Fletcher Vs. Northup for Governor.

Most of the publicity for the election of the commonwealth's chief executive has been centered around unseated U.S. Representative Ann Northup (R) and our current chief executive, Governor Ernie Fletcher.

Though Fletcher has been conservative in a lot of areas, not nearly as conservative as Northup.

Is Governor Fletcher the lesser of the two evils should the primary come down to the Fletcher and Northup? You decide!

FLETCHER:
Kentucky Equality Federation is no fan of Governor Fletcher.

We cannot forget that he refused to veto unconstitutional funding to the University of the Cumberlands, leading the Federation to hold a protest outside the Governor's Mansion during the Governor's Annual Derby Breakfast (that brings approximately 15,000 people to Frankfort from around the nation).

Governor Fletcher also rescinded an executive order Governor Patton had established protecting LGBT people from discrimination in government.

Let us not even address the ugly hiring scandal. We're sick of hearing about it....and the bottom line is that the Fletcher Administration violated laws in our opinion.

NORTHUP:
Now, on to Northup; while part of Kentucky's Congressional Delegation, Northup voted in a manner inconsistent with Kentucky Equality Federation Values:

Northup voted NO on this issues:
Vote 535: H R 6375: Requiring the Secretary of Defense to Submit to Congress An Annual Report and to Provide Notice to the Public on Congressional Initiatives in Funds Authorized or Made Available to the Department of Defense. (no government/public oversight on Pentagon spending)

Prosecuting Hate Crimes - Expand the federal criminal civil rights statute to include violent acts against a person because of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, gender or disability.

Northup did NOT vote on these issues:
Vote 423: H RES 844: Congratulating the International Aids Vaccine Initiative on 10 Years of Significant Achievement in the Search for HIV/AIDS Vaccine, and for Other Purposes.

Northup voted YES on these issues:
Warrantless Wiretapping - Warrantless surveillance of telephone and e-mail conversations that Americans in the U.S. have with people abroad, even when there is no evidence that they are conspiring with foreign terrorist organizations. It would authorize Warrantless surveillance of Americans with no judicial check if the U.S. is attacked, or when the president decides there is a threat of attack.

Federal Marriage Constitutional Amendment - Amendment the United States Constitution that would deny the right to marry to all same-sex couples and jeopardize all other protections that same-sex couples have under state or local law. Send to states for ratification.

Anti-Marriage Court-Stripping Bill - A bill to strip all federal courts -- including the U.S. Supreme Court -- of jurisdiction to decide the constitutionality of the anti-gay federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Domestic Partnership - Block the implementation of the Dictrict of Columbia's domestic partnership law. Every year since 1992, Congress has blocked a measure passed by the D.C. City Council that would allow city employees to purchase health insurance for their partners and provide hospital visitation rights to other domestic partners in the city.

Community Reception with Soulforce Equality Ride.

Kentucky Equality Federation is assisting in the coordination of Soulforce Equality Ride's trip to Kentucky and their visit to the University of the Cumberlands on March 28th.

Kentucky Equality Federation was contacted last month by Matt Hill Comer, East Bus Organizer for Equality Ride.

The 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride features two buses that will visit thirty-two schools with policies banning the enrollment of openly LGBT students, including Baylor University, Bob Jones University, Brigham Young University, Yellowstone Baptist College, University of the Cumberlands, and many more.

The Equality Ride stop at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky is March 28, 2007.

Kentucky Equality Federation will be paying for Soulforce Equality Ride's hotel accommodations during their Kentucky trip, as well as a community dinner on the evening of March 27th in Berea, KY.

The Soulforce Mission Statement is "freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance."

"Jason Johnson, who was expelled from the University of the Cumberlands last year for being openly gay will be part of the community dinner and gathering on March 27th in Berea. Jason is very excited about participating in the community events during Soulforce Equality Ride's visit to the commonwealth." stated Jordan Palmer, Kentucky Equality Federation President. "The contribution Soulforce makes to end the misuse of religion to condemn homosexuals is remarkable; we're proud to offer them a community dinner and pay for their accommodations."

Hundreds turn out to fight for gay rights.

Yesterday was a historic day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as gay rights organizations and their allies brought the fight directly to their seat of government at the Kentucky Capitol in Frankfort.

Hosted by Kentucky Fairness Alliance and Louisville's Fairness Campaign, with support from Kentucky Equality Federation and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, more than 250 people showed up at the Capitol Rally.

Kentucky Equality Federation would like to give special thanks to Model High School's Gay-Straight Alliance as well as the Eastern Kentucky University Pride Alliance, and Boone County High School Gay-Straight Alliance for their support. Federation President Jordan Palmer, Federation Alliance Manager Clarence Wallace, and Northern Chapter President Nick Herweck coordinated their participation in the historic event.

Special thanks also to Jordan Boyer with Model High School, and Ms. Staci Wilson.

"We must fight the bigotry anti-gay groups and some homophobic elected officials practice; they want nothing more than to dehumanize a large group of people, deny their humanity, happiness, health, civil, and God given rights. If this isn't challenged by everyone, we are giving our government the green light to victimize other minority groups." - Jordan Palmer, Kentucky Equality Federation President

Click here to view additional photos.

KEF a finalist to win $10,000.00 from MySpace!

Kentucky Equality Federation is a finalist on MySpace.com's 2007 Social Justice Impact Award.

The Federation received the following email from Liba Wenig Rubenstein, Public Affairs Coordinator for MySpace.com on February 09, 2007: "For your important work to preserve and defend the rights of LGBT Kentuckians and promote equality for all, and for your dynamic and effective use of the MySpace platform to engage users in your cause, MySpace is pleased to announce that you have been named a Finalist for this month’s MySpace Impact Awards, in the category of Social Justice.

In the upcoming weeks, MySpace users will select a winner from among our three nominees. We’re thrilled to be able to award the winner a cash prize of $10,000, as well as featured placement on MySpace for a month, reaching over 54 million active members.

Within the MySpace Impact Award Community, members will be able to read about your mission and accomplishments, learn how they can get involved, and read, in your own words, why it is important to do the sort of work you do.

"Rubenstein also said: "It is clear from the depth and interactive nature of your MySpace presence that this is something into which you’ve invested an enormous amount of time and energy."

Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer responded by saying: "We must utilize all resources available to reach our targeted audiences. As the largest social networking website on the internet, Kentucky Equality Federation has utilized myspace.com from the very beginning. Today's youth in particular are more likely to become involved with causes by networking with them on myspace.com; most of them don't utilize independent websites. Every officer, manager, awareness representative, and volunteer Kentucky Equality Federation has initially contacted us by utilizing our MySpace profile page.

Whether the Federation wins the February 2007 Social Justice Impact Award or not, simply being nominated has indeed been an honor; our work has been recognized by the largest!

We must fight for equality for everyone regardless of who they are, everyone should have the same civil rights and privileges. Just over fifty years ago it was illegal in most states for interracial couples to marry; vigilance in our fight for equality is the price we must pay over and over again.

We must fight the bigotry anti-gay groups and some homophobic elected officials practice; they want nothing more than to dehumanize a large group of people, deny their humanity, happiness, health, civil, and God given rights. If this isn't challenged by everyone, we are giving our government the green light to victimize other minority groups."

You may vote for Kentucky Equality Federation online by visiting http://www.myspace.com/impactawards.

Kentucky Equality Federation has pledged to use the money to fund gay-straight alliances across Kentucky should the Federation win.

N. Ky. Politics: Anti-bullying law

N. Ky. Politics: Anti-bullying law

Another school bullying incident; House Bill 64.

While the legislature sits on the School Bullying Bill (House Bill 64) to exempt homosexuals, our children remain in danger. The General Assembly failed to pass the same bill last year.

Attached is 6th letter (similar) Kentucky Equality Federation has sent to schools across Kentucky in February 2007 alone on behalf of parents. This particular incident involves Conner High School in Boone County.

This letter was sent VIA overnight mail to Conner High School on behalf of a parent (see attached; name deleted to protect privacy) on Friday. Her son has been assaulted and called names on a daily basis for the past two years.

This letter to the principal, superintendant, and the Kentucky Department of Education, states:

Being called “faggot,” “freak boy,” and “freak” over a period of approximately two years is unacceptable, requiring immediate correction by Conner High School.

As educators you have a constitutional and moral obligation to protect the emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing of the students under your care.

Though we offer our assistance in any fashion you may deem appropriate let there be no mistake as to our position on this matter; the school district, school, principal, every teacher, and every staff member at Conner High School shall be held legally ccountable for the educational, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of name deleted.

As a joint citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States name deleted is entitled to protection under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution; this means Conner High School has a duty to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students from harassment on an equal basis with all other students.

Title IX of the Equal Protection Clause also prohibits gender-based harassment, including harassment on the basis of a student’s failure to conform to stereotyped notions of masculinity and femininity.

Title IX also permits lawsuits to be filed to sue for money damages in state or federal court.

Kentucky Equality Federation hereby demands corrective action be initiated immediately by Conner High School to protect name deleted educational, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Should specific, detailed corrective action not be taken by Conner High School, Kentucky Equality Federation will sue the school district for violating the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution as well as the Kentucky Education Reform Act.

If you haven't signed the petition to ask the Kentucky House of Representatives to pass House Bill 64 without amendments, click here.

KKK on the rise in KY and the USA.

This is a very disturbing report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The League, which monitors the activities of racist hate groups and reports its findings to law enforcement and policymakers, has documented a noticeable spike in activity by Klan chapters across the country. The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

Their report says:
The Ku Klux Klan, which just a few years ago seemed static or even moribund compared to other white supremacist movements such as neo-Nazis, experienced "a surprising and troubling resurgence" during the past year due to the successful exploitation of hot-button issues including immigration, gay marriage and urban crime, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The KKK believes that the U.S. is "drowning" in a tide of non-white immigration, controlled and orchestrated by Jews, and is vigorously trying to bring this message to Americans concerned or fearful about immigration.

ADL has identified the following states as being notable for active or growing Klan chapters:

• SOUTH: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas
• MIDWEST: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio
• GREAT PLAINS: Iowa and Nebraska
• MID-ATLANTIC: Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

The troubling Klan resurgence has manifested itself in a number of ways:
-- Longstanding groups have increased their activity and experienced a rapid expansion in size.
-- Klan groups increasingly are cooperating with neo-Nazi groups, especially the Minnesota-based National Socialist Movement.

About 80 members of the National Socialist Movement and various Klan groups met in Laurens, South Carolina, to discuss ways to increase cooperation. Groups on hand for the event included the National Socialist Movement, Aryan Nations, the Griffin Knights of the KKK, the Teutonic Knights of the KKK and the Yahweh Knights of the KKK.

These are the KKK groups in the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

• Imperial Klans of America - A prominent Klan group based in Kentucky with chapters in eight states.
• White Mountain Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - A small Kentucky Klan group.