Something to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving! More than 380 years ago, people who didn't even speak the same language came together in peace and fellowship to give thanks. Often we forget, or take for granted some of the simple rights and privileges we enjoy.

It is in the best tradition of both Kentucky and United States history however that we question our government and constantly place them "in-check" so they never forget who they truly work for: the citizens.

From the torture of heretics to the burning of witches, our history tells us we've come a long way. Though we continue to have a long fight in front of us, and a lot of progress needs to me made in other areas, let us concede for a moment how lucky we are to be citizens of this land.

Yesterday the International Lesbian and Gay Association (Kentucky Equality Federation is an official member) released its annual survey of "Government in our Bedrooms." If you are searching for something to be thankful for, please click here to view their worldwide survey and see what our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters must endure in the most repressive governments of the world.

This is part of the reason the Executive Council of the Kentucky Equality Federation has elected to remain uninvolved in any Black Friday activities related to Wal-Mart. As activists it is critical that we "pick and choose" the battles we engage; we remain committed to conserving our energy for the forthcoming battle(s) with the 2007 Kentucky House and Senate.

Richmond, KY Wal-Mart Protests; Conservative Christian Groups Victorious

A group of protestors converged earlier this week on the Wal-Mart in Richmond, KY to protest the company's fair and equal treatment of homosexuals. Wal-Mart has been under increasing pressure from conservative Christians, especially after they expanded their diversity program in a deal with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Kentucky Equality Federation's Alliance Manager, Clarence Wallace, began receiving reports about the protest within hours of its development. The Federation also received approximately 21 emails from concerned members and citizens.

In electronic communication with Wal-Mart's corporate offices, Kentucky Equality Federation General Counsel Paige D. Marks asked Wal-Mart for guidance about the prospect of counter demonstrations.

"It is disrespectful and un-American that protests are being held so close to Thanksgiving [and scheduled for Black Friday], a day we commemorate the feast held at Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people and marked by the giving of thanks to God for harvest and health," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. "It is also unreasonable to think that companies don't want to do business with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") community; our money is as green as anyone's."

However, Wal-Mart folded yesterday!

The American Family Association, which had been asking supporters to stay away from Wal-Mart on Friday and Saturday – two of the busiest shopping days of the year – said it was pleased by a statement the company issued Tuesday and withdrew its objections.

While stressing its commitment to diversity and equality, Wal-Mart said in its statement that it "will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers."

Mona Williams, Wal-Mart's vice president of communications, said in a telephone interview that the company would continue working with the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and other gay-rights groups on specific issues such as workplace equality. "Going forward, we would partner with them on specific initiatives. ...As to opposed to just giving blanket support to their general operating budget," she said.

The corporate actions that had triggered the protest plans were little different from those taken by scores of major companies in recent years – Wal-Mart paid $25,000 this summer to become a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and donated $60,000 to Out and Equal, which promotes gay-rights advances in the workplace.

However, some conservative activists depicted Wal-Mart's engagement as endorsement of same-sex marriage and a pledge to give gay-owned businesses preferential treatment – assertions Wal-Mart denied in its statement Tuesday.

Conservative leaders had viewed Wal-Mart's actions as a betrayal of its own traditions, which have included efforts to weed out magazines with racy covers and CDs with explicit lyrics.

"This has been Christian families' favorite store – and now they're giving in, sliding down the slippery slope so many other corporations have gone down," said the Rev. Flip Benham of Operation Save America. "They're all being extorted by the radical homosexual agenda."

Justin Nelson, president of the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, said earlier Tuesday that conservative activists had misrepresented his business-oriented group as a leading advocate of gay marriage in order to tarnish Wal-Mart.

"Their campaign has not been to educate, but to mislead," he said.

Tim Wildmon, the American Family Association's president, said Wal-Mart had been responsive to conservative pressure on a different issue, approving use of the word "Christmas" in advertising and employee greetings this season after shifting to a "happy holidays" phrasing last year.

Another major corporation, Ford Motor Co., already is the target of an American Family Association boycott because it advertises in gay publications and supports gay-rights groups.

The Tupelo, Miss.-based AFA says 550,000 people have signed a pledge to boycott Ford and it takes partial credit for the company's financial problems. Ford spokesman Oscar Suris declined comment; an industry analyst, University of Detroit professor Michael Bernacchi, was doubtful the boycott was having much impact.

Former Kentucky Gay Health Leader Murdered

Commonwealth of Kentucky -- Dr. Emery Lane, the former president of Community Health Trust, which focused on Louisville's LGBT community and People with AIDS has been found beaten to death in his home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lane, 75, was found by his housekeeper. He had been beaten with a blunt instrument police said. Cash, other items and his Jaguar were stolen.

Police in the commonwealth's largest city arrested two men in connection with the murder.

Police have charged Gene Raymond Miller, 39, who they said knew Lane, and Bennett Shaw Bilbrey, 42, with murder, burglary, robbery and theft of Lane’s car, a Jaguar, according to Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell.

Mitchell, reading from the arrest report, said the two men “unlawfully entered” Lane’s home on University Avenue, assaulted Lane, who lived alone, with a blunt object and left with an undetermined amount of cash.

Dr. Emery Lane knew his accused killer well — he wrote to Gene Miller in prison and provided money to care for Miller’s children. “Emery had definitely provided for (Miller’s) family. They considered him like family,” said Ken Plotnik, Lane’s attorney and friend.

In 1996, before leaving Community Health Lane presided at the unveiling of an AIDS memorial. In an interview at the time with the Louisville Courier-Journal he said that "Gays and lesbians have been invisible."

"More times than not, they have been driven to live in the dark. Some did live in the open, but they were received in contempt. Some have tried to mask who they really are by getting married … This memorial honors those people," he told the paper.

Kentucky Equality Federation protests Representative Fischer's comments, though he still stands by them.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - Statehouse Republican Joe Fischer is taking criticism for comments he made about gay rights and sexual orientation.

Fischer, a lawyer from Fort Thomas, said in an interview last week with The Community Recorder newspaper that it is "OK to fire someone if they're gay."

"I favor the current laws as they stand now," Fischer told the paper. "Sexual orientation shouldn't be a protected class. "Obviously, people can change their sexual orientation," he said. "Some psychologists have said so."

Fischer defended his comments during a Wednesday night campaign forum at Northern Kentucky University he participated in with his opponent, Democrat Linda Klembara of Fort Thomas.

"Under current federal and states civil rights laws it is OK," Fischer said during the half-hour forum. Sexual orientation is not a protected class. "It should not be in my opinion," he said. "The current law, I think it's fair because sexual orientation has not been a traditionally protected class like women, black, national origin and religion."

Klembara said her "faith runs deep" when asked to comment on Fischer's statements. "And my faith would never allow me to condone hatred or bigotry or discrimination toward any group of people," she said.

About 20 members of Kentucky Equality Federation, a gay rights group, protested Fischer's appearance at the forum. "As far as people being able to change their sexual orientation, it's something you are born with," said federation president Jordan Palmer. "He seems to think you can change it with the proper amount of psychology. So, my question to him is, could he change his to homosexual.

"It is unfortunate that we have people as our elected officials and representatives that aren't willing to represent all of us," Palmer said. "It is not fair, and it will never be fair, to terminate someone because of their sexual orientation."

- Kentucky Enquirer (10/26/2006)
- Kentucky Post (10/25/2006)
- Pam's House Blend (LGBT Political Blog)

Klembara said she didn't believe homosexuals could change their sexual orientation. "I don't ever remember consciously saying, 'I'm going to be a heterosexual,'" she said. "I think we're all born who we are."

Kentucky Equality Federation condemns comments made by Rep. Fischer and plans a protest rally outside NKU prior to the debate with his opponent.

MEDIA ADVISORY - PROTEST ALERT:

Click on the link below:
Kentucky Equality Federation condemns comments made by Representative Fischer (R-Fort Thomas) and plans a protest rally outside Northern Kentucky University prior to the debate with his opponent, Linda Klembara (D-Fort Thomas).

Please create your new account from our new online members center; Kentucky Equality Federation will stop sending alerts in this fashion December 31, 2006. All log-in problems have been fixed. Visit our official website for additional information and renew your membership!

You are receiving this electronic message because you are an official member of Kentucky Equality Federation, or you have signed-up for news alerts. If you no longer wish you receive news alerts, click here to unsubscribe.

COMMENTS: We appreciate your feedback and comments! To comment on a story, please click here to visit our official blog.

Kentucky Equality Federation launches new OnLine Members Center.

Kentucky Equality Federation is pleased to announce the launching of its new OnLine Members Center, designed to give exclusive benefits and information to official Federation members.

What can I do in the new OnLine Members Center?
- You decide what emails you will receive from the Federation
- View candidates currently running for election
- View candidates officially endorsed by the Federation
- View information on current office holders
- Private Members Forum
- Private Action Alerts
- Exclusive Feeds to "Commonwealth News" related to issues within our Mission Statement
- View current issues the Federation is addressing
- Sign-up for Federation events
- Sign-up to receive reminders for special programs and events
- Email Action Alerts and Current Issues to your friends to sign and get involved!

Why was a new system necessary?
The number of members we have exceeded our ability to manage with the system we had in place. Kentucky Equality Federation membership has grown at an extraordinary rate, faster than we would could keep up with; our new system is automated for a capacity of up to one hundred thousand (100,000) members (we are not likely to ever achieve this number of members). The information you provide in our new OnLine Members Center isn't reviewed by anyone and is completely confidential, in addition, you have the ability to update your membership on your own (such as email address, areas of interests, change of address, etc.).

Does this mean I will have to complete a new membership application?
Unfortunately yes. That is the only frustrating thing about our new system. Once you've completed your new enrollment however, you won't be sorry! A great deal of time, money, and effort was involved in creating the new OnLine Members Center for you, our members. There is no one more important to the Board of Directors than official members like you, after all, every single member owns part of Kentucky Equality Federation and our success depends on your involvement!

Is Membership still open to anyone?
Absolutely! You do not have to live in Kentucky to become an official member. Approximately 8% of our members reside outside Kentucky, but still consider Kentucky "home" and want to remain involved in current events. Membership is still open and available to individuals, corporations, organizations (incorporated and un-incorporated), and groups.

Is membership still FREE?
Absolutely!

How was this new system paid for?
Our new system was funded by your continued support and purchases from our OnLine Store. Every time you purchase something from our OnLine Store, a portion of the proceeds pay for Federation expenses.

SHORTCUTS: There are two special shortcuts that will take you directly to the new OnLine Members Center, other than going though our main site, www.commonwealth-equality.org, or www.theequalityparty.org; the shortcuts are:

1. www.kentuckylgbt.org, and
2. www.kefaction.org

We hope you enjoy your new OnLine Members Center!

Regards,

Jordan Palmer, Nancy Couch, Clarence Wallace, Brian Endicott, Nick Herweck, Jesse Alexander, and Paige D. Marks

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.

Join the Northern Kentucky Chapter of the Kentucky Equality Federation at an event held by NKU's Common Ground on "National Coming Out Day."

Join the Northern Kentucky Chapter of the Kentucky Equality Federation at an event held by Northern Kentucky University's Common Ground Gay-Straight Alliance on October 11, 2006 ("National Coming Out Day").

Chris Klucsarits (Kanyon), who ascended to elite superstar status in professional wrestling before retiring from World Wrestling Entertainment in 2004, and who earlier this year revealed to a live independent show audience in Greater Sadbury, Ontario, that he was homosexual, will give a public lecture at Northern Kentucky University on Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 3-4 p.m. in BEP Center Room 200 as part of NKU’s National Coming Out Day activities.

Kanyon’s visit, which is sponsored by NKU Common Ground, will include a speech, question/answer session and an autograph session.

Kentucky Equality Federation will be paying for Kanyon's accommodations during his visit to Northern Kentucky and will be providing Common Ground with $2,431.36 in products and materials to increase awareness of their efforts to promote tolerance and diversity. For additional information about this event, visit Common Ground's official website by clicking here.

Kentucky Equality Federation would continue to support its members and Gay-Straight Alliances across Kentucky. "Education and exposure to diversity in non-threatening environments promotes tolerance; it is critical this occur during high-school and college, when individual minds are significantly more open to social diversity." - Federation President Jordan Palmer on September 9, 2006.

Common Ground is the Gay/Straight Alliance at NKU. It exists primarily for the purpose of supporting and promoting the welfare of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and their allies (GLBTA) at NKU. The group is currently working to establish the Safe Zone program, which is a resource referral service that trains faculty and staff about how to support GLBTA students who come to them for help.

NKU's Common Ground is on the list of organizations supported and advocated by the Kentucky Equality Federation.

Kentucky Equality Federation is the senior organization representing the International Lesbian and Gay Association in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The International Lesbian and Gay Association consists of more than 400 member organizations on every continent in more than 90 countries.