Spirit Day 2011 - Kentucky Teen Suicide in Northern Kentucky

Tomorrow is Spirit Day and Kentucky Equality Federation invites people across the Commonwealth to display one of four graphics to raise awareness of school bullying.

Kentucky Equality Federation invites people across the Commonwealth to display a Kentucky Equality Federation Spirit Day Graphic on your Facebook and other social and media networking sites as your default picture to raise awareness of school-bullying.

All available graphics. (to save a graphic on this news release, simply click on the graphic, right click with your mouse, save the image to your computer, and then upload it to Facebook, MySpace,  Twitter, etc. To download additional graphics from Facebook, there is an option to download)  

Additional graphics are available on our Official Facebook Site.

Show your support to end school-bullying!

"The suicide of Covington 8th Grade Student Sam Denham on Friday, October 14, 2011 is proof that educators need additional training on how to handle school bullying, and that students who are bullied know they are not alone. It is also proof of failure of the Kentucky Senate, who has in the past killed legislation to expand school bullying laws in Kentucky.  However, Kentucky Equality Federation’s Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and School Bullying Committee stand ready to assist anyone who suffers from school bullying. Our children need to be taught tolerance, and the wonderful diversity of people Kentucky has. Across the Commonwealth schools have gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, Black, Jewish, Asian, and Middle Eastern students just to name a few. Our children need to be taught about these different cultures and the different types of families across Kentucky. We are talking about basic education to live and let live, diversity, tolerance, and finally the acceptance of others."

Kentucky Equality Federation extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Sam Denham.

Kentucky Equality Federation also extends its thanks to Representative Mary Lou Marzian, Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo, Representative Tom Burch, Representative Joni L. Jenkins, Representative Arnold Simpson, and Representative Jim Wayne, and Susan Westrom for continuing to try to make our schools safer and protect the bullied in our struggle for equality.

"Kentucky Equality Federation’s Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and School Bullying Committee have intervened in the bullying of students in four high schools and two middle schools in 2011 alone, added Kentucky Equality Federation Chairman of the Board Richard T. Jones. We typically go directly to the Principal of the school for immediate resolution. If an immediate resolution is not forthcoming we contact the Board of Education as well as the Office of Secretary of Education."

Kentucky Equality Federation sent out a survey to candidates seeking the Commonwealth's highest office, Governor. The Gatewood/Riley Campaign is the first the respond, all survey's will be released prior to the election.

Kentucky Equality Federation thanks the Gatewood/Riley Campaign to be the first to respond.

Kentucky Equality Federation does not endorse political candidates; as the Commonwealth's largest all-volunteer gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex organization we will publish the questions we asked and the responses for all the see. Answers will soon be published in a spreadsheet.

Candidates who do not respond to our survey will be listed as "No" to all questions:

GATEWOOD/RILEY SURVEY RESPONSE:
1. Do you believe the federal government exceeds its original charter and needs to be downsized? YES

2. Do you believe each State has the right to nullify and/or condemn federal legislation and prohibit its enforcement? YES

3. Do you believe in bully-free schools, including protections for LGBTI people from school bullying? YES

4. Do you believe in human gender-neutral:
Marriage: YES
Domestic Partnerships: YES
Civil Unions: YES

5. Do you believe the Commonwealth should recognize human gender-neutral marriage performed in other States? YES

6. Do you believe in amending the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966 to include sexual orientation and gender identity? NO

7. Do you believe in a Kentucky statewide equality law that prohibits LGBTI discrimination in:
Kentucky Government Jobs: NO
Private Sector Jobs: NO
Accommodations: NO
Housing: NO
Credit: NO

8. Do you believe in same-sex:
Adoption: YES
Serving as Foster Parents: YES

9. Do you believe people must register as Democrat or Republic in order to vote in Primary Elections? NO

10. Do you believe Independents should have equal ballot access to run for public office? YES

11. The State of Hawaii saves a lot of money by combining the Office of Lt. Governor with that of Secretary of State (the Lt. Governor is also the Secretary of State). Since Kentucky’s Lt. Governor has no political power since the Lt. Governor is no longer the ex officio President of the Senate, do you believe the Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky should be combined with one of more of the following Offices to save Kentucky taxpayer money:
Auditor of Public Accounts: NO
Commissioner of Agriculture: NO
Secretary of State: NO
Treasurer: NO

12. Do you support a Kentucky law or executive order granting same-sex couples the right to visit their partners in the hospital (if hospitalized)? YES

13. By being forced to register as either Democrat or Republican (since it is nearly impossible for Independents to win elections in Kentucky) that citizens never really know who they are voting for because they do not research the candidate? NO

14. If elected, would you include the issue of a statewide equality law (non discrimination in government and private sector jobs) in the next "State of the Commonwealth?" YES