Kentucky Equality Federation
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| Kentucky Equality Federation | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Peace, Liberty, and Equality for All! |
| Formation | November 1, 2005 |
| Purpose/focus | LGBT rights |
| Headquarters | Lexington, Kentucky (USA) |
| Region served | Kentucky (USA) |
| Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Affiliations | Marriage Equality Kentucky, and Kentucky Equality PAC |
| Staff | 0 |
| Volunteers | 18 |
| Website | www.kyequality.org |
Kentucky Equality Federation is an umbrella gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in the Commonwealth of Kentucky consisting of Federation for Kentucky Equality, Inc., Kentucky Equality Coalition, Inc., and Kentucky Equality PAC.
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[edit] Name
Originally called Kentucky Equal Rights, the organization changed its name to Kentucky Equality, with either "Association" or "Federation" always appearing afterward. Kentucky Equality has "The Equality Party", "Commonwealth Equality", "Kentucky Equality Federation", and "Kentucky Equality Association" listed as assumed names with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
[edit] Activities
[edit] University of the Cumberlands
Kentucky Equality led a protest at the Governor's Annual Derby Breakfast on May 6, 2006. The protest was in response to Governor Ernie Fletcher's refusal to veto funding to the University of the Cumberlands after expelling a student for revealing he was gay on the social networking site MySpace.
On July 7, 2009 Kentucky Equality Federation condemned the University of the Cumberlands for uninviting the Broadway Baptist Church of Texas' church choir from participating in its community based Mountain Outreach Program because of their "tolerant stance toward homosexuality."[1] The following day Kentucky Equality Federation also condemned $1.2 million in federal funding to expand programs at the university.[2][dead link][3]
[edit] Relationship with Kentucky Fairness Alliance
On January 9, 2008 Kentucky Equality Federation’s General Advisory Council condemned Kentucky Fairness Alliance.[4][dead link][5]. According to published reports, one reason for the dispute between the two organizations was related to Bluegrass Fairness of Central Kentucky, once a chapter of Kentucky Fairness Alliance. Kentucky Equality Federation’s General Advisory Council also sited problems in working with the Executive Director of Kentucky Fairness Alliance.
The condemnation was short lived; on April 18, 2008 Kentucky Equality Federation's Board of Directors rescinded the General Advisory Council's condemnation of Kentucky Fairness Alliance and terminated 9 of the 14 members on the General Advisory Council.[citation needed]
[edit] Impact Award
In March 2007 the Kentucky Equality Federation won a MySpace Impact Award in the area of Social Justice, beating Do Something and Loose Change to Loosen Change. The Federation was awarded a $10,000.00 cash prize and promotional support from MySpace.
[edit] Incident with Representative Fischer
Prior to the November 2006 General Election Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer verbally attacked Kentucky Representative Joseph Fisher (R) after he stated "homosexuals have not experienced the same type of insidious discrimination in housing and employment as blacks and women." In addition, Fischer stated he believed homosexuals could easily change their sexual orientation.[6]
[edit] Complaint resolution
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2012) |
On September 5, 2006 the Kentucky Equality Federation announced they would act as a "buffer" for victims of discrimination, hate crimes, and school bullying establishing a toll-free number and an online complaint system to report incidents. The federation stated they believe a lot of incidents go unreported each year throughout Kentucky because of bad experiences in working with law enforcement, while others feared being “outed” or reprisals would ensue from their perpetrators.
[edit] Boone County High School
Kentucky Equality was involved getting the first Gay-Straight Alliance approved at Boone County High School in Northern Kentucky.[7] On July 19, 2006 Boone County High School ended more than a year of stonewalling and avoided a federal and state lawsuit by finally approving the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance. Jordan Palmer, founder and president of the Kentucky Equality Federation warned school officials that he would file a lawsuit in federal court for violating the federal Equal Access Act which requires schools to treat Gay-Straight Alliance’s as they would any other school group, and a separate lawsuit with the Kentucky Court of Justice for violating the Kentucky Education Reform Act.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Sulfridge, Adam (July 9, 2009). "UC officials mum about turning choir away". Times Tribune, Corbin, KY. http://www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_190083705.html. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ Kentucky, Post (July 8, 2009). "KEF Condemns Funding To University". kypost.com. http://www.kypost.com/content/news/commonwealth/story/KEF-Condemns-Funding-To-University/3tgKyJpnw06o2NOuylWAEg.cspx. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ Sulfridge, Adam (July 9, 2009). "UC officials mum about turning choir away". Times Tribune, Corbin, KY. http://www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_190083705.html. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ Herald Leader Frankfort Bureau (09 January 2008) One state gay rights group breaks ties with another; leadership of Fairness Alliance blamed Lexington Herald-Leader. Accessed 11 January 2008.
- ^ queerty.com (09 January 2008) Drama destroys activist coalition in Kentucky; No Alliance for Federation Queerty. Accessed 11 January 2008.
- ^ By Kevin Eigelbach, Post staff reporter. (25 October 2006) Representative Fischer's (R) statement upsets gays Kentucky Enquirer. Accessed 14 July 2007.
- ^ Whitehead, Shelly (September 9, 2006). "Taking a stand against hatred". Cincinnati Post: p. A2.
- Northern Kentucky University responds to Kentucky Equality Federation concerns.[dead link]
- Kentucky Equality Federation criticizes and condemns Northern Kentucky University's response to an incident involving a gay student.[dead link]
- Kentucky Equality Federation offers new services to report hate crimes, discrimination, and school bullying.
- Kentucky Equality Federation and Steak n' Shake in Louisville, KY resolve complaint regarding anti-gay remarks.
