Kentucky Equality Federation condemns Senate Bill 68 filed by Senator Gary Tapp (R). Senate Bill 68 would make it illegal for any 'unmarried couple' to adopt a child or serve as foster parents in Kentucky.
"Senate Bill 68 isn't about protecting children, it is about harming a specific group of people, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community of the Commonwealth. Thousands of adoptable children are currently languishing in foster care, many bouncing from home to home or from institution to institution. This bill would also prevent all single people (including our straight allies) from serving as foster parents or adopting a child," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.
On Wednesday, February 25th, Kentucky Equality Federation, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, Fairness Campaign, Lexington Fairness, Young Democrats (from counties across the Commonwealth), ACLU of Kentucky, Libertarian Party of Kentucky, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, and many other allied organizations will gather in Frankfort for a day of lobbying, followed by a rally in the Capitol Rotunda beginning at 12:30 PM.
"Our children are not political pawns," stated Palmer. "This proposed legislation is a disgrace; the needs of the child should always be placed first."
Kentucky Equality Federation responded by posting an action alert on its Equality Center the day after the legislation was filed, but did not send a blast email to its members.
"We try to keep emails to a minimum, and truth is that this bill will have no problem passing the Kentucky Senate if Senate President David L. Williams decides to push it," stated Kentucky Equality Federation Northern Kentucky Regional Director, Nick Herweck. "As of this morning, over 575 people have signed our action alert which is emailed to Senate leadership."
Senate Bill 68 remains in the Senate Judiciary Committee (since February 9th) without action. Should Senate Bill 68 make it to the House of Representatives, Kentucky Equality Federation will take a more aggressive approach.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
SAME-SEX COUPLES SCHEDULED TO ENGAGE IN MARRIAGE COUNTER ACTIONS ACROSS KENTUCKY ON THE NATIONAL FREEDOM TO MARRY DAY OF EVENTS
On National Freedom to Marry Day, February 12, 2009, same-sex couples across the Commonwealth will request marriage licenses for same-sex couples at local County Clerk's Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.
Kentucky Organizers:
* Kentucky Equality Federation
* Marriage Equality Kentucky
* GLASS at Bellarmine University
* commonGround at University of Louisville
Co- Organizers (national):
* Marriage Equality USA
* Join the Impact
Quoting Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky Equality President Jordan Palmer stated, "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."
"Whether we are married, domestic partnered, civil unioned or legal strangers under Kentucky law, all same-sex couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights of marriage," said Bellarmine University GLASS (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Society) President Kristina Thomas. "With the support of President Obama and with the growing sea change towards supporting protections for same-sex couples, we are hopeful that we can finally turn our attention to overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, and work together to uphold the American tradition of fairness and equality by ending marriage discrimination once and for all."
"Same-sex couples being denied marriage licenses will render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else," stated Marriage Equality Kentucky™ Treasurer Michael Hollingsworth. "Marriage discrimination is wrong and harms real-life families. All Americans deserve equal treatment under the law. The time has come."
"Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky have partnered with the National Celebrant Foundation to perform 'commitment ceremonies' as well as marriage ceremonies in Kentucky," added Palmer. "Even if the Commonwealth will not currently recognize the relationship, they will be recognized in our community, by our life-partner, and in our hearts."
Kentucky Equality Federation began sponsoring a new grassroots group dedicated to overturning Kentucky's 2004 Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage and 'similar unions' last year, Marriage Equality Kentucky.
Kentucky Organizers:
* Kentucky Equality Federation
* Marriage Equality Kentucky
* GLASS at Bellarmine University
* commonGround at University of Louisville
Co- Organizers (national):
* Marriage Equality USA
* Join the Impact
Quoting Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky Equality President Jordan Palmer stated, "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."
"Whether we are married, domestic partnered, civil unioned or legal strangers under Kentucky law, all same-sex couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights of marriage," said Bellarmine University GLASS (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Society) President Kristina Thomas. "With the support of President Obama and with the growing sea change towards supporting protections for same-sex couples, we are hopeful that we can finally turn our attention to overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, and work together to uphold the American tradition of fairness and equality by ending marriage discrimination once and for all."
"Same-sex couples being denied marriage licenses will render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else," stated Marriage Equality Kentucky™ Treasurer Michael Hollingsworth. "Marriage discrimination is wrong and harms real-life families. All Americans deserve equal treatment under the law. The time has come."
"Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky have partnered with the National Celebrant Foundation to perform 'commitment ceremonies' as well as marriage ceremonies in Kentucky," added Palmer. "Even if the Commonwealth will not currently recognize the relationship, they will be recognized in our community, by our life-partner, and in our hearts."
Kentucky Equality Federation began sponsoring a new grassroots group dedicated to overturning Kentucky's 2004 Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage and 'similar unions' last year, Marriage Equality Kentucky.
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