The fault is ours

Click on the image to make it larger. Jordan Palmer with Kentucky Equality Federation comments on COVID-19 deaths due to Trump's inaction.

United States votes against LGBTI civil rights at the United Nations

The U.S. on voted against a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution that condemns the #death penalty for those found guilty of committing consensual same-sex sexual acts.

Still, the resolution — which Belgium, Benin, Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia and Switzerland introduced — passed by a 27-13 vote margin.

This leaves nation-states that execute LGBTI people open for sanctions or refusal of aid from the United Nations at the discretion of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Col. Jordan Palmer with Kentucky Equality Federation and Marriage Equality Kentucky, called the U.S. vote shameful, but not unlike similar resolutions the U.S. also sided with Russia, Iran, and Egypt in the past.

"America will never be “great” again until we deal with human rights," Palmer stated.

Kelly Currie, the U.S. representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, attended the event but did NOT speak.

Former U.S. Vice President Biden is among those who spoke at last year’s U.N. LGBT Core Group event.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley (former Governor of the State of South Carolina) in April said the U.S. remains “disturbed” by the ongoing crackdown against gay men and lesbians in Chechnya.

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."

#‎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.

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.

Contempt of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis

Min. Jordan Palmer

Following is a special statement from Minister Jordan Palmer, secretary-general of the Kentucky Equality Federation alliance, its member and dependant organizations:

Kentucky Equality Federation firmly supports Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis' rights to freedom of conscience, faith, and speech. We believe these rights belong to all people regardless of any defining characteristic imposed on them by society or governments.

However, irrespective of how the Family Foundation of Kentucky chooses to spin the news report, the fact is, Davis is not in prison because of her beliefs. She is being held in contempt of court because she refuses to resolve the job taxpayers elected her to perform and has broken her oath of office. She could easily resign and end the entire situation, but I suspect the national spotlight is truly the motivation. The office of an elected official is a public trust, not a personal platform for refusing service to the "wrong" sort of people; this reeks of the oppression of far-off lands where officials can make discriminatory rules and enforce summary judgement against certain classes, genders, orientations, races, and castes.

Kentucky Equality Federation
v. Commonwealth ruling by Judge Wingate

We are all equal before the law, and we encourage Davis to do the right thing, embrace the standard of public service (as she swore an oath to do), and comply with Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate's ruling in Kentucky Equality Federation v. Commonwealth of Kentucky and the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court.

This situation is analogous to Governor Steve Beshear refusing to aid a region of the Commonwealth during a disaster because they are Methodist, Catholic, or they voted for a different political party. It is similar to a clerk refusing to issue driver's licenses to taxpayers of a certain gender because they don't believe they are religiously permitted to drive. Would we tolerate a governor or president who refused to repel an invasion or defend the lives they have sworn to safeguard?

The end of discrimination is not simply the elimination of flagrant abuses, rather it is the ability of a person to fully exercise their Kentucky human rights to the same full extent enjoyed by their peers, without fear of retribution, aspersion, or harm, be that harm political or social. The religious beliefs of Davis remain intact however, and unharmed, but incompatible with the elected office she holds.

#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.