Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Marriage Stories Protect; Coalition Begins to Share Relationship Stories

Kentucky Equality Federation today announced the formation of a coalition with Marriage Equality USA, Bond Magazine, Equality Mississippi, Freedom to Marry, and other partners to encourage Kentucky's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") citizens share their personal stories related Kentucky's anti-gay marriage law and how it affects their lives.

"Six gay couples here in Kentucky have made us aware of their plans to travel to California to get married," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. "We have a place on our website they can visit to share their marriage plans with us; these couples realize once they get back to Kentucky, the Commonwealth will not recognize their marriage."

Palmer also stated this was the beginning of a long-term strategy to repeal Kentucky's 2004 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and that marriage should be gender neutral.

Since the California Supreme Court ruling, Kentucky Equality Federation has received 147 emails either from its primary website, or on social networking sites asking one question: "When will it be legal for me to marry my partner in Kentucky?"

"Kentucky's LGBT population is tired of constantly being on the defense; though we recognize formidable defense measures are critical, we also realize an equally impressive offense must be coordinated," stated Palmer.