hate crimes, and discrimination police.”

Perhaps the vote of the LGBTIQ community is unimportant to Governor Beshear, or perhaps he needs the votes in Republican strongholds like Northern, Southern, and extreme Western Kentucky even though the bulk of the Commonwealth’s population resides in the Central Kentucky.

Apparently newspaper endorsements are more important than endorsements from non-government organizations or perhaps only if the organizations are LGBTIQ.

The Governor did reinstate an executive order protecting the LGBTIQ community from discrimination if you work for the state, but has yet to issue an executive order granting hospital visitation rights or have an openly LGBTIQ person as part of his government.

Douglass Boulevard Christian Church is located at 2005 Douglass Boulevard in the Highlands near Douglass Loop.

According to their website, the congregation of Douglass Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) unanimously voted to end the practice of signing marriage licenses because they give legal benefits to heterosexual couples that are not available to homosexual couples.

Until the church’s ministers may confer identical legal benefits on homosexual and heterosexual couples, they will perform only religious wedding ceremonies.

In 2009, Louisville Fairness Campaign permitted the Church to speak for them as their official representative in a joint press release with Kentucky Equality Federation after a Southern Kentucky paper slammed domestic partnerships at the University of Kentucky.

If you haven’t seen the article or read the 2009 joint press release, it is worth you time to read. [Read the 2009 Joint Press Release]

According to their website:

“As an Open and Affirming Community of Faith (a designation signifying DBCC’s commitment to full acceptance of all people, regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation), our membership is committed to treating homosexuals and heterosexuals equally. Our congregation believes it is unfair to provide different services and benefits to heterosexual couples than we can provide to gay and lesbian couples,” said associate minister Rev. Ryan Kemp-Pappan.

Senior minister Rev. Derek Penwell added, “Heterosexual couples enjoy a number of benefits that result from having state-sanctioned union. They may inherit property, adopt children together, visit one another in the hospital, and save thousands each year in taxes by filing as a couple. Ministers, as agents of the state, have the power to confer these benefits-and the imprimatur of normalcy-on heterosexual couples, but we do not have the honor to bestow these benefits on gay and lesbian couples.”

“In our attempt to live out God’s call to pursue justice for all, the Elders of the congregation joined the Pastors in witnessing to the right for gay and lesbian persons to God’s blessing on their union and witnessing to the Commonwealth toward ending the refusal to recognize these unions,” said Rev. Chuck Lewis, Chair of Elders with the church.

Douglass Boulevard Christian Church, founded in 1846, has historically been committed to the pursuit of justice for all people, offering leadership in trying to live out the message of love and hospitality embodied by Jesus. In 2008, Douglass Boulevard Christian Church voted to become an Open and Affirming Community of Faith.

Douglass Boulevard Christian Church is located at 2005 Douglass Boulevard in the Highlands near Douglass Loop.

From the comments on their official website, local residents are pleased that the Church will no longer issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

This is the first time Kentucky Equality Federation has spoken about the Statewide Equality Coalition since its Board voted to withdraw.

As it currently stands, Kentucky Equality Federation remains the only standalone equality organization in the state. If all of Kentucky’s equality organizations unite [we must remember the disaster in California when they all united against Prop 8 in a coalition] and fail we have no other place to turn and this appears to be the position of Kentucky Equality Federation in their press release:

Richmond, KY – In light of recent occurrences, we at the Kentucky Equality Federation are issuing a statement to clarify our stance on the Statewide Fairness Coalition.

There are certain items that need to be addressed explicitly, as they set us apart from other organizations within the equality movement. Kentucky Equality Federation does not hold traditional fundraisers or host “social hours.”  In addition, we will not do anything to endanger long-term equality to accomplish short-term victories.

Kentucky Equality Federation is a founding member of the Statewide Fairness Coalition. Federation Board members and Regional Directors attended the first two meetings of its conception, but our Board voted to withdraw.

While we support the efforts of other equality organizations in the Commonwealth and do not seek to offend other groups in the Coalition, we have enjoyed better success and more flexibility as an organization independent of any official coalitions with Steering Committees.

After conversations with the Statewide Fairness Coalition, namely Mr. Chris Hartman of the Louisville Fairness Campaign, Kentucky Equality Federation will begin to support the Statewide Fairness Coalition as an independent, non-member organization as our Chairman, President, and/or Public Relations and Media Director deem appropriate. This decision was reached after posing the question to our Board members, officers, regional directors, outreach directors, contributors of Kentucky Equality Federation’s Official Blog, and standby volunteers.

As always, we remain committed to working with other equality organizations, and we are glad to have good working relations with them. We will support them when appropriate, and we continue to serve as the largest all-volunteer equality organization in the Commonwealth.

Our main goals at this point are to continue serving as public advocates for victims of abuse and discrimination, as well as preparing for the next legislative session in Frankfort.

To that end, we plan to build our legislative advocacy network and public affairs infrastructure further in addition to working with StoryCorps to tell the stories of those who grew up LGBTI in Whitesburg and Lexington, as well as raising money to support HIV/AIDS organizations around the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Equality Federation is also working to launch our “Faces of Equality” video series; to participate, contact us at: www.kyequality.org, and select “Faces of Equality Project.”

The Alphabet Center at EKU. Photo Credit: Jadyn Nichole Kilmon

The day after the The Alphabet Center (story), held its public forum on GLBTI equality, Jordan Palmer the president of Kentucky Equality Federation raised the following question:

“After the Public Forum on Fairness held in Richmond last night from 6 PM – 9 PM and hosted by The Alphabet Center, it is clear that we have a long way to go on gay and lesbian equality in the Commonwealth.

The event was sponsored by EKU’s new ABC Center, the Richmond Commission of Human Rights, the Louisville Fairness Campaign, and Lexington Fairness. I spoke at the event twice rebutting statements from local residents opposed to a non-discrimination ordinance in Richmond, KY.

However, by passing the 2004 Constitutional Amendment, I cannot help but wonder why the Kentucky Constitution did not prevent the Kentucky House and Senate from passing the 2004 Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage, domestic partnerships, and civil unions.

Section II of the Commonwealth’s Constitution states: “Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.”

When the Kentucky House and Senate passed the Amendment, should it have been permitted to be placed for ratification by the people?

By removing civil rights on a very specific group of people (the Commonwealth’s gay and lesbian community), the Kentucky House and Senate in 2004 violated our own Constitution because it reads “Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic (the Commonwealth of Kentucky).

By then placing it for a vote to the citizens of the Commonwealth, they effectively allowed the “largest majority” to exercise “absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen,” in direct contradiction of Section II.

My special thanks to Chris Hartman of Louisville Fairness Campaign, Craig Craig Cammack of Lexington Fairness, and the Richmond Commission of Human Rights.

I am posing the question to our legal representation for an answer.”

As LezGet Real, A Gay Girl’s View on the World pointed out, the anti-gay marriage amendment in Georgia is unconstitutional per the Georgia Constitution, much the same way Prop 8 is unconstitutional and places the California constitution in direct contradiction with itself, this is proof that Kentucky’s Constitution does as well.

Photo Credit: ABC Center on Facebook

The Alphabet Center, the new gay-straight alliance at Eastern Kentucky University will post a public forum of fairness and equality in Kentucky tomorrow from 6 pm – 9 pm.

The event is being held at Eastern Kentucky University’s Adam’s Auditorium.

City and Statewide gay rights organizations are expected to attend.

Eastern Kentucky University’s Alphabet Center opened its doors on October, 27th 2010. The Center says it has an affirming statement that is inclusive to everyone regarding race, creed, age, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, class, religion and education.

The Alphabet Center (ABC) will be the first organization on campus to offer FREE anonymous HIV testing!

Hopefully ABC will replace the largely dysfunctional EKU Pride Alliance.

As indicated on the Louisville Fairness Campaign website, and previously stated by Kentucky Equality Federation, Kentucky was the first state in the South to pass a civil rights law.  However, Louisville Fairness Campaign incorrectly has the legislation as being passed in 1960.

On Monday the Louisville Fairness Campaign released a poll  of 600 Kentuckians, as reported by 89.3 FM Radio.

“The survey results confirm what we hear in talking to our neighbors throughout the state — Kentuckians want to be fair, but many have no idea that employers can legally fire people for being gay or transgender or deny them housing or service in a restaurant,” noted Michael Aldridge, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.

Kentucky Equality Federation however disagreed.

“Though we applaud and support the efforts of Louisville Fairness Campaign, Lexington Fairness, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, and the ACLU of Kentucky, I do not believe you can properly gauge the attitude of over 4.5 million citizens by polling 600 people,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation Chairman of the Board Richard T. Jones.

“Though we continue to push for equality, we do not believe any pro-gay legislation will ever be passed in Kentucky so long as David L. Williams is President of the Kentucky Senate. Williams has made his position clear through his public comments and disagreements with Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer from equality to school bullying; all have been reported by WKYT-TV, WYMT-TV, and the Lexington Herald-Leader,” added Jones.  “In addition, Palmer issued a personal appeal to Senate President Williams last year and the entire Kentucky Senate.”

Kentucky Equality Federation was a founding member of the Statewide Fairness Coalition but withdrew their support after the first meeting according to Kentucky Equality Federation Treasurer Dean Byrd.

“The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights was a leader in 1966 as the first agency in the South to include enforcement powers within its state Civil Rights Act. We believe Kentucky should continue to lead and we have issued a resolution calling for adding protections for gay and transgender people,” George Stinson, Chair of Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, said.

Kentucky Equality Federation maintains that “the LGBTI community make a significant contribution to the economic welfare of the Commonwealth and our entire Union” according to their website. Kentucky Equality Federation also stated they had invested significant resources representing people across the Commonwealth who filed complaints with their Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and School Bullying Committee for being terminated because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

More than 8 cases remain open and on-going with Kentucky Equality Federation’s legal representation, Jill Hall Rose.

Louisville Fairness Campaign and others will hold a rally at the Kentucky Capitol on February 23 while Kentucky Equality Federation will told meetings with lawmakers and present awards to several of them next week.

Kentucky Equality Federation also stated that they if Kentuckians truly want protections extended to the gay and lesbian community in Kentucky, they must get involved and hold their elected representation accountable, or by signing their Legislative Alerts online at http://community.kyequality.org/p/action-alerts.html.

The anti-gay Family Foundation of Kentucky apparently is not concerned with the poll.  The powerful conservative group has yet to blog or issue a press release regarding it.

Governor’s

Republicans appear to have regained the majority of U.S. Governor’s Mansions, gaining an additional 10 in states where the previous chief executive was a Democrat.  Kentucky will not vote on constitutional officers until 2011.

Kentucky Governor's Mansion. Official home of the executive.

Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas all have gone from Democrat to Republican, according to CNN analysis of exit poll data.

As of late Tuesday night, no Democrat won a election to lead any state with a previous Republican Governor, another blow to the gay community since those executives (unlike the U.S. executive) have line-item veto power.  Those executives can rollback protections for the gay and lesbian community like the Governor of Virginia did just this year. (previous story)

The Old Dominion (Virginia) was the highlight of CBS News late last-night as political analyst Jeff Greenfield said the “Commonwealth of Virginia was setting the tone for the nation hence its nickname, Old Dominion.”

Harry Smith echoed the same statements on The Early Show (CBS).

The National Journal asked, who was the big loser Tuesday?

The easy answer is President Obama and his fellow Democrats on this day of epic GOP victories in the House, the Senate and U.S. statehouses.

But there is a bigger loser: Washington.

The wave of disappointment and disillusionment with Washington that swept Obama into office two years ago never went away. With the unemployment rate hovering near double digits, the president was unable to deliver the change that most Americans could believe in, so voters delivered a message of their own to the incumbent party: Get out.

Kentucky House of Representatives

Republicans gained seven seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives, but Democrats will maintain control, with 58 seats to 42 for the Republicans.  Before last night, the total was 65 Democrats to 35 Republicans.

Longtime gay friendly Representative Charlie Hoffman (D-Georgetown), was defeated by Republican Ryan Quarles, 26, a recent University of Kentucky law school graduate. Quarles beat Hoffman by fewer than 300 votes, according to unofficial results reported by the Herald-Leader.

Republican Donna Mayfield beat Democratic incumbent Don Pasley of Winchester, and Republican Kim King beat Democratic incumbent Kent Stevens of Lawrenceburg.

“It was a bad year to be an incumbent, and it was a really bad year to be a Democrat,” Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo said. “It was a bad year to be an incumbent, and it was a really bad year to be a Democrat,” Stumbo told various news sources.

Gay friendly senior Representatives Mary Lou Marzian (unopposed), Ruth Ann Palumbo, and Tom Burch retained their seats, as did Susan Westrom, and a few other gay friendly lawmakers.

Openly gay candidate Matthew Vanderpool (D) managed to receive a respectable 6,217 votes in Lexington’s conservative 45th House District but was easily defeated by incumbent Stan Lee (R) with 13,135 votes.  Vanderpool would have been the first openly gay person to ever be elected to the Kentucky Legislature.

Kentucky Senate

Republicans increased their majority in the Kentucky Senate. Republicans defeated two Democratic incumbents and a third Republican had a strong lead in the open 34th District seat held by retiring Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley of Richmond.  This effectual reverses seats picked-up by Democrats in special elections. (previous story)

Republicans now hold 22 seats with Democrats holding 15 seats and 1 Independent who caucuses with Republicans.  This puts the Kentucky Senate back to the same basic setup it has held for the past 10 years.

U.S. House of Representatives

Republicans picked up at least 60 House seats, far more than the 39 they needed for a majority that would elevate John Boehner to House speaker and put Republicans in charge of House committees. Many races remained too close to call.

An energized conservative electorate, fueled by the anti-establishment Tea Party movement that emerged in 2009, helped Republicans win the biggest shift in power since Democrats lost 75 House seats in 1948.

U.S. Senate

Tea Party favorite Rank Paul easily defeated Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway (D) to join Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation to Washington, D.C. for federal funding and grants.

Many U.S. Senate races remain too close to call, but Democrats have been able to maintain control.

Kentucky’s Gay Community

Louisville Fairness Campaign endorsed multiple candidates, while Kentucky Equality Federation stopped endorsing candidates.

However, Kentucky Equality Federation founder and former president Jordan Palmer issued a warning to gay voters and newspapers for pushing Republican agendas with contributors and publishers writing articles “looking forward to punishing Democrats.”  After last nights defeats however, those sames printed or online news sites are claiming “Democrats will listen next time,” believing that the newly elected Tea Party members and new Republican gains can be easily reversed as early as 2012.

With such huge losses to conservatives, the gay military ban will remain in place, with no gay friendly legislation passing either the U.S. or Kentucky Houses or Senates.

One popular Kentucky blogger, Hillbilly Report tears into the Kentucky Democratic Party (story), while another targeted “Kentucky’s Republican Democratic Party Chairman.” (story)

Kentucky’s First Gay Mayor

Lexington voters elected Jim Gray, the first openly gay mayor in the Commonwealth.  Lexington is Kentucky’s second largest city.  What is surprising is that people across the United States seem surprised that Gray won, even though Lexington has ranked in the Top 10 on multiple occasions for “gay friendly” cities to live.

Seal of the Louisville Metro Government

On October 20th Louisville Fairness Campaign called two (2) Louisville break-ins “hate crimes,” or at a minimum, a result of the people’s sexual orientation.

The couple also contacted Kentucky Equality Federation who did not issue a statement until an additional nine (9) days had passed.

Police are not currently investigating the break-ins — which occurred in Germantown and the Highlands — as hate crimes because the types of vandalism did not necessarily indicate that homosexual couples were targeted, Major Steve Green told the Courier-Journal.

Nearly two weeks after press conferences however, no additional homes belonging to homosexual couples have been robbed or vandalized.

On October 26th Louisville Metro Police arrested a 15-year-old boy on charges stemming from an October 20th break-in at his grandfather’s home in Crestwood.

The 15-year-old was charged with robbery and burglary in the first degree and two counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, police said.  He also has been charged with criminal mischief and assault.

The males took firearms, cash, jewelry and prescription medication, police told the Courier-Journal.

School officials allow these outside groups to introduce policies, curriculum and library books under the guise of diversity, safety or bullying-prevention initiatives, said Focus on the Family education expert Candi Cushman.

“We feel more and more that activists are being deceptive in using anti-bullying rhetoric to introduce their viewpoints, while the viewpoint of Christian students and parents are increasingly belittled,” Cushman said.

Public schools increasingly convey that homosexuality is normal and should be accepted, Cushman said, while opposing viewpoints by conservative Christians are portrayed as bigotry.

Eliza Byard, executive director of the national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, agrees with a big part of that statement.

“Yes, we want LGBT students afforded full respect,” she said.  GLSEN says its agenda is to ensure safe schools and acceptance for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, national origin or ability.

“Basically, one of the most anti-gay and conservative people in Kentucky has hijacked the Kentucky Tea Party,” stated an anonymous source.

The Kentucky Department of State, which regulates corporations in the Commonwealth, shows Simon in charge of both organizations:

This may explain why the Louisville Tea Party movement is anti-gay, and the reason no Democrat is been permitted to speak at their Freedom Fest 2010 event to be held at the Kentucky Capitol on the 10th, according to their website:

We are now just over three weeks away and counting for what promises to be the greatest grassroots gathering that the Commonwealth of Kentucky has ever seen. Buses are being chartered already from both the Louisville and Cincinnati areas. The “Great Lawn” at the Capitol, in Frankfort, from 5pm-8pm. In the heart of of summer, we’ll have ample cold water available at a nominal cost. But do bring your own lawn chair! (source)

According to their website, only conservative speakers will be speaking. No Democrat or progressive is scheduled.  Dr. Rand Paul, is scheduled to speak at Kentucky Freedom Fest 2010.

Frank G. Simon of the American Family Association of Kentucky and the Louisville Tea Party

The Tea Party has been associated with the Libertarian Party of Kentucky. Ken Moellman, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky is quick to also point out that Rand Paul is not Libertarian. Moellman issued a press released reiterating than Rand Paul was not a Libertarian as far back as 2008: “The Libertarian Party agrees with portions of both the Democratic and Republican Party platforms; though, not always for the same reasons. The ‘non-aggression principle’ guides the Libertarian Party. Signing an oath to adhere to that principle, along with annual dues, is a requirement for full membership in the Party or to run as one of its candidates. Rand Paul is not a Libertarian.” (source)

“Libertarians typically side with Democrats on social issues and Republicans on fiscal issues.” – University of Kentucky political scientist Stephen Voss.

The Libertarian Party of Kentucky of Kentucky is an official strategic ally of Kentucky Equality Federation (source), and also works with the Louisville Fairness Campaign.

The Libertarian Party of Kentucky has rallied at the Kentucky Capitol in favor of LGBTI equality and fairness with Kentucky Equality Federation, Louisville Fairness Campaign, and Lexington Fairness as a strategic ally of the Federation. (source)