Legislation proposed to prohibit domestic partnerships at all Kentucky educational facilities.

Representative Stan Lee (R-Fayette) couldn't wait for the legislature to reconvene in January before filing his first anti-gay bill. Representative Lee's first attack against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community for the upcoming 2007 Legislative Session is to "prohibit public higher education institutions from providing health benefits for a domestic partner of a university or college employee."

>> Click here to sign the support petition to each University President, Governor Fletcher, and the Chair's of the Kentucky Republican and Democratic Party.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BR 102 - Representative Stan Lee - FILED: 10/16/06
AN ACT relating to health benefits provided by state universities and colleges. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to define "domestic partner" as an unmarried adult person of the same sex or opposite sex who is not a blood relative and who lives with a university or college employee; prohibit public higher education institutions from providing health benefits for a domestic partner of a university or college employee.

Kentucky Equality Federation expected this as we outlined in our September 12, 2006 email entitled "2007 to be a horrible legislative year for Kentucky's LGBT population; buckle down for the fight."

"The 2007 Kentucky House and Senate Session (the only time during the year new laws can be passed, unless the Governor calls a special session) will be worse than 2006; possibly the worst Kentucky's LGBT population has ever faced. These people will not succeed in running me out of my home, I will be here, entrenched.

As January 2007 approaches however, prepare yourself mentally because it isn't going to be nice. I will fight to defend the Constitution of my Commonwealth with my last breath, which clearly states......all people are created equal." - Jordan Palmer, president, Kentucky Equality Federation

WHAT TO EXPECT:
* Ultra-conservative Senators and Representatives in Kentucky are expected to attempt to pass foster parent and adoption bans for same-sex couples (such as the bans in the State of Florida).

* Ultra-conservative Senators and Representatives in Kentucky are expected to attempt to "rein in the Kentucky Court of Justice" by limiting judicial review of legislative acts; ultra-conservatives want to limit the authority of Kentucky Courts in ruling something "unconstitutional."

* Ultra-conservative Senators and Representatives in Kentucky are expected to attempt to pass a law prohibiting the University of Louisville, the University of Kentucky, and Northern Kentucky University from extending domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples.

* Ultra-conservative Senators and Representatives in Kentucky are expected to attempt (again) to pass a law prohibiting political subdivisions of the commonwealth (counties and cities) from passing any laws related to civil rights, and repeal all laws currently in place. This would remove protection from discrimination in Kentucky's largest cities, including Louisville, Lexington, and Covington.

One of the items on our listed has already occurred, but Kentucky Equality Federation and its Chapters are more than ready.

Please take a moment to send your personal thanks to Administration at Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, and University of Louisville thanking them for having the courage and wisdom to pursue domestic partnership rights. University President's have a lot of leverage with the Governor as well as leadership of the Kentucky House and Senate.

>> Click here to sign the support petition to each University President, Governor Fletcher, and the Chair's of the Kentucky Republican and Democratic Party.