#KY #KYGA17 #kygov #weareky Kentucky Election/Political Statement

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So many protests continue around the country related to the latest election. Several have contacted the Kentucky Equality Federation regarding protests. To reiterate our position, this press release is being issued again:

"With so many Kentuckians worried about an uncertain future as well as their physical safety given the hateful attacks against the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community, women, and many others from political candidates who have now been elected, we do not blame them.  But we must remember that our work has never ended.

The political ideology in Frankfort, Kentucky will change drastically when the Kentucky House and Senate convene in January.  The LGBTI community, Women, and other minority groups will continue to fight for equality and inclusiveness.

Kentucky Equality Federation​ invites the new members of the Kentucky Senate​ and the Kentucky House of Representatives​ to join us.  Our community has endured; it will continue to endure long after the terms of those who will assume office have ended.

As we had so many times in the past, we will continue to overcome obstacles placed in our path.  We will not be silenced, and we will not accept whatever legislative agendas our elected officials attempt to force upon us should they violate anyone’s civil liberties.

This is OUR future. Our commonwealth! #WeAreKY

Oh, and would someone PLEASE tell Governor Matt Bevin​ that he stole my saying "We ARE Kentucky!? I've been using that on and off since 2010, especially during the so-called Kentucky Religious Freedom Act, effectively nullifying city local ordinances."

--> This was a prepared statement from the communications director for the Office of the Secretary-General, Jordan Palmer​ of United Kentuckians for Equality, Kentucky Equality Federation, and Marriage Equality Kentucky​, Kentucky Equal Ballot Access​, and Kentucky HIV / AIDS Advocacy Campaign​ (collectively referred to as the "Federation Alliance") as well as the managing director of EACH organization.

Related: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/election/article111778822.html

www.KentuckyEquality.org

#KY #KYGA17 #kygov #weareky Kentucky Election/Political Statement

"With so many Kentuckians worried about an uncertain future as well as their physical safety given the hateful attacks against the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) community, women, and many others from political candidates who have now been elected, we do not blame them.  But we must remember that our work has never ended.

The political ideology in Frankfort, Kentucky will change drastically when the Kentucky House and Senate convene in January.  The LGBTI community, Women, and other minority groups will continue to fight for equality and inclusiveness.

Kentucky Equality Federation​ invites the new members of the Kentucky Senate​ and the Kentucky House of Representatives​ to join us.  Our community has endured; it will continue to endure long after the terms of those who will assume office have ended.

As we had so many times in the past, we will continue to overcome obstacles placed in our path.  We will not be silenced, and we will not accept whatever legislative agendas our elected officials attempt to force upon us should they violate anyone’s civil liberties.

This is OUR future. Our commonwealth! #WeAreKY

Oh, and would someone PLEASE tell Governor Matt Bevin​ that he stole my saying "We ARE Kentucky!? I've been using that on and off since 2010, especially during the so-called Kentucky Religious Freedom Act, effectively nullifying city local ordinances."

--> This was a prepared statement from the communications director for the Office of the Secretary-General, Col. Jordan Palmer​ of United Kentuckians for Equality, Kentucky Equality Federation, and Marriage Equality Kentucky​, Kentucky Equal Ballot Access​, and Kentucky HIV / AIDS Advocacy Campaign​ (collectively referred to as the "Federation Alliance") as well as the managing director of EACH organization.

Related: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/election/article111778822.html

www.KentuckyEquality.org

First legal filings in the illegal eviction of Manchester gay married couple

Secretary-General Jordan Palmer, representing the Kentucky Equality Federation, an NGO, and the Federation Alliance prepared the following court documents in the Manchester, Kentucky illegal eviction of a married gay couple, which included abuse of power, public corruption, and illegal actions of a law enforcement officer (previous press release). Everything was filed, pro se

1. ORDER to Esther Thompson to cease and desist
2. COUNTERCLAIM and CLAIM of ILLEGAL EVICTION
3. Proof of the County Attorney being Esther Thompson's legal representation

Secretary-General Jordan Palmer also requested additional money for legal assistance from the Kentucky Equality Federation's Managing Director, Josh Koch and Marriage Equality Kentucky Managing Director Alex Roberts.

Secretary-General Palmer will also request legal assistance from ILGA at the United Nations early next week.

"The Kentucky Equality Federation is drafting a case on behalf of the victims, Joshua Melton and James Raymond Feltner, and on behalf of the entire LGBTI community against the city of Manchester for the illegal actions of City Council Member Esther Thomas and Manchester Police Officer Jeff Couch," stated Secretary-General Jordan Palmer. "The arrest and indictment of the Judge/Executive of Clay County (for which Manchester is located) for abuse of public trust, bribery of a public servant and criminal possession of a forged instrument should send an alarm to the citizens of how corrupt their city and county are."

Palmer continued:  "I can also confirm that the U.S. Department of Justice has received our request to intervene and I have communicated with the deputy chief of the criminal division.

Ms. Thompson drew the city into the lawsuit even without the aid of the police officer with her statement 'she owns the police,' and instructing officer Jeff Couch once he arrived on scene. Mr. Couch ignored his training and participated in, as well as ordering, an illegal action."

Discrimination, Assault, and Illegal Actions by Police and a City Council Member in Manchester, Kentucky

(Manchester, Kentucky) - Tomorrow, Kentucky Equality Federation will once again call on the Office of United States Attorney, Kerry Harvey, to review a case in Manchester, Kentucky for prosecution. Having exhausted our options to have this handled locally, and by the Commonwealth, the only recourse is to pursue resolution at the federal level.

Joshua Melton and James Raymond Feltner, a married couple, were recently unlawfully evicted, assaulted, and sued in Manchester, KY. During the illegal eviction, the landlord stated she "would not rent to faggots." A representative in the Office of the County Attorney accused them of lying before even taking their assault complaint. After Kentucky Equality Federation investigated, it was discovered with the county attorney, there is a conflict of interest, as he is also the private attorney of the landlord, Esther Thompson, who is a city council member. (request documentation)

The lease signed by the victims was a made-up epithet corporation, unauthorized to operate in the Commonwealth. With two (2) corporations under the name of City Council Member Esther Thompson, the one on the lease does not exist. The one on file in Frankfort was dissolved by the Kentucky Department of State – Corporations Division.

City Council Member Esther Thompson also apparently wrote their names on a separate lease to bind them to forfeit their security deposit. Their security deposit was also never placed in a separate account as required by Kentucky law.

During the illegal eviction [with the assistance of the Manchester Police Department], an emergency room visit was necessary for Joshua L. Melton due to a head injury sustained after being struck by City Council Member Esther Thompson, who also stated to witnesses that “she owned the police.”

The Kentucky Department of Law, headed by the Attorney General, declined to get involved in the case “if local officials declined.”

“As the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, this is absolutely worthy of the Kentucky Office of Attorney General for investigation,” stated Southern Kentucky Regional Director William Taylor.

“History has unfortunately shown us that we cannot rely on the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, especially when it comes to ethical conduct and public subversion,” stated Russell Allen Hord, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General.

Federation Alliance Secretary-General Jordan Palmer is assisting the couple, and requests all media requests  be addressed to his office. Palmer drove the first gay hate crime convictions in U.S. history and his legal theory was successful in having Kentucky’s 2004 Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth struck down by a Franklin County Judge.

“For the citizens of Clay County, public corruption is nothing new, though it is unfair that they must endure this apparent never ending cycle,” stated Secretary-General Jordan Palmer. “We will demand the termination or severe remedial action of the accused Manchester Police Officers involved, who knowingly violated Kentucky law, the resignation or removal of the accused City Council Member from office, and an investigation into the ethical practices of the Clay County Attorney.

Another complaint (see witness statements) will likewise be filed with the Kentucky Bar Association and the American Bar Association regarding the natural processes and moral philosophical system of the Office of the Clay County Attorney.”

Palmer continued: "No peace/police officer in the Commonwealth may evict or assist in the eviction of any party without a court order, regardless of who 'owns them' and the couple being married and gay does not grant a landlord special rights."

International Day of UN Peacekeepers

‪#‎Together4Peace‬ ‪#‎UN‬: International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2016. "Today we honor the near 3,500 who have given full measure for the flag of the United Nations, united under a common cause regardless of religion, nationality, race, color, sexual orientation, or any other [dividing] labels bestowed upon fellow Human beings, to maintain peace and safety around the world," stated Kentucky Equality Federation alliance secretary-general Jordan Palmer.

"The organizational and operational skills that our Army has, to include our Army Reserve, is so valuable in an environment where you have [the militaries of] 44 different nations ... trying to come together and function as one," stated U.S. Major General Hugh Van Roosen, the United Nations Force Chief of Staff, was responsible for the daily operation of the 44 country multinational staff serving over 15,000 United Nations Peacekeepers.

Since the first UN peacekeeping mission sixty-eight years ago, civilian and military personnel of the United States have served together under the United Nations flag in cooperation with peacekeepers from around the world, strengthening and deepening the bonds between themselves.

When I first learned as a kid what the United Nations (UN) was, I always felt it would be an incredible opportunity to work for the U.N.,” said Van Roosen. "It's the concept of the United Nations that is so great- although there are challenges and difficulties, the underlying concept is truly the future for our planet."

--> United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will preside over a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of all peacekeepers who have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag. In addition, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal will be awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who fell while serving in the cause of peace, during 2015. The world leader will also preside over the inaugural ceremony for the 'Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage.’

#‎Target‬ ‪#‎KY‬ Support Target, shop online or at your local Target store

"We have more serious things to worry about than restrooms, such as school bullying, suicide, unemployment, the homeless, finding cures for cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, stopping genocide in parts of the World, and a million other things. You have to ignore these so-called family foundations, their only agenda is to spread hate and fear.” stated Kentucky Equality Federation's Jordan Palmer.

“These so-called ‘family foundations’ were content with having a minority group of ‘second-class citizens’ for decades; a complete class of people unable to marry, unable to visit their partner if hospitalized, unable to share insurance and file joint taxes just to name a few.”

Palmer continued: “It's impossible to boycott every organization or company in favor of LGBTI civil rights. Eventually, you're going to be sitting at home with nothing to do and no place to go. If that is what they want rather than embracing equality and loving each other, let it be so."

-->> In addition to Target, historically these organizations have boycotted NBC, FX, ABC, Barnes & Noble, Winn-Dixie, Sprint, Verizon, K-Mart, General Motors, Ford, DirecTV, Radio Shack, Time Warner, MGM, Paramount, Netflix, and a hundred other companies.

Kentucky Equality Federation issues a rare designation, Ambassador of Goodwill

Ambassador Designation

Kentucky Equality Federation honored Scott Robinson as an "Ambassador of Goodwill" on Saturday, April 23, 2016. The award was given by founder Jordan Palmer.

According to the statement from the Office of the President:

Mr. Robinson is currently the show director for female impersonation artists at The Bar Complex in Lexington, Kentucky. 

Palmer stated: "I think it takes a lot of courage to express the other side of yourself. Seeing it, hearing about it, or being his friend on Facebook could avert teenage suicides for people being bullied or harassed. When you see or hear of people such as Mr. Robinson, who are out in the open and expressing themselves in a positive manner [while providing entertainment], that courage sets a positive example dating back to the Stonewall Inn."

Mr. Robinson also assists questioning and upcoming female impersonation artists for the Kentucky Equality Federation (or any other non-profit or NGO), in addition to serving as the Board Chair for the Entertainment Committee of the Lexington Pride Festival and serving on the Board as a governing body.

Palmer continued: "Mr. Robinson is heavily involved in the community. Being the person he is, last month or maybe this month, he was taking sandwiches to a homeless person he has seen outside his window. We all need to find that inner part of our humanity, to realize that we are all the same in our hopes, dreams, and the need to be loved."

The appointment certificate reads:

We commit to the struggle for equal rights for all classes of people and reject defining characteristic. We remain ever vigilant against bureaucratic abuses of power, the evils of discriminatory legislation, and every other tool of oppressors, be they individuals, corporations, organizations, or governments. When the laws have not caught up to the moral needs of society, we will seek their modification, pursuant to the creation of a just society.

Ambassadors of Goodwill function by a code of ethical conduct based on fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, inclusion, respect, trust, responsibility, common sense and accountability.

The last people the Federation Alliance honored was Scottie Saltsman in 2013 and Karin Wagers-Lewis in 2016.

Religious Freedom Bill Consideration - Senate Bill 180 Wasting Taxpayer Dollars says Secretary-General Jordan Palmer

Representatives and senators in Frankfort and the District of Columbia continue to act in the name of so-called "religious freedom" and wasting tax dollars. When is the last time you heard of members of a religious belief they could not assemble? How about a church being closed by the state? Our representatives and senators are twisting religion to further their own political agenda with yet another “religious freedom bill”. The constitution of this Commonwealth guarantees religious freedom, but not a license to discriminate.

But if we are to bring religion into this argument, ask yourself who did Jesus run to? The minority the state or majority persecuted or left behind.

One of the amendments to Kentucky Senate Bill 180 is the right to refuse service if you being democrat or republican violate their religious beliefs. Maybe this is for the best? Without large political parties, no one would tell our elected officials how to vote or what legislation to file. I have democratic, republican, and third political party views so what does that make me? It makes me an independent person with the ability to make up my own mind.

I will never understand those who oppose equality for all people. No one is taking any civil rights away from the majority; we are simply asking they be extended to the minority. Even so, our entire Union is littered with the chronicle of oppression of minority people.

You cannot be terminated in the Commonwealth for being a smoker, your age, gender, religious beliefs, etc. but you can for being LGBTI. Even after 14 years of activism, I cannot wrap my mind round this. The greatest thing that troubles me still is the amount of time is it takes the several states and the federal state to actually do anything about it. Normally, the courts that have to step in; this however is also the beauty of the "separation of powers" and our three branches of government.

Kentucky Equality Federation vows to sue if Senate Bill 180 becomes law

The Interim Membership Committee of the Kentucky Equality Federation voted to permit the president or secretary-general of the alliance to sue the Commonwealth of Kentucky if Senate Bill 180 is passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by Governor Matt Bevin.

Senate Bill 180 would legally protect businesses that, refuse to service gay and lesbian couples because of the 'religious beliefs' of management/owner.

“This law is unconstitutional, just as it would have been more than fifty years ago when governments passed similar laws related to interracial couples, and 'white schools not permitting 'black students', the very notion of offensive. ” stated Secretary-General Jordan Palmer. “Having sued the Commonwealth for marriage equality in addition to forcing single religious views out of public schools, our legal department is more than ready.”

Palmer added: "This is absolutely ridiculous. What's next? Separate restrooms?"

The Kentucky Equality Federation alliance includes Marriage Equality Kentucky, Southeastern Kentucky Stop Hate Group, Western KY Community Education Project, Kentucky HIV Advocacy Campaign, and Kentucky Equal Ballot Access. The Federation funds alliance members and each receive a single vote for a unifying secretary-general.