House of Representatives Candidate Matthew Vanderpool talks about his campaign against conservative incumbent Stan Lee

Education is key to electing politicians. As an effort to educate everyone* about the importance of voting, not only in U.S. Presidential elections, but your elected lawmakers in Frankfort, United We Stand will be conducting interviews with conservative and progressive candidates so you know exactly who you are voting for will stand up for YOU. 

* Not only the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex population. 

Lawmakers in Frankfort determine funding, criminal codes, road and bridge projects, medical assistance, low-income assistance, parental rights, and thousands of other items.

To begin the series of interviews, Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer recommended that I begin with Mr. Matthew Vanderpool (D-Lexington), who is one of the candidates running against Representative Stan Lee (R-Lexington).

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Finally, Rep. Stan Lee (R-Lexington), a nightmare to Kentucky's gay population, will be opposed!

Finally, one of the biggest nightmares to Kentucky's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community, Representative Stan Lee (R-Lexington) (pictured) has competition in the upcoming 2010 election.  Lee is not only a nightmare to the LGBTI community, but everyone who wants to move Kentucky forward and stands for equality, justice, and progress.   

The election is closer than you think considering the primary is in May 2010.  Representative Lee has run unopposed in the last several elections.  

Representative Lee has made a name for himself in the gay community for attempting to ban domestic-partner benefits at the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and all other Kentucky schools.  

Representative Lee, and one of his key allies, Representative Joseph Fischer (R) from Northern Kentucky have also tried to remove the ability of Kentucky cities to add people as a protected class.  Currently, Covington, Lexington, and Louisville have city ordinances which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

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2010 Elections to provide more anti-gay legislation

With an election year just around the corner (2010), it is all but certain that Kentucky lawmakers will file anti-gay legislation in a misguided attempt to appeal to their conservative base in order to get elected again.

During the last election year, Kentucky House members filed legislation to prevent Kentucky public institutions from offering domestic-partner benefits.

That wasn't even the worst of it, over a dozen of the co-sponsors of the bill belonged to the Democratic Party. Kentucky Equality Federation accused several of the lawmakers of lying (previous story). This was a fight we fought year after year for several years (including a special session called by then Governor Fletcher which included the ban on domestic-partner benefits), and I'm amazed it was not proposed again during the 2009 legislative session.

During the 2008 legislative session, House and Senate members also pushed the new "In God We Trust" license plate legislation (previous story) to appeal to their conservative base.

To complicate things further this year for the LGBTI community, one of the most powerful anti-gay groups in the nation, Liberty Counsel went on high alert in January. Liberty Counsel went as far as to call the Office of U.S. President and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives an 'axis of power.' (previous story).

This year the Family Foundation of Kentucky has toured the Commonwealth with their "Save Marriage Initiatives" (previous story).

Senate Bill 68 in 2009 was only the beginning of the attack the LGBTI community of Kentucky has in store for it with the 2010 elections around the corner.

Though the general election will not take place until November 02, 2010, lawmakers will attempt to 'make a name for themselves' by filing whatever legislation is necessary to get elected to office again (as they have in the past). I for one am sick and tired of being used as a political target simply because I'm gay.

LGBTI rights organizations can only do so much to protect the LGBTI community; the rest requires direct action from the LGBTI community and our straight allies..... to become engaged in the fight for equality by volunteering or making financial donations.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway enters U.S. Senate race

Conway's from Louisville, and Louisville politicians traditionally have a difficult time winning statewide office in Kentucky.

Click here to read the story from Blue in the Bluegrass.