#MarriageEquality: Special Statement on U.S. Supreme Court and marriage equality in Kentucky

SPECIAL STATEMENT: JORDAN PALMER FOR KENTUCKY EQUALITY FEDERATION AND MILES MEEHAN FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY KENTUCKY

"Today, we celebrate with LGBTIQ communities across the country; particularly across our Commonwealth, as the U.S. Supreme Court has reached the historic ruling to declare marriage equality for all masses.

Historically, courts have always had to act in favor of the minority against the majority; the history of our Commonwealth and indeed our entire Union forge this undeniable fact. Labeling any person by a characteristic such as gay, Asian, Indian, etc. is dehumanizing and commonly used by oppressors as justification.

Kentucky Equality Federation, along with other groups of hard working activists, have worked tirelessly over the years to fight for the fundamental rights of members of our community. The destination was clear, but the journey came with blood, sweat, and a lot of tears.

• See history of media coverages in: KEF IN PROP 8, KY-SUPREME COURT, and PALMER MARRIAGE LICENSE.

As I said over six (6) years ago when fighting California's Prop 8: 'It is our generation's obligation and opportunity to see this injustice righted in our lifetime. We stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us – the time is here, the time is now, history is calling us.' I am proud to say, the call has finally been answered across the United States.

As we celebrate this decision, we are reminded that a couple can be married on Sunday and then be fired from their job or denied a loan.

Even as we celebrate, we know this journey is far from being over. The Kentucky Equality Federation will continue to listen and advocate for those whose voices have been silenced. As we journey on in our quest for equality for all, we encourage everyone to get involved and help in your communities." - Kentucky Equality Federation founder and alliance Secretary-General Jordan Palmer.

"We are encouraged by today's ruling. It is long overdue that all families be recognized in the United States, and this ruling solidifies protections for families and children in Kentucky.  Love is a universal value, and marriage is an agreement between consenting adults and the state. Now, the citizens of our Commonwealth can take pride in the fact that we have joined our neighboring states in supporting equality.

As we go along our journey in our pursuit for equality for all, we encourage everyone to get involved and help in your communities. Whether you participate in a march or just take time to sit down with someone and listen to their story, we believe everyone can play a role in making our communities more loving and equal." - Kentucky Equality Federation Vice Chairman Miles Meehan for Marriage Equality Kentucky.

Ohio same-sex marriage ruling mirrors Kentucky's; taxpayer money being wasted

The ruling in Ohio is very similar to that in Kentucky. As with the Commonwealth, Ohio votes had a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. U.S. District Judge Timothy Black has announced he will issue a ruling similar to that of U.S. District Judge John Heyburn, allowing marriages performed in other states to be recognized within the state of Ohio. It is expected that the ruling will be released on April 14th, at which time the Governor is expected to appeal the decision.

"Appealing the decisions of these U.S. District Judges flies in the face of civil rights through an exercise of states' rights," stated Kentucky Equality Federation’s Chairman of the Board, Brandon Combs. "In the commonwealth of Kentucky, it has been estimated upwards of $1 million in taxpayer funds will be used to appeal the decision of U.S. District Judge Heyburn. The use of these funds in such a manner demonstrates a lack of forethought and understanding of the Commonwealth’s needs. This is a partial win for Ohio, and supports the position that Judge Heyburn almost verbatim. We must take these incremental wins as steps in the right direction; Equality for all people, everywhere."

"In Kentucky, the gay marriage ban violates our own Kentucky Bill of Rights. The state-sponsored subjugation of citizens’ rights to bans written by religious special interests is forcing LGBTI couples to seek relief in federal courts. As states continue to deny justice to their own citizens, even when ordered to do so by federal courts, they are leading their states into wasteful legal battles to avoid exercising their own responsibility. This 'Axis of Inequality' in America's heartland is doing damage to state constitutions, state sovereignty, and the rights of sovereign citizens,” said Kentucky Equality Federation President Joshua Koch.

In the guise of defending a phony democratic process, the cowardly politicians of these three states are protecting laws which violate their own constitutions. Rather than doing the right thing, our own governor, Governor Beshear, is using tax dollars to fight for the right to keep LGBTI taxpaying families locked away as second-class citizens. This pandering to fundamentalist extremists puts future generations at a disadvantage in enforcing their sovereign status against federal encroachment."

Red State Brief filed with U.S. Supreme Court - Kentucky Equality Federation represents Kentucky gay couples

Kentucky Equality Federation urges universal equality for all LGBTI people in a "Friend of the Court" brief to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kentucky Equality Federation today joined the Utah Pride Center, Campaign for Southern Equality, and twenty-five (25) other organizations in filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court.

The brief urges the justices to strike down a wide range of anti-gay laws. The brief calls on the Court to uphold appellate court rulings in both the Defense of Marriage and Proposition 8 cases currently pending. The Kentucky Equality Federation joined Utah Pride in this “Red State Brief” to detail the long history of anti-gay legislation in many states around the nation that denigrates the LGBT community.

The brief contends that many local state laws are designed to routinely deny gay citizens basic civil rights, and many state codes are woven in a tangle that can only be unraveled by the courts.

“This brief is about arguing on behalf of the millions of Americans who feel hopeless that legislation on a state level will ever advance their cause,” said Utah Pride Attorney and former Bush Administration U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman. The brief contends that many local state laws are designed to routinely deny gay citizens basic civil rights, and many state codes are woven in a tangle that can only be unraveled by the courts.

Kentucky Equality
Federation Vice-
President of Legal,
Attorney Jillian Hall.

Kentucky Equality Federation's Vice President of Legal, Jillian Hall headed-up Kentucky Equality Federation's involvement. Kentucky Equality Federation represents Kentucky in the brief.

“It was an honor to sign alongside several other prominent equality organizations in our fellow conservative “red” states. By working together as one rather than 28 individual groups, we were able to present a united front to the U.S. Supreme Court and explain why their decision not only impacts the individual cases before the bench, but everyone in the LGBTI community unable to obtain the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation Vice President of Legal, Jillian Hall. "Recognition from the highest federal court in the land as to the equality of everyone concerning marriage, regardless of sexual orientation, would be a huge leap in the fight for the citizens of our Commonwealth."

"Marriage is a fundamental human right and the lack of recognition by the federal government to gay couples legally married in their home states should be unconstitutional," stated Kentucky Equality Federation president Jordan Palmer. "Section II of the Kentucky Constitution states: 'Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.' However, with the commonwealth's 2004 constitutional amendment, gay and lesbian couples are absolutely denied civil rights by the majority."

Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality said, “The Supreme Court is being asked to consider a fundamental question: are LGBT Americans equal people whose humanity and dignity must be recognized? We know there are LGBT youth, adults and families who urgently need - and desire - the rights and protections that our Constitution promises to all, including the ability to marry the person you love.”

“There is a system of discrimination set up in states like Utah where certain local laws offend the Constitution and do harm to the lives of gay Americans,” said Attorney for Utah Pride Paul Burke.

The brief points out a number of discriminatory local laws including lack of protection for gay married military members who are assigned to “red states.”

Today’s filing concludes: “Because the Constitution neither knows nor tolerates classes among its citizens, gay Americans must be treated equally under the law – everywhere. This Court should affirm the fundamental rights of gay Americans and adopt heightened scrutiny to review laws targeting gay people. The best way to stop discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is for this Court to stop de jure discrimination against gay Americans.”

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for these cases on March 26-27, 2013.

The Red State amicus brief can be found here: http://www.kyequality.org/2013/BRIEF-with-highlights.pdf